And a banner long shall wave on high, And long your children stand, United, with a sacred tie, To guard their native land. [[A song called "Thick Clouds Were Darkly Pending" was popular in the Civil War years, but has not been located.]] [Transcriber's Note: The next several chapters--most of VII-XII, and much of VI and XIII--are taken from _Alonzo and Melissa_ (see Sources section), often verbatim. Substitutions: Melissa = Alida; Alonzo = Theodore; Beauman = Bonville; Vincent and Mrs. Vincent = Raymond and Mrs. Raymond; Melissa's brother Edgar = Alida's brother Albert; Melissa's aunt has no equivalent, except as a walk-on. New London and New York are conflated into New York; the Revolutionary War is changed to the War of 1812. In _Alonzo and Melissa_, the father is cruel and mercenary; the plot complications (all seen from Alonzo's point of view) are, as the title has it, "caused by the barbarity of an unfeeling father". Melissa's mother is alive throughout the novel, but she is such a doormat that her existence makes no difference to the plot.] CHAPTER VI. And may each day returning, with it bring That peace that o'er the weary senses fling A calm content; where no alloy attends The pleasing intercourse of happy friends. Albert, the brother of Alida, during his residence in New-York, had formed an indissoluble friendship with a young gentleman who had lately graduated at Columbia College. His name was Theodore. He was about twenty years of age: he had been esteemed an excellent student. His appearance was manly, open, and free. His eye indicated a nobleness of mind; he was naturally cheerful, although his aspect was tinged with melancholy, and his disposition was rather of the romantic cast. His father was an eminent merchant in the city, and had long been engaged in the various scenes of commerce. His son was designed for the law; but as the students were allowed some vacant time after their graduation before they entered upon their professional studies, he thought to improve this interim in mutual friendly visits, mingling sometimes with select parties in the amusements of the day, and in travelling through some parts of the United States. [_A&M_ (opening paragraph): In the time of the late revolution, two young gentlemen of Connecticut, who had formed an indissoluble friendship, graduated at Yale college in New Haven; their names were Edgar and Alonzo; Edgar was the son of a respectable farmer, Alonzo's father was an eminent merchant--Edgar was designed for the desk, Alonzo for the bar; but as they were allowed some vacant time after their graduation before they entered upon their professional studies, they improved this interim in mutual, friendly visits, mingling with select parties in the amusement of the day, and in travelling through some parts of the United States.] [_A&M_: