Alonzo and Melissa Part 11

"If it were not for your reluctance to revisit your native country, said Edgar, I should urge you to accompany me to Holland, and thence return with me to America. Necessity and duty require that I should not be long absent, as my parents want my a.s.sistance, and they are now childless."

"Suffer me, answered Alonzo, to bury myself in this city for the present: should I ever again awake to real life, I will seek you out if you are on the earth;--but now, I can only be a companion to my miseries."

The next morning as they were about to depart, Alonzo took Melissa's miniature from his bosom, contemplated the picture a few moments with ardent emotion, and presented it to Edgar. "Keep it, said Edgar, it is thine. I bestow it upon thee as I would the original, had not death become the rival of thy love, and my affection.--Suffer not the sacred symbol too tenderly to renew your sorrows. How swiftly, Alonzo, does this restless life fleet away!--How soon shall we pa.s.s the barriers of terrestrial existence! Let us live worthy of ourselves, of our holy religion, of Melissa--Melissa, whom, when a few more suns have arisen and set, we shall meet in regions where all tears shall be eternally wiped from every eye."

With what unspeakable sensibilities was it returned to Alonzo's bosom!

Edgar offered Alonzo pecuniary a.s.sistance, which the latter refused: "I am in business, said he, which brings me a decent support, and that is sufficient." They agreed to write each other as frequently as possible, and then affectionately parted: Edgar sailed for Holland, and Alonzo returned to his business at Mr. Grafton's.

Some time after this Alonzo received a message from Dr. Franklin, requiring his attendance at his house, which summons he immediately obeyed. The doctor introduced him into his study, and after being seated, he earnestly viewed Alonzo for some time, and thus addressed him:

"Young man, your views, your resolutions, and your present conduct, are totally wrong. Disappointment, you say, has driven you from your native country. Disappointment in what? In obtaining the object on which you most doated. And suppose this object had been obtained, would your happiness have been complete? Your own reason, if you coolly consult it, will convince you of the contrary. Do you not remember when an infant, how you cried, and teazed your nurse, or your parents, for a rattle, or some gay trinket?--Your whole soul was fixed upon the enchanting bauble; but when obtained, you soon cast it away, and sighed as earnestly for some other trifle, some new toy. Thus it is through life; the fancied value of an object ceases with the attainment; it becomes familiar, and its charm is lost.

"Was it the splendours of beauty which enraptured you? Sickness may, and age must destroy the symmetry of the most finished form--the brilliancy of the finest features. Was it the graces of the mind? I tell you, that by familiarity, these allurements are lost, and the mind, left vacant, turns to some other source to supply _vacuum_.

"Stripped of all their intrinsic value, how poor, how vain, and how worthless, are those things we name pleasures, and enjoyments.

"Besides, the attainment of your wishes might have been the death of your hopes. If my reasoning is correct, the ardency of your pa.s.sion might have closed with the pursuit. An every day suit, however rich and costly the texture, is soon worn threadbare. On your part, indifference would consequently succeed: on the part of your partner, disappointment, jealousy, and disgust. What might follow is needless for me to name;--your soul must shudder at the idea of conjugal infidelity!

"But admitting the most favourable consequences; turn the brightest side of the picture; admitting as much happiness as the connubial state will allow: how might your bosom have been wounded by the sickness and death of your children, or their disorderly and disobedient conduct! You must know also, that the warmth of youthful pa.s.sion must soon cease, and it is merely a hazardous chance whether friends.h.i.+p will supply the absence of affection.

"After all, my young friend, it will be well for you to consider, whether the all-wise dispensing hand of Providence, has not directed this matter which you esteem so great an affliction, for your greatest good, and most essential advantage. And suffer me to tell you, that in all my observations on life, I have always found that those connections which were formed from inordinate pa.s.sion, or what some would call pure affection, have been ever the most unhappy. Examine the varied circles of society, you will there see this axiom demonstrated; you will there see how few among the sentimentally refined are even apparently at ease; while those, insusceptible of what you name tender attachments, or who receive them only as things of course, plod on through life, without even experiencing the least inconvenience from a want of the pleasures they are _supposed_ to bestow, or the pains they are sure to create.

Beware, then, my son, beware of yielding the heart to the effeminacies of pa.s.sion. Exquisite sensibilities are ever subject to exquisite inquietudes. Counsel with correct reason, place entire dependence on the SUPREME, and the triumph of fort.i.tude and resignation will be yours."

Franklin paused. His reasonings, however they convinced the understanding, could not heal the wounds of Alonzo's bosom.--In Melissa he looked for as much happiness as earth could afford, nor could he see any prospect in life which could repair the loss he had sustained.

"You have, resumed the philosopher, deserted an indulgent father, a fond and tender mother, who must want your aid; now, perhaps, unable to toil for bread; now, possibly laid upon the bed of sickness, calling, in anguish or delirium, for the filial hand of their only son to administer relief."----All the parental feelings of Alonzo were now called into poignant action.----"You have left a country, bleeding at every pore, desolated by the ravages of war, wrecked by the thunders of battle, her heroes slain, her children captured. This country asks--she demands--you owe her your services: G.o.d and nature call upon you to defend her, while here you bury yourself in inglorious inactivity, pining for a hapless object, which, by all your lamentations, you can never bring back to the regions of mortality."

This aroused the patriotic flame in the bosom of Alonzo; and he voluntarily exclaimed, "I will go to the relief of my parents--I will fly to the defence of my country!"

"In former days, continued Franklin, I was well acquainted with your father. As soon as you informed me of his failure, I wrote to my correspondent in England, and found, as I expected, that he had been overreached by swindlers and sharpers.----The pretended failure of the merchants with whom he was in company, was all a sham, as, also the reported loss of the s.h.i.+ps in their employ. The merchants fled to England: I have had them arrested, and they have given up their effects to much more than the amount of their debts. I have therefore procured a reversion of your father's losses, which, with costs, damages, and interests, when legally stated, he will receive of my agent in Philadelphia, to whom I shall transmit sufficient doc.u.ments by you, and I shall advance you a sum equal to the expenses of your voyage, which will be liquidated by the said agent. A s.h.i.+p sails in a few days from Havre, for Savannah in Georgia: it would, indeed, be more convenient were she bound to some more northern port, but I know of no other which will sail for any part of America for some time. In her therefore I would advise you to take pa.s.sage: it is not very material on what part of the continent you are landed; you will soon reach Philadelphia, transact your business, restore your father to his property, and be ready to serve your country."

If any thing could have given Alonzo consolation, it must have been this n.o.ble, generous and disinterested conduct of the great Franklin in favour of his father, by which his family were restored to ease and to independence. Ah! had this but have happened in time to save a life far dearer than his own! The reflection was too painful. The idea, however, of giving joy to his aged parents, hastened his departure. Furnished with proper doc.u.ments and credentials from Franklin, his benefactor, he took leave of him, with the warmest expressions of grat.i.tude, as also of Mr. Grafton, and sailed for Savannah, where he arrived in about eight weeks.

Intent on his purpose, he immediately purchased a carriage and proceeded on for Philadelphia. As he approached Charleston, his bosom swelled with mournful recollections. He arrived in that city in the afternoon, and at evening he walked out, and entered a little ale house, which stood near the large burial ground. An elderly woman and two small children were the only persons in the house, except himself. After calling for a pint of ale, he enquired of the old lady, if Col. D----, (Melissa's uncle) did not live near the city. She informed him that he resided about a mile from the town, where he had an elegant seat, and that he was very rich.

"Was there not a young lady, asked Alonzo, who died there about eighteen months ago?"

"La me! said she, did you know her? Yes: and a sweeter or more handsome lady the sun never s.h.i.+ned on. And then she was so good, so patient in her sickness.--Poor, dear distressed girl, she pined away to skin and bones before she died. She was not Col. D----'s daughter, only somehow related: she came here in hopes that a change of air might do her good.

She came from--la me! I cannot think of the name of the place;--it is a crabbed name though."

"Connecticut, was it not?" said Alonzo.

"O yes, that was it, replied she. Dear me! then you knew her, did you, sir?--Well, we have not her like left in Charleston; that we han't;--and then there was such ado at her funeral; five hundred people, I dare say, with eight young ladies for pall-bearers, all dressed in white, with black ribbons, and all the bells tolling."

"Where was she buried?" enquired Alonzo.

"In the church-yard right before our door, she answered. My husband is the s.e.xton; he put up her large white marble tomb-stones;----they are the largest and whitest in the whole burying-ground; and so, indeed, they ought to be, for never was there a person who deserved them more."

Tired with the old woman's garrulity, and with a bosom bursting with anguish, Alonzo paid for his ale without drinking it, bade her good night, and slowly proceeded to the church-yard. The moon, in full l.u.s.tre, shone with solemn, silvery ray, on the sacred piles, and funeral monuments of the sacred dead; the wind murmured mournfully among the weeping willows; a solitary nightingale[A] sang plaintively in the distant forest; and a whippoorwill, Melissa's favourite bird, whistled near the portico of the church. The large white tomb-stones soon caught the eye of Alonzo. He approached them with tremulous step, and with feelings too agitated for description. On the head-stone he read as follows:

SACRED To the Memory of inestimable departed WORTH; To unrivalled Excellence and Virtue.

Miss MELISSA D----, Whose remains are deposited here, and whose ethereal part became a seraph, October 26, 1776, In the 18th year of her age.

[Footnote A: This bird, though not an inhabitant of the northern states, is frequently to be met with in Georgia and the Carolinas.]

Alonzo bent, kneeled, he prostrated himself, he clasped the green turf which enclosed her grave, he watered it with his tears, he warmed it with his sighs. "Where art thou, bright beam of heavenly light! he said.

Come to my troubled soul, blessed spirit! Come, holy shade! come in all thy native loveliness, and cheer the bosom of wretchedness, by thy grief dispersing smile! On the ray of yon evening star descend. One moment leave the celestial regions of glory--leave, one moment, thy sister beat.i.tudes, and glide, in entrancing beauty, before me: wave, benignly wave thy white hand, and a.s.suage the anguish of despairing sorrow! Alas!

in vain my invocation! A curtain, impenetrable, is drawn betwixt me and thee, only to be disclosed by the dissolution of nature."

He arose and walked away: suddenly he stopped. "Yet, said he, if spirits departed lose not the power of recollection;--if they have knowledge of present events on earth, Melissa cannot have forgotten me--she must pity me." He returned to the grave; he took her miniature from his bosom; he held it up, and earnestly viewed it by the moon's pale ray.

"Ah, Franklin! he exclaimed, how tenderly does she beam her lovely eye upon me! How often have I drank delicious extacy from the delicacy of those unrivalled charms! How often have they taught me to antic.i.p.ate superlative and uninterrupted bliss! Mistaken and delusive hope!

[_returning the miniature to his bosom._] Vain and presumptuous a.s.surance. Then [_pointing to the grave_] there behold how my dearest wishes, my fondest expectations are realized!----Hallowed turf! lie lightly on her bosom!--Sacred willows! sprinkle the dews gently over her grave, while the mourning breezes sigh sadly amid your branches! Here may the "widowed wild rose love to bloom!" Here may the first placid beams of morning delight to linger; from hence, the evening ray reluctantly withdraw!--And when the final trump shall renovate and arouse the sleeping saint;--when on "buoyant step" she soars to glory, may our meeting spirits join in beatifick transport! May my enraptured ear catch the first holy whisper of her consecrated lips."

Alonzo having thus poured out the effusions of an overcharged heart, pensively returned to the inn, which he entered and seated himself in the common room, in deep contemplation. As usual at public inns, a number of people were in the room, among whom were several officers of the American army. Alonzo was too deeply absorbed in melancholy reflection, to notice pa.s.sing incidents, until a young officer came, seated himself by him, and entered into conversation respecting the events of the war. He appeared to be about Alonzo's age; his person was interesting, his manners sprightly, his observations correct.--Alonzo was, in some degree, aroused from his abstractedness;--the manners of the stranger pleased him. His frankness, his ease, his understanding, his urbanity, void of vanity or sophistication, sympathetically caught the feelings of Alonzo, and he even felt a sort of solemn regret when the stranger departed. He soon retired to bed, determining to proceed early in the morning.

He arose about daylight; the horizon was overcast, and it had begun to rain, which before sunrise had encreased to a violent storm. He found therefore that he must content himself to stay until it was over, which did not happen till near night, and too late to pursue his journey. He was informed by the inn-keeper, that the theatre, which had been closed since the commencement of the war, was to be opened that night only, with the tragedy of _Gustavus_, and close with a representation of Burgoyne's capture, and some other recent events of the American war.

To "wing the hours with swifter speed," Alonzo determined to go to the theatre, and at the hour appointed he repaired thither.

As he was proceeding to take his seat, he pa.s.sed the box where sat the young officer, whose manners had so prepossessed him the preceding evening at the inn. He immediately arose: they exchanged salutations, and Alonzo walked on and took his seat. The evening was warm, and the house exceedingly crowded. After the tragedy was through, and before the after-piece commenced, the young officer came to Alonzo's box, and made some remarks on the merit of the actors. While they were discoursing, a bustle took place in one part of the house, and several people gathered around a box, at a little distance from them. The officer turned, left Alonzo, and hastened to the place. To the general enquiry, "_what's the matter?_" it was answered, that "a lady had fainted." She was led out, and the tumult subsided.

As soon as the after-piece was closed, Alonzo returned to the inn. As he pa.s.sed along he cast his eyes toward the church-yard, where lay the "wither'd blessings of his richest joys." Affection, pa.s.sion, inclination, urged him to go and breathe a farewell sigh, to drop a final tear over the grave of Melissa. Discretion, reason, wisdom forbade it--forbade that he re-pierce the ten thousand wounds of his bosom, by the acute revival of unavailing sorrows. He hurried to his chamber.

As he prepared to retire to rest, he saw a book lying on the table near his bed. On taking it up he found it to be _Young's Night Thoughts_, a book which, in happier days, had been the solace of many a gloomy, many a lucid hour. He took it up and the first lines he cast his eyes upon were the following:

"Song, beauty, youth, love, virtue, joy: this group Of bright ideas--flowers of Paradise, As yet unforfeit! in one blaze we bind.

Kneel, and present it to the skies; as all We guess of Heaven! And _these_ were all her own And she was mine, and I was--was most blest-- Like blossom'd trees o'erturn'd by vernal storm, Lovely in death the beauteous ruin lay-- Ye that e'er lost an angel, pity me."

His tears fell fast upon the book! He replaced it and flung himself into bed. Sleep was far from him; he closed not his eyes till the portals of light were unbarred in the east, when he fell into interrupted slumbers.

When he awoke, the morning was considerably advanced. He arose. One consolation was yet left--to see his parents happy. He went down to order his carriage; his favourite stranger, the young officer, was in waiting, and requested a private interview. They immediately retired to a separate room, when the stranger thus addressed Alonzo:

"From our short acquaintance, you may, sir, consider it singular that I should attempt to scrutinize your private concerns, and more extraordinary you may esteem it, when I inform you of my reasons for so doing. Judging, however, from appearances, I have no doubt of your candour. If my questions should be deemed improper, you will tell me so."

Alonzo a.s.sured him he would treat him candidly. "This I believe, said the young officer; I take the liberty therefore to ask if you are an American?"----"I am," answered Alonzo. "I presume, said the stranger--the question is a delicate one--I presume your family is respectable?" "Sacredly so," replied Alonzo. "Are you married, sir?"

"I am not, and have ever been single." "Have you any prospects of connecting in marriage?" "I have not, sir." "I may then safely proceed, said the stranger; I trust you will hear me attentively; you will judge maturely; you will decide correctly, and I am confident that you will answer me sincerely.

"A young lady of this city, with whom I am well acquainted, and to whom, indeed, I am distantly related, whose father is affluent, whose connections are eminently respectable, whose manners are engaging, whose mind is virtue, whose elegance of form and personal beauty defy compet.i.tion, is the cause, sir, of this mission.--Early introduced into the higher walks of life, she has pa.s.sed the rounds of fas.h.i.+onable company; numberless suitors sighed for her hand, whom she complaisantly dismissed without disobliging, as her heart had not yet been touched by the tender pa.s.sion of love. Surprising as it may, however, seem, it is now about six months since she saw in her dream the youth who possessed the power to inspire her with this pa.s.sion. In her dream she saw a young gentleman whose interesting manners and appearance, impressed her so deeply that she found she must be unhappy without him. She thought it was in a mixed company she saw him, but that she could not get an opportunity to speak to him. It seemed that if she could but speak with him, all difficulties would at once be removed. At length he approached her, and just as he was about to address her, she awoke.

"This extraordinary dream she had communicated to several of her acquaintance.--Confident that she should some time or other behold the real person whose semblance she had seen in her dream, she has never since been perfectly at ease in her mind. Her father, who has but two children, one beside herself, being dotingly fond of her, has promised that if ever she meets this unknown stranger, he will not oppose their union, provided he is respectable, and that, if worthy of her hand, he will make him independent.

"On my return from the inn the evening I first saw you, I told my sister--I beg pardon, sir--I was wandering from my subject--after I first met you at the inn, I fell in company with the lady, and in a rallying way told her that I had seen her _invisible beau_, as we used to call the gentleman of the dream. I superficially described your person, and descanted a little on the embellishments of your mind. She listened with some curiosity and attention; but I had so often jested with her in this manner, that she thought little of it. At the play last night, I had just been speaking to her when I came to your box: her eyes followed me, but no sooner had they rested on you, than she fainted!

This was the cause of my leaving you so abruptly, and not returning. We conveyed her home, when she informed me that you was the person she had seen in her dream!

"To me only, she preferred disclosing the circ.u.mstance at present, for reasons which must be obvious to your understanding.--Even her father and mother are not informed of it, and should my mission prove unsuccessful, none except you, sir, she and myself, I hope and trust, will ever know any thing of the matter.

"Now, sir, it is necessary for me farther to explain. As singular as the circ.u.mstances which I have related may appear to you, to me they must appear as strange.--One valuable purpose is, however, answered thereby; it will exclude the imputation of capriciousness----the freakish whim of _love at first sight_, which exists only in novels and romances. You, sir, are young, unmarried, unaffianced, your affections free: such is the condition of the lady. She enquires not into the state of your property! she asks not riches:--If she obtains the object of her choice, on him, as I have told you, will her father bestow affluence.----Whatever, sir, may be your pretensions to eminence, and they may be many, the lady is not your inferior. Her education also is such as would do honour to a gentleman of taste.