The ladies' garland. [volume], May 24, 1828, Image 1

About The ladies' garland. [volume] (Harpers-Ferry, Va. [W. Va.]) 1824-1828

Image provided by: West Virginia University

                
«£)jr ILaftfes*
VOX*.%. HARPSRS-rEKRY, VIRGINIA, ZWEAV 2*3, 1828. B1G.5G.
rUBLUHEI) 1.V1 III ScrUllllAV ETERI NO,
BY JOHN S GALLAIIEK.
TERMS. — One- dollar and fifty cents per annum,
payable at tint expiration of the first quarter, or
one dc 1! ir and twenty-fire cents, to be paid at the
time •!' subscribing. Payment in advance, from
distant subscriber- who are not known to the pub
lisher, will invariably be expected. Should pay
ment be deferred to the end of the year, f ’ tv 11
!«v ia , utcci.
r-." . .... i.i mm. i
THE REPOSITORY.
FROM THE CLARION.
A TALE OF THE REVOLUTION.
The last rays of the setting sun, ere he has
tened to dip his disk in the ocean, still lingered
in the beautiful valley where young capt M.
was stationed wiih his gallant company Invited
by the peculiar charms of a May landscape, he
left his tent to indulge his taste fur an evening
ramble. As he passed his soldiers, he gaily ask
cl them if every thing was ready fur the mor
row's engagement ? ‘ As ready as our hearts,’
was the united reply A proud smile played
over his fine features, as hi- said, “ to-moirotv
will prove both our courage and our hearts; '
and hastening bis steps,he soon was lost to their
admiring gaze. Perhaps my reader feels his
curiosity a little excited with respect to the eha
:.irti r of n.y young hero, and ;f he w. ill forgite
'he digression, I can easily giatify it
Charles M was the only sun • f a respectable
merchant in the village ol Hartknd, now a flou
fishing city Handsome in his person, and ac
complished in his manners, hix ptesence was
ilw ays agreeable ; of a happy disposition, and a
cultivated mind, blended with a refined and ele
gant taste, his conversation was not only intc
resting, hut fasrinating With all these perfec
.luns, sill! L uarles IvJ was not quite a perlert
bring He possessed one fault, (so common
indeed that it is little noticed.) a thoughtless
propensity to trifle with "onion's heart, We
may "ell imagine that l ha lies M. with his van
jus accomp^shnients and this single lolly, was
i dangerom person in female society Many a
young heart fluttered at his approach, and ma
ny a fair hand had he pressed to his lips, ere his
own heart felt the poisoned arrow, with which
he had so long and carelessly sported. But the
time had come—and he was eaught in his own
,nare; while >he, the beautiful and innocent be
ing who bad engrossed his whole affections, was
lost to him forever So hr thought this night,
and as he renewed his past life, he felt that he
deserved his fate • Once,’ said he to himself.
’ the pleasing serenity of an evening like this
would have stole o'er rr.y heart, wakening its
every ferling to the vividness o! joy and happi
ness. Now ! find myself an isolated being in
thi« beautiful world, alike unmindful of the
charms of Nature, or the smiles of friendship. I
have now no other wish, than to offer up my
weary life on the shrine of my country .’
He was interrupted in this soliloquy by the
sound of footsteps—and raising his eyes, the
figure of a youth, habited in 'he dress of a sol
dier, stood before him Hi- finely arched brow
;rn8 shaded with a profusion of light flaxen
curl?, Ins parted lips .seemed endeavoring to say
something I hey dared not utter, and hi? large
blue eyes for a moment meeting his. then found
their nativ e i esting place, wbde his v\ hole coun
tenance flowed with ingenuous modesty Never
before had captain M seen a youth whose form
was so deeply interesting, and never before was
his curiosity so intense to di-cover its object.
Capt M was the fir't to break silence. * Beau
tiful boy.' said he, as the >• i<b flashed upon his
n li ■' d, • what would you here ? The din of war
will to-morrow be heard in this peaceful valley,
and the groans of the dying swell far o’er die
silence of yonder lake, while savage yells may
echo and re-echo from the surrounding woods,
chilling our sternest hearts with horror. Even
now, you tremble like the aspen leal ; how then
will you feel when description becomes reality ?
1 know my country calls loudly for help, hut
not on tho-e "ho have hardly escaped from the
wing of a mother Return to a mother's smile,
and when manhood has stamped itsin.picss on
| thy fair young brow, and your arm is nerved
with strength, anil directed by pruderce, then
we will give you a jo) ful and honest welcome.’
The eye of the youth beamed biipht'v as he
thus spoke with a firm clear voice in rtply ‘ I
feel not fear 1 wi-h to enter as a volunteer the
company of capt M and can 3 011 rdi.-e the aid
nur country implotes at this ctitical moment ?
i I know my arm is weak, but the remembrance
1 of what brought me here, will strengthen it in
■ the hour of tiiai.’ * Then he it so,’said capt.
i M and taking the arm of the youth.hr proceed
ed :n silence to his tent. Meanwhile Ids thoughts
were not unemployed: fur is lie gazi tl upon
j the hoy’s innocent I'm e, lVemigs that long had
' slumbered now glowed m hi? hr east With such
a companion, lie f It that he might vet he hap
py. ‘ I will,’ thought he, ‘ teach him how to
avoid the snares of the we hi, arid strengthen
his mind in knowledge am' viitue. till I l.'ain
his young heart to beat in u.ason with m\ own.
i will give him my confidence, end he will \ii 1 I
me his sympathy in return ' As they enti led
his tent, he said—* i ou are too young: to Dongle
J with my sold if'is ; this ter.t t-' ipine, but li in
hencefoith it is also yours 'I i.e youth spoke
not his thanks ; Lot hi- eloquent countenance
told more than words could express.
There was no sleep in the ialley that night,
and long ere the approach of the Kim: nf Day,
rapt M and his cunipany were on their w.,j to
join another hand of troops t,Pinned at a little
distance. As he anticipated, they f und tin
British ready for an engagement, confident of
victory from their superior numbers, and the
Americans, from the justice of their cause, titrn
ly trusting that the all-in tverful Being, who had
j thus fur supported them, would nut now at.an
! don them in their greatest need. The sun had
j not elimhed the (ugliest heaven ere the martial
i drum beat heavily, and the shrill bugle’s notes
! fearfully announced the coming battle. * My
country and htties ones.’ trembled on the lips
of the Americans, as they implored the benison
of heaven to rest upon them. The rirxt mo
ment their bosoms were calm as the peaceful
lake, and their stern features glowed with more
, than mortal courage. To paint the horrors of
! the ensuing conflict, is a task to which 1 cannot
j bring my feelings: I therefore leave the scene
. entiiely to the imagination of my readers. The
unknown youth was seen to fall in the first or
set, ;!!iii rapt M Jilt (hut hr should nnt die. un
revenged Victory :i! length declared tor Ik
Amei irans, hot n >t till the ground on both side1,
ivas iiimsuned 'Mih human blood
The srene was now changed. Wh^rr latr’n
raged the fury of battle, a deathlike stillness
reigned uninterrupted, sar e hy the stifled groan
of the dying, or the silent tread of one in seaich
of a fallen friend Capt M with a thrilling
heart gazed anxiously upon tl.e srene before
bun, and soon detected, by the moon's pale
beams, the object nfbis search in the apparent
ly lifeless body of the interesting strung) r Thu
the sleep of death sat upon his features, the
varni blood of life lingered in his veins,and no
mark of violence could be found upon his per
son. He raised him in his arms, and had scarce
ly resuscitated him from his long swoon of tej
ror, when his cap fell from Ins head, and at the
' same moment, tin- names of CIn.ties and Fran
I ees were unconsciously uttered. It was no iiio
sion of fancy C harles M was in the presence
| of Frances VVaie, the being whom he loved
| and who he thought was long since married to
j another! ‘ This is no place for you,’said he.
( as he hurried her from the spot. ‘! must lean,
j from you this night, whether the cup of hap\
I ness is again to he dashed from my lips, or r:
ther if my sufferings have not now an end.’
They were soon seated by a cheeiful fire, when
she recounted her advcnturis. which I shah
it late in her on n words.
* Sion after rr.v father forbid your visits at
our mansion, i became more fully acquaintcr
wi'h hi' plan> in regard to myself, and found
u itli horror. 1 was destined to be the wife of th*:
detested Wilson. It was in vain 1 plead my
dislike to ins person, and our disparity of years:
, his great wealth, w hie!) cancelled his detects
rendered my father deaf to my arguments, ami
! he sternly hade me keep inv chamber until I
i u.:- cured of my obstinacy. 1 irne seemed only
to strengthen my resolution, and 1 was treated
j as a disobedient child. W hat heightened my
. distress was tin* news | soon received that you
■ had joined the army, without being permitted
! 'n Iml me farewell. At length my lather's pa
j tienee. .-ei tie d exhausted. Our morning he sent
: lot me, ami while paternal affection seemed to
! struck* m his luiMiui, he tohl tne I must then
' aece.de to hta request, or quit his house forever
: I had no one to plead tor me ; my amiable mo
tliei had gone to Iter long home, and my prayers
were unheeded. As soon as I told him I would
never he the wife of \\ ilson. he took my hand,
; led me to the door, at the .-aloe lime slipping a
pmse of voi l a,to it, and ere 1 had time to ask
his L!es«itig, my Cither s door w ..s closed upon
rue. 1 immediately conceived the design of find -
| ins you ; and, for the furtherance ut mv pur
; pose, and protection of my prison, assumed niy
present appearance. 1 need not tell you what
you already know ’ * I.et «.•> now,’added she,
! hasten to r,ay father, who, I am confident, has
j ere tins repented of his rashness, and will with
open arms receive us.’
Tins resoluti in w is immediately adopted, and
the sequel proved Frances light in her conjee
tore Their nuptials were eoknmmrd with the
concurrence of all patties At the death o! then,
parents, Charles purchased the beautiliil vai
ley, where he first met Frances dis>guts*-d a» a
soldier; and it ts to this day their happy resi
dence. M’LVJA.