Summer on the Lakes, in 1843

scene. I had become interested in the land, in the people, and looked sorrowfully on

e heat was excessive, so that there was no enjoyment of life, except in the night, but then the air was of that delicious temperature, worthy o

achusetts, seemed to say that the July moon shone th

FOR

forehead's d

clear her r

treasure of

eloped de

epressed such

by each fli

ut wonder

awe, I gaz

her, as a

lustrous tw

crescent, s

the leaves b

Diana, fli

the wood its

I

et. O joyf

ce now was

airs her kin

so musica

antic fore

antic path

in her sis

her beauty

d Cynthia wa

e earth wi

e condesce

mions, coar

waking soul

nights too

I

ut fickle

y full form

riendship!

weet light

in the dea

or through t

stares-a bo

ut never fi

of my boy

light on ma

thou fair inf

soul by n

at while in h

touch, thy

of polar ic

t touch of m

love has w

let thy b

s from others from an earlier traveller, and in a different region of the country fro

NG GROVE IN

has Spring pranked the long smooth reaches with those golden flowers, whereby became the fields a sea too golden to o'erlast the heats. Yes! and with many a yellow bell she gilded our unbounded path, that sank in the light swells of the varied surface, skirted the unfilled barrens, nor shunned the ste

re suffers no ravage, amid those bowers of wild-wood, those dream-like, bee-sung, murmuring and musical plains, swimming under their hazy distances, as if there, in that warm and deep back ground, stood the fairy castle of our hopes, with its fountains, its pict

darkness and blowing sand. There, very weary, I received from the distance a sweet emblem of an incorruptib

rand and majestic, while I had scarcely a right there. Now, ye stand in that past day, grateful images of unshattered repo

g. And you, forests, under whose symmetrical shields of dark green the colors of the fawns move, like the waters of the river under its spears,-its cimeters of flag, where, in gleaming circles of steel, the breasts of the

the painter's eye, as

, Illinois,

, and the tops of the hills are generally bald, and covered with green turf, like our pastures. Indeed, the whole country reminds me perpetually of one that has been carefully cultivated by a civilized people, who had been suddenly removed from the earth, with all the works of their hands, and the land given again into nature's keeping. The solitudes are not savage; they have not that dreary, stony loneliness that used to affect me in our own country; they never repel; there are no lonely heights, no isolated spots, but all is gentle, mild, inviting,-all is accessible. In following this winding, hilly road for four or five miles, I think I counted at least a dozen new kinds of wild flowers, not timid, retiring little plants like ours, but bold flowers of rich colors, covering the ground in abundance. One very common flower resembles our cardinal flower, though not of so deep a color, another is very like rocket or phlox, but smaller and of various colors, white, blue and purple. Beautiful white lupines I find too, violets white an

ITA

eariness thou

on the dusty

e, yet with i

ither turning

t, or what dark c

eary, rest, i

VEL

ather, let m

do seek, what

s I've left my

n by insati

wind, now gen

ward with its

eaved woods, a

before me. T

hurrying tempe

ly its power.

nted ties, I s

is a somethin

nce, before I

autiful broad

is a spirit

maged features

of these high-m

s visit me. L

ts appear, b

ter in a fa

lcome me. And

lasp the figur

omened ghastl

e, and not t

crets of that

aunts me.-On t

, warmed with t

golden stream

pathway to a

und, if that my

might f

ITA

son. Yes, eve

as thwarted.

er long and tr

e. And you shall

hadows substanc

rter, joy, and

too shall

VEL

ho c

boundary? Wha

k our senses,

ht within, whi

stark real

ill of man. The

with me thro

urse with ceas

man, that I m

w? He passed b

ut these stay

young man reste

gay, in laught

ight in convers

took his s

ed the old man's

s too be

and cultivated, yet all uninhabited. I think it would impress you, as it does me, that these scenes are truly sublime. I have a sensation of vastness which I have sought in vain among high mountains. Mountains crowd one sensation on another, till all is excitement, all is surprise, wonder, enchantment. Here is neither enc

ere there is so much to admire. Yet the foll

effects of his exertions as he could here.-To be sure he could not. Here he comes, like a yankee farmer, with all the knowledge that our hard soil and laborious cultivation could give him, and what wonder if he is surprised at the work of his own hands, when he comes to such a soil as this. But he feeds not so many mouths, though he tills more

by night, eating only what they bring with them. In the town they observe the same plan, and trouble no luxurious hotel for board and lodging. In the town they look like foreign peasantry, and contrast well wit

anting it from their rapid and marvellous journey. Especi

th people from the south and farther west, to go in them. These moonlight nights I would hear t

s to be learned. And any one who has a large acquaintance may be p

me. Mariana, so full of life, was dead. That form, the most rich in energy and coloring of any I had ever seen, had faded from the earth. The circle of youthful associations ha

bright or earnest girls, only one who interested my fancy or touched my young heart; and this was Mariana. She was, on the father's s

house to a day-school; but the aunt, being absent for a time in Europe, she had

rst, her schoolmates were captivated with her ways; her love of wild dances and sudden song, her

ted them to follow out hers with their whole strength. She was very loving, even infatuated in her own aff

e entirely, and at these times she would expect to be thoroughly understood, and let alone, yet to be welcomed back

instead of being disturbed, was excited to great action. Pausing, she would declaim verse of others or her own; act many parts, with strange catch-words and burdens that seemed to act with mystical power on her own fancy, sometimes stimulating her to convulse the hearer with laughter, sometimes to me

e evening, and often spoiled her sleep. She would wake in the night, and cheat her r

otherwise, showed the same profound stupidity as to this peculiar being, usual in the overseers o

ould have seemed ludicrous to her mates, if they had not felt some awe of her, from a touch of genius and power that never left her, for costume and fancy dresses, always some sash twisted about her, some drapery, something odd

she found entertainment congenial with her. The principal parts, as a matter of course, fell to her lot; most

was delightful to them-it was something so out of the way. But Mariana, after the plays were over

ht it made her look prettier; but, after a while, she became quite petula

or malignity. They talked it over among themselves, till they got wrought up to a desire

aid, with great glee, a plan one evening, which w

it while each one was served at so large a table, and one where there was scarcely any conversation; from day to day it became more heavy to her to sit the

whom happiness was a still rapture. It was one of the most blessed summer days; the shadows of great white clouds empurpled the distant hills for a few moments only to leave

then the must, which daily life can always enforce, even upon the butterflies and birds, came, and she walked re

She looked at the next, same apparition! She then slowly passed her eyes down the whole line, and saw the same, with a suppressed smile distorting every countenance. Catching the design at once, she deliberately

him with a brickbat or a rotten egg, they had some preparation for the crisis, and it might not be very difficult to meet it with an impas

and loaded them with prodigal favors, nor once suspected that a powerful favorite might not be loved. Now,

Roman matron truly say of her death-wound, "It is not painful, Poetus." She did not blench-she did not change coun

from the restraints of the dining-room, they all ran off, gaily calling,

outgrown them. School-hours came, and she was not there. A little girl, sent to her door, could get no answer. The teachers became alarmed, and broke it open. Bitter was their peni

d its poisoned dart sank deeply in. It was this thought which stung her so. What, not one, not a single one, in the hour of trial, to take my part, not one who refused to take part against me. Past words of love, and caresses

s was uniform, her manner much subdued. Her chief interest seemed now to lie in her studies, and in music. Her companions she never sought, but they, partly from uneasy remorseful feelings, partly t

genius of discord among them. She fanned those flames of envy and jealousy which a wise, true word from a third will often quench forever; by a glance, or a seemingly light reply, she planted the seeds o

eens and browns of life. The heroine of one of these, "The Bandit's Bride," I immediately saw in Mariana. Surely the Bandit's Bride had just such hair, and such strange, lively ways, and such a sudden flash of the eye. The Band

and would rather do it herself. She did not like to have people turn over for her the leaves of the music book as she played. Did I approach

cried, "O Mariana, do let me love you, and try to love me a little." But my idol snatched away her hand, and, laughing more wildly than the Bandit's Bride was e

that something more than common was brewing. Dismay and mystery were writt

us stay; and, in a grave, sad voice, summoned fort

ight of the older girls came forward, and preferred against h

he thought of this second disgrace of my shining favorite. The first had been whispered to me, though the girls did not like to talk about

ould no more resist the truth, she suddenly threw herself down, dashing her head, with all

ccasion, and approached very carefully a nature so capable of any extreme. After awhile she revived, with a faint groan, amid the sobs of her companions. I was on my

presented to her, or any one drew near for any cause, she merely turned away her head, and gave no sign. The teacher saw

red child. All these months nothing but the sense of injury had rankled in her heart. She

not seen before the baseness and cruelty of falsehood, the loveliness of truth. Now, amid the wreck, uprose the moral nature which never before had attained the

s its leaden weight into the past, and, similar features of character bringing similar results, draws up a heavy burden buried in those depths. But only youth has

great tenderness. And now love seemed, when all around were in greatest distress, fearing to call in medical aid, f

hair loose, her dress the same robe they had put on her at first, her eyes fixed vacan

rs, but Mariana did not

ult can mar a whole life. Let me trust you, let me tell you the griefs of my sa

admired to see how the cheek, lovely, but no longer young, mantled with the deepest blush of youth, and the blue eyes were cast down at any little emotion. She had understood the proud sensibility

llen from flame to coal. When her strength was a little restored, she had all her companions summoned, and said to them; "I deserved to die, but

e another in offices of humble love to the humbled one; and, let it be recorded as an instance of the pure honor of which

She went thither a wonderfully instructed being, though in

isis, which she so early passed through, probably prevented the world from hearing much of her. A wild fire was tamed

she was one of those barks which easily get beyond s

north had exasperated nerves too susceptible for their tension. Those of the south restored her to

and he came to her under a form that migh

e steady gaze of his large brown eye, but it was a repose that would give way to a blaze of energy when the occasion called. In his stature, expression, and heavy coloring, he migh

ed his. But, oh! it is a curse to woman to love first, or most. In so doing she revers

ety to love with. Sylvain seemed, at first, to take her to himself,

little delicacy of sentiment. The gifts she loved to prepare of such for him, he took with a sweet, but indolent smile; he held them lightly, and soon they fell from hi

y a whole province of her being to which nothing in his answered, she was too deeply in love to leave him. Often after passing hours together, beneath the southern moon, when, amid the sweet intoxication of mutual love, she s

er, soon to be the bosom friend, could have dreamed of these conflicts

e moon. Mariana, with a heart capable of highest Eros, gave it to one who knew love only as a flower or plaything, and bound her heartstrings to one who parted his as lightly as the ripe fruit leaves the bough. The sequel could not fail. Many console themselves for the one great mistake with their children, with the world. This was not possible to Mariana. A few months

f

onizin

lore from

ndiffe

shame that

ard, stil

n her preciou

his black

cases proceed. I cannot detail all the symptoms, for I was not there to watch them, and aunt Z. was neither so faith

ment had been muse-like, that of the improvisatrice, whose kindling fancy seeks to create an atmosphere round it, and makes the chain through which to set free its electric sparks. That had been a time of wild and exuberant life. After her character became more tender and concentrated, strong affection or a pure enthusiasm might still have called out

aring her with the careless shining dames of society,

er again, and take a path where they could walk hand in hand. Sylvain, in these intervals, wanted an indolent repose. His home was his castle. He wanted no scenes too exciting there. Light jousts and plays were well enough, but no grave encounters. He liked to lounge, to sing, t

home as an orphan asylum may afford. This she did rather because the chance came to her, and it seemed unfit not to seize the proffered plank, than in hope, for s

ve not, but

ch into the tie, into the hour, till she filled it too full for them. Like Fortunio, who sought to do homage to his friends by building a fire of cinnamon, not knowing that its perfume would be too strong for their

d not have availed her! It was a nobler road, a higher

to health and recover the tone of her spirits, as she might. More solitary than ever, she tried to raise herself, but she knew not yet enough. The weight laid upon her young life was a

ven way where so many have conquered. But peace be with her; she now, perhaps, has entered into a larger freedom, which is knowledge. With her died a great interest in life to me. Since her I have neve

written when some faint gleam had been thrown across the path, only to make its darkness more visible. It seems to have been suggested by remembrance of t

ea

white arms, an

sorrows in t

se against the

nnot be colder

ere where H

n the tim

is grief in

ars from a

r for thy m

ut know what he

eet recolle

a desert f

y arms burd

d man, she d

he films of

eye's swe

loved, and s

lone the who

shade of d

the star in

breast the

th has no m

oves has kno

loved doth

outcasts fro

n to a lon

heir hidden

em to the wh

heart have n

holy pledge

love were ne

ther's eye

ss and fru

stream, a m

yet never

heir music

ere where

I could no

en this dul

till will ma

e by, nor tou

ot yield one

late it ca

ate, and al

dst the dark

this dart wit

think thou

e whole to t

y will not

child no h

d snow all

this decre

t try ano

at I have

the very l

rth I'll wa

ear the trea

e stay and

found that,

e for a pre

t bad, I kn

know not w

tools of th

ost lover m

sometimes s

groves, aw

e head, by he

blows aw

kind, and

e had not

great disc

ave acted w

hirst, that n

unfounden w

of my life

he me to

o more!-many resources would have presented themselves. He would not have needed to seek, he would have been called by life, and not permitted to be q

nd those reserves which mark the appointed lot of woman. But, when she met Van Artevelde, he was too great not to revere her rare nature, without regard to the stains and errors of its past history; gr

ut a man whose eye reads the heavens while his feet step firmly on the ground, and his hands are strong and dexterous for the use of human implements. A man religious, virtuous and-sagacious; a man of universal sympathies, but self-possessed; a man who knows the region of emotion, though he is not its slave; a man to whom this world is no mere spectacle, or fleeting shadow, but a great solemn game to be played with good heed, for its stakes are of eternal value, yet who, if his ow

y, while hours of association, never perhaps to return, were granted. I have fixed my attention almost exclusively on the picturesque beauty of this region; it was so n

n early youth, she has endangered her honor. But you cannot look about you there, without seeing that there are

RAIRIE OF

d private honor become identical! Might the western man in that crowded and exciting life which develops his faculties so fully for to-day, not forget that better part

may be leaven enough for the mass constantly increasing by emigration. And how much is this needed where those rude foreigners can so little understand the best interests of the land they seek f

ty, and kind feeling; but, if there was much serious laying to heart of

be a truly valuable settler in a new and great country-Morris Birkbeck, of England. Since my return, I have read his journey t

th all he had, and was, and wished. He thought all the creatures of a divine love ought to be happy and ought to be good, and that his own sou

ial and poetic influences;-these were his aims. How different from those of the new settlers in general! And into his mind so long ago shone steadily the

his ends, had he been sustained by funds from England, as he had a right to expect. But through the profligacy of a near relative, commissioned to

signs. The English farmer might have made the English settlement a model for good met

makes me impatient of this careless blame being passed from mouth to mouth and book, to book. Success is no test of a man's endeavor, and I

ed; but the time is growing up to him, and will und

ven me by a friend, as expressing, in

ary to cross a ford, which was rendered difficult by the swelling of the stream. Mr. B.'s horse was unwilling to plunge into the water, so his son offered to go first, and he followed

is strength to stem the current and reach the shore at a point where they could land; but, encumbered by his own clothing and his father's weight, he made no progress; and when Mr. B. perceived this, he, with his characteristic calmness and resolution, gave up his hold of his son, an

weetest smile; and Bradford said, 'just so he smiled

side even life, when it is right and best. This little narrative touched my imagination in very early youth, and often h