Whoever has made a voyage up the Hudson must remember the CatskillMountains. They are a branch of the great vAppalachian9-* family, andare seen away to the west of the river, swelling up to a noble height,and lording it over the surrounding country. Every change of season,every change of weather, indeed, every hour of the day, produces somechange in the magical hues and shapes of these mountains, and they areregarded by all the goodwives, far and near, as perfect vbarometers.
Suddenly, as we sat staring at the fire, we were beset by a band ofmaidens, coming out of the woods, painted, with antlers upon their headsand pine branches in their hands. They danced about us, now advancing[93]until the green needles met above our heads, now retreating until therewas a space of turf between us. They moved with grace, keeping time to aplaintive song, now raised by the whole choir, now fallen to a singlevoice.
Maiden Voyage Ebook Rar
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The moon, being the nearest to the earth of all the heavenlybodies, has always occupied the imagination of men. Many fancifulaccounts have been written of voyages to the moon, of which thefollowing story by Edgar Allan Poe is among the best. So wonderfulhas been the advance of science that it is conceivable that at somedistant time in the future the inhabitants of this world maypossibly be able to visit the beautiful body which lights the nightfor us.
The letter to Sir Henry, was from the surgeon of George's regiment. Itstated that George had been severely ill, and that connected with hisillness, were symptoms which made it imperative on the medical adviser,to recommend the immediate presence of his nearest male relative.Apologies were made for the apparent mystery of the communication, witha promise that this would be at once cleared up, if Sir Henry would butconsent to make the voyage; which would not only enable him to be ofessential service to his brother, but also to acquire much informationregarding him, which could only be obtained on the spot. A note fromGeorge was enclosed in this letter. It was written with an unsteadyhand, and made no mention of his illness. He earnestly begged hisbrother to come to Malta, if he could possibly so arrange it, andtransmitted his kindest love and blessing to Emily.
Sir Henry Delmé left England with very unenviable sensations. A cloudseemed to hang over the fate of his brother, which no speculations ofhis could pierce. Numberless were the conjectures he formed, as to thereal causes of George's sickness and mental depression. It was in vainhe re-read the letters, and varied his comments on their contents. Itwas evident, that nothing but his actual presence in Malta, couldunravel the mystery. Sir Henry had one consolation; how great, letthose judge who have had aught dear placed in circumstances at allsimilar. He had a confidence in George's character, which entirelyrelieved him from any fear that the slightest taint could have infectedit. But an act of imprudence might have destroyed his peace ofmind--sickness have wasted his body. Nor was his uncertainty regardingGeorge, Delmé's only cause of disquiet. When he thought of JuliaVernon, there was a consequent internal emotion, that he could notsubdue. He endeavoured to forget her--her image haunted him. Hemeditated on his past conduct; and at times it occurred to him, thatthe resolutions he had formed, were not the result of reason, but werebased on pride and prejudice. He thought of her as he had last seenher. Now she spoke with enthusiasm of the bright stars of heaven;anon, her eye glistened with piety, as she showed how the feeling thesecreated, was but subservient to a nobler one still. Again, he wasbeside her in the moment of maiden agony; when low accents falteredfrom her quivering lip, and the hand that rested on his arm, trembledfrom her heart's emotion.
A courier from England had that morning arrived--the vessel was about toreturn--her canvas was already loosened--the blue Peter streaming in thewind. Delmé hesitated not an instant, but threw himself into a boat, andwas rowed alongside. The yacht's commander was a lieutenant in ourservice, although a Maltese by birth. He at once entered into SirHenry's views, and felt delighted at the prospect of a companion in hisvoyage. A short time elapsed--the anchor was up--the white sails beganto fill--Sir Henry was once more on the wide sea.
Delmé's voyage was not unpropitious, although the yacht was frequentlybaffled by contrary winds, which prevented the passage being veryspeedy. During the day, the weather was ordinarily blustering, at timesstormy; but with the setting sun, it seemed that tranquillity came; forduring the nights, which were uncommonly fine, gentle breezes continuedto fill the sails, and their vessel made tardy but sure progress. Henrywould sit on deck till a late hour, lost in reverie. There would heremain, until each idle mariner was sunk to rest; and nothing but thedistant tread of the wakeful watch, or the short cough of the helmsman,bespoke a sentinel over the habitation on the waters. How would therecollections of his life crowd upon him!--the loss of his parent--theworld's first opening--bitter partings--painful misgivings--the lonebivouac--the marshalling of squadrons--the fierce charge--theexcitement of victory, whose charm was all but flown, for where were thecomrades who had fought beside him? These things were recalled, andbrought with them alternate pain and pleasure. And a less remote era ofhis life would be presented him; when he tasted the welcome of home--sawhands uplifted in gratitude--was cheered by a brother's greeting, andsubdued by a sister's kiss. But there was a thought, which let himdwell as he might on others, remained the uppermost of all. It was ofJulia Vernon, and met him as a reproach. If his feelings were not ofthat enthusiastic nature, which they might have been were he now in hisgreen youth, they were not on this account the less intense. They werecoloured by the energy of manhood. He had lost a portion of hisself-respect: for he knew that his conduct had been vacillating withregard to one, whom each traversed league, each fleeting hour, proved tobe yet dearer than he had deemed her.
This form having been gone through, a narrow wicket was opened for theirpassage. They crossed a species of common, and, after a few minutes'walk, found themselves in front of the barrack. This was a plain stonebuilding, enclosing a small court, in the centre of which stood a marblebason. The taste of some of the officers had peopled this with goldenfish; whilst on the bason's brim were placed stands for exotics, whosefragrance charmed our sea-worn traveller, so lately emancipated fromthose sad drawbacks to a voyage, the odours of tar and bilge water.
"Yet, even in that moment of delirium, Henry, I told her of you, and ofthe many obstacles which still presented themselves to retard or evenprevent our union. I sought my friend Delancey, and remonstrated withhim. He appeared to doubt my right to question his motives. Success mademe feel still more injured. I showered down reproaches. He could nothave acted differently. We met! and I saw him fall! Till then, I hadconsidered myself as the injured man; but as I heard him on the groundname his mother, and one dearer still--as he took from his breast thelast gift she had made him--as he begged of me to be its bearer; Ithen first felt remorse. He was taken to his room. Even the surgeonentertained no hopes. He again called me to his side; I heard his nobleacknowledgment, his reiterated vows of friendship, the mournful tones ofhis farewell. I entered this room a heart-broken man. I felt my pulsethrob fearfully, a gasping sensation was in my throat, my head swamround, and I clung to the wall for support. The next thing of which Ihave any recollection, was the dawn of reason breaking through mytroubled dreams. It was midnight--all was still. The fitful lamp shonedimly through my chamber. I turned on my side--and, oh! by its light, Isaw the face I most loved--that face, whose gentle lineaments, were eachdeeply and separately engraven on my heart. I saw her bending over mewith a maiden's love and a mother's solicitude. As I essayed tospeak--as my conscious eye met her's--as the soft words of affectionwere involuntarily breathed by my feeble lips--how her features lit upwith joy! Oh, say not, Henry, till you have experienced such a moment oftransport, say not that the lips which then vowed eternal fidelity, thatthe young hearts which then plighted their truth, and vowed to lovefor ever--oh call not these guilty!
Woman! dearest woman! born to alleviate our sorrow, and soothe ouranguish! who canst bid feeling's tear trickle down the obdurate cheek,or mould the iron heart, till it be pliable as a child's--why stain thygentle dominion by inconstancy? why dismiss the first form that hauntedthy maiden pillow, until--or that vision is a dear reality besidethee--or thou liest pale and hushed, on thy last couch of repose?
He mused over the antique tombs of some of the departed knights; andadmired the rich mosaics in that splendid church, dedicated to SaintJohn; than which the traveller may voyage long, and meet nothingworthier his notice. He visited the ancient armoury--dined at thepalace, and at the different messes--inspected the laborioustravailings of the silkworm at the boschetto--conversed with theoriginal of Byron's Leila--a sweet creature she is!--looked withwondering eye on the ostrich of Fort Manuel--and heard the thencommandant's wife relate her tale thereanent. He went to Gozzo too--shotrabbits--and crossed in a basket to the fungus rock. He saw a festa inthe town, and a festa in the country--rode to St. Antonio, and St.Paul's Bay--and was told he had seen the lions. Nor must we pass overthat most interesting of spectacles; viz., some figures enveloped inmonkish cowl, and placed in convenient niches; but beneath the closehood, the blood mounts not with devotion's glow, nor do eyes glare fromsockets shrunk by abstinence. Skeletons alone are there! 2ff7e9595c
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