Tales for Fifteen; Or, Imagination and HeartCooper, James Fenimore
General
Tales for Fifteen; Or, Imagination and Heart
Cooper, James Fenimore
Girls -- Conduct of life -- Juvenile fiction; New York (N.Y.) -- Juvenile fiction
in the world; and nothing can tear the dear emblem
from his keeping. He called here yesterday in his
phaeton, and insisted on my riding a few short
miles in his company: I assented, for I knew it was
to talk of my friend. He already feels your worth,
and handed me the following verses, which he
begged me to offer as the sincere homage of his
heart. He intends accompanying my father and me
to town next winter--provided I go.
"Oh! charming image of an artless fair,
"Whose eyes, with lightning, fire the very soul;
"Whose face portrays the mind, and ebon hair
"Gives grace and harmony unto the whole.
"In vain I gaze entranc'd, in vain deplore
"The leagues that roll between the maid and me;
"Lonely I wander on the desert shore,
"And Julia's lovely form can never see.
"But fly, ye fleeting hours, I beg ye fly,
"And bring the time when Anna seeks her friend;
"Haste--Oh haste, or Edward sure must die.
"Arrive--and quickly Edward's sorrows end."
I know you will think with me, that these lines are
beautiful, and merely a faint image of his manly
heart. In the course of our ride, during which he did
nothing but converse on your beauty and merit, he
gave me a detailed narrative of his life. It was
long, but I can do no less than favour you with an
abridgment of it. Edward Stanley was early left an
orphan: no father's guardian eye directed his
footsteps; no mother's fostering care cherished his
infancy. His estate was princely, and his family
noble, being a wronged branch of an English
potentate. During his early youth he had to contend
against the machinations of a malignant uncle, who
would have robbed him of his large possessions,
and left him in black despair, to have eaten the
bread of penury. His courage and understanding,
however, conquered this difficulty, and at the age
of fourteen he was quietly admitted to an
university. Here he continued peacefully to wander
amid the academic bowers, until the blast of war
rung in his ears, and called him to the field of
honour. Edward was ever foremost in the hour of
danger. It was his fate to meet the enemy often,
and as often did "he pluck honour from the pale-
fac'd moon." He fought at Chippewa--bled at the
side of the gallant Lawrence-and nearly laid down
his life on the ensanguined plains of Marengo. But
it would be a fruitless task to include all the scenes
of his danger and his glory. Thanks to the kind
fates which shield the lives of the brave, he yet
lives to adore my Julia. That you may be as happy
as you deserve, and happier than your heart-
stricken friend, is the constant prayer of your
ANNA."
"P. S. Write me soon, and make my very best
respects to your excellent aunt. It was laughable
enough that Charles Weston should be afraid of a
flash of lightning. I mentioned it to Antonio, who
cried, while manly indignation clouded his brow,
'chill penury repressed his noble rage, and froze the
genial current of the soul.' However, say nothing to
Charles about it, I charge you."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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