Imatges de pàgina
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ALL FOR LOVE, ALL FOR HONOR.

In this land of liberty, the blessings of education are offered to all classes of citizens. It is its boast that the advantages of intellectual improvement may be attained by the humblest individual, and it is well known that no station of honor, or of profit, if that way ambition lies, is beyond the reach of talent or of industry.

The principle pervades our system, that education, like justice, should be brought home to every man's door; and our social compact looks for permanence to those exalted principles of action, which it is the province of history to preserve, and of learning to disseminate.

In the main, thus far, the effects have justified the means, and the great success of the experiment commends the further trial of its utility. But the human heart is a labyrinth more difficult than that of Crete, and few have succeeded in escaping its entanglements. Some of these, while their developement affords no objection to the progress of in

tellect, are often exceedingly singular. The pangs of that bosom, which education has lifted above its caste, are often acute in the extreme. How often the imagination becomes hallucinated, under the influence of mere refinement? The conduct of men of high genius, as often approaches the ridiculous as the sublime. Such at least has been the case with some of those who under peculiar circumstances have been so far enlightened by a good education as to become miserable in the sense of their other deficiencies. The evil cannot well be corrected; wisdom must be justified of her more fortunate children.

These remarks are probably too grave for the partial illustration that is to follow, but we hope that their truth may not be questioned, even if their moral belongs to some other incident.

I happened not long since, to be at Trenton Falls, and my friend V. S. whose long and intimate friendship I have learned more and more to prize, was as usual my companion. We were

lounging about, just in the vein for philosophising and rambling; talking, as it might happen, of or sorrow, education or irrigation.

scenery

Upon one of the beautiful days of summer, when the romantic valley of the Canada Creek, was filled with groups of visiters, we had stretched ourselves on the bank of the stream under the shade of a ven

erable pine.

The sky was cloudless: the roar of the waters breaking over the numerous precipices, soothed the spirit of the ennuyée, and the air set in motion at every successive chute, freshened the cheek of the most languid beauty.

The tourists, many of whom were but that hour unpacked from the post-coaches, that now minister so expeditiously to minds diseased, were here and there perched on picturesque points, like Cole's figures in his beautiful landscapes; small and uninteresting in comparison with the grand outlines about them, yet throwing an air of humanity over the Others, in the distance moved along like the figures of a diorama, as mechanically as their degree of feeling or of taste permitted. Now and then the loud halloo of some young cit, who was climbing up and down the ladders, was heard amid the solemn sound of the cascades, or the shriek of some alarmbelle, which served as a signal to recall her wandering attendants about her.

scene.

In one group there was a very lovely young woman, who was evidently the idol of her friends, and on whom youth, gaiety and beauty sat without an effort. Her appearance was that of unstudied elegance, and the sprightliness of her manner seemed a natural trait. Several other ladies were near, only making the contrast more favorable for her. One elderly gentleman, who had an air of haughtiness about him, and kept up the appearance of great self respect, nevertheless looked sufficiently pleased with the fair creature we have described, to indicate the high satisfaction she afforded his parental pride.

Several other gentlemen, dressed in the extreme of the mode, were extending much to their own delight, the petits soins of inimitable bagatelle, and were rendered 'happy forever' by the smallest acknowledgement with which she repaid their atten

tions.

If there ever was a celestial creature, said I to V. S., she is one; pray introduce me, she suits my fancy. Introduce me, and perhaps I'll marry her. 'Come now that's a good one Arlingford. Marry her! In the first place that's impossible; in the second place,- Oh never mind the second place,'

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replied I, if I cannot have the first. But now I

should like to know how you are assured of a circumstance so fatal to my budding hopes.' 'By the best means in the world; the girl is really worthy of all praise, and I confess I do not wonder at your willingness to pop the question after exactly five seconds observation, and no sort of acquaintance, for I declare to you the very same thing nearly happened to myself. You must know that aristocratic looking old gentleman with her is her father, and he is quite wrapped up in the idea of his family consequence, from the circumstance that his father came very near being hung during the revolution, as a tory. A whig descent, like yours or mine, would be no passport to his favor, I assure you. The young lady is above all such feeling, but she will never marry without his consent, and until a few days since was in a fair way of dying a spinster. When we return to town I will amuse you with a love adventure she has on hand, with an intimate friend of mine. I will show you a letter or two, perhaps, but just now I should dislike to commence a narrative that would be impertinently interrupted every moment. Content yourself with being introduced, and then give yourself up to dispair, since you can never meet with so fair a face again.'

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