The power of sympathy: or, The triumph of nature. Founded in truth.Brown, William Hill
General
The power of sympathy: or, The triumph of nature. Founded in truth.
Brown, William Hill
Man-woman relationships -- Fiction
“To the man for whom my bleeding heart yet retains its wonted affection,
though the author of my guilt and misery, do I address my feeble
complaint—O! _Harrington_, I am verging to a long eternity—and it is
with difficulty I support myself while my trembling hand traces the
dictates of my heart. Indisposed as I am—and unable as I feel to
prosecute this talk—I however collect all my powers to bid you a long—a
final farewel.
“OH! _Harrington_, I am about to depart—for why should I tarry here? In
bitter tears of sorrow do I weep away the night, and the returning day
but augments the anguish of my heart, by recalling to view the sad sight
of my misfortunes. And have I not cause for this severe anguish, at once
sorrow and disgrace of my family?—Alas! my poor mother!—Death shall
expiate the crime of thy daughter, nor longer raise the blush of
indignation on thy glowing cheek.—Ought I not, therefore, to welcome the
hand of death?
“But what will become of my poor helpless infant, when its mother lies
forgotten in the grave? Wilt thou direct its feet in the path of virtue
and rectitude? Wilt thou shelter it from the rude blasts of penury and
want?—Open your heart to the solicitude of a mother—of a mother
agonizing for the future welfare of her child. Let me intreat you to
perform this request—by the love which you professed for thy _Maria_—by
her life which you have sacrificed.
“AND wilt thou not drop a tear of pity in the grave of thy _Maria_?—I
know thy soul is the soul of sensibility; but my departure shall not
grieve thee—no, my _Harrington_, it shall not wrest a sigh from thy
bosom—rather let me live, and defy the malice and misery of the
world—But can tenderness—can love atone for the sacrifices I have
made?—Will it blot out my errours from the book of memory? Will love be
an excuse for my crime, or hide me from the eye of the malignant—No, my
_Harrington_, it will not. The passion is unwarrantable. Be it thine,
gentle _Amelia_—be it thine to check the obtruding sigh, and wipe away
the tear from his face—for thou art his wife, and thy soul is the seat
of compassion—But—for me—
“Farewel—farewel forever!
MARIA.”
SHE survived but a short time—and frequently expressed a concern for the
child—but Mrs. _Holmes_ quieted her fears by promising to protect it.
She accordingly made inquiry after it—and it is the same _Harriot_ who
was educated by her order, and whom she afterwards placed in the family
of Mrs. _Francis_.
The assurances of my mother were like balm to the broken hearted
_Maria_—“I shall now,” said she, “die in peace.”
THE following is a copy of a letter written by the Rev. Mr. _Holmes_ to
the Hon. Mr. _Harrington_:—
_Belleview._
“SIR,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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