Article #11 - An imaginary love story for the "Locust Grove Journal"

     A few years ago, on a very beautiful summer evening after the duties of the day were over, and all was in order so that I had nothing particularly to engage my attention, I took a ramble over the green meadoes [sic] and woods to amuse myself by surveying the beautiful works of nature which were displayed in all their magnificence and grandeur on every side.

            I plucked the natural flowers from their mother earth, and examined their beautiful and complicated structer [sic]; I viewed with great interest the rugged and various forms of the rocks and minerals, which are ever the delight of the geologist; I listened to the sweet songsters of the grove as they put forth their beautiful and melodious notes, which appeared so cheering that it seemed as though they would make light and cheerful hearts, where before sorrow and discord reigned. All these, together with many other things to make my ramble delightful, came under my notice and I felt amply rewarded for my journey. I at length arrived at a beautiful shady bower by the side of a brook, where was seated an interesting young man by the side of a beautiful girl who was leaning on his arm, and they both appeared to be very much affected. I quietly took my seat in a place that was concealed from their view, to await the result of their conversation. The young man was communicating to her in a low and serious tone of voice, the emotions of his heart, which [??] him that he loved her far more than any other being on earth; and that he never would be happy without her consent to be his companion through life. But alas! vain girl! She said she loved him with all her heart, but that he was poor, and was a decendent [sic]of those who did not stand as high in society as the circle she was accustomed to move in, and therefore she did not think he would suit the taste of her friends in general. This appeared to strike him a death blow from the very heart, and for a time he was speechless: then starting with a sudden emotion said: I know there is a vast difference in the extent of our fortunes; and (in the opinion of your friends) in the standing of our forefathers in society; but this difference is far more than balanced by the happiness we would enjoy if we were united as companions for each other through life, since our love and esteem for each other is far more than can be expressed in words. My love said he, I am not possessed of as large a fortune as you are, my society is not what is generally ranked among the first class; but I am honest, intelligent, and industrious, I have hands to work, have feelings to

be respected, and have a heart that will be broken if you do not grant my request. I can assure you in great sincerity, that I am well disposed, will make you a loving husband, and resolved to maintain you by the sweat of my brow, and certainly shall conduct the worldly affairs so that we shall live together in peace and harmony as long as God will permit my heart to pulsate in my breast, or the blood to flow in my veins.

            The girl replied; young man, I believe you are sincere in what you say, and would make a loving and affectionate husband; and it is indeed hard and painful for me to reject your humble request, but should I submit to it, my large circle of friends and acquaintances would consider my choice a very injudicious one, and would forever look upon me with scorn and contempt. I am therefore under the painful and mortifying necessity of rejecting you, hoping that you will meet with a companion as dear to you as myself. A profound silence followed these remarks, and it seemed to reveal more to the comprehending mind than could possibly have been done in words. But as the luminous king of day was about sinking in the western horizon, decking the tops of the distant hills and trees with a golden hue, they arose and departed to seek their respective abodes for the night. I did the same, soon after, with a heavy heart occasioned by what I had witnessed, but without experiencing any of the delight that I did on the outset, by viewing the magnificence and grandure [sic] of natures works displayed on all sides.

            A few weeks passed away which were long and dreary to the young man, whose time and thoughts were almost solely absorbed with what had taken place by the side of the brook of which I have spoken. The girl at length found another lover who stood high in the estimation of her wide circle of friends. His wealth was great, and of course was looked upon by them

as being the one for her; for wealth in the eyes of the [??] is what constitutes a worthy character. But his talents as a moral and intellectual man; his social feelings, his lasting love, were not to be compared to those of her former lover. But these things did not appear to be of much account to her, and the day was soon set for the matrimonial service to take place. A large company assembled, her rejected lover among the rest to witness the proceedings; and, at length, the final

knot was legally tied, which bound them together as long as they lived, in the capacity of man and wife. A spirit of joyfulness was manifested on the part of the company; the hearts of all were light and cheerful; and a merry, social chat reigned throughout the whole company, save that poor, miserable, deserted, heart-stricken young man of whom I have already spoken. It was far from being a time of recreation to him; his hopes were blighted, his spirits depressed; and he

imagined that his future life would be one of darkness and discontent. The bride did not dare to look him in the face, the moment she attempted it, her courage failed her, and she almost wished, even at this period, that she had not forsaken him. Years passed away, the young man removed to a retired part, and his life was one continued chain of sad reflection, and he wished he had never been in existence. The young married couple lived in grandure and extravagance for a time, but the bride often thought of her first lover, and at length this with many other matters connected with it was almost the sole thought of her leisure moments. Her husband did not prove to be what she anticipated, his affection for her began to fail; he contracted bad habits, and at length his regard for her entirely vanished. One of his bad habits was that of drinking rum, and having got very much intoxicated at one time, was thrown from his horse one cold winter night, and frozen to death a short distance from his own door. And Oh! what a desperate state of things was now presented to his wife. She became heart-sick when she thought of the choice she had made for a companion; she was left alone to seek her life in the midst of terror, and was as unhappy as her former lover. Several months more elapsed, when the young man who had been so coldly forsaken thought it expedient to make an effort to win her affections, and accordingly did so; and to his great joy and satisfaction, but almost astonishment, was received with

heart-felt kindness by the young lady, and treated with the greatest respect, and highest esteem that it was possible for her to bestow upon him. He then felt little hesitation about asking her for her hand the second time; which when he did the request was granted, and in a short time they request was granted were joined together in matrimony before a large and respectable association of their friends and acquaintances. Their love for each other was deep seated and lasting; they seemed to forget their former misery; and they lived together forever afterwards on the most pleasing terms, and were indeed a happy couple – harmony and love reigned forever amongst them.

            Thus ends a description of what too often takes place in consequence of one of the parties concerned not properly considering the objections they urge against such things, whereas did they weigh them well in their minds, they would be far from being objections at all. Therefore let this circumstance be a warning to those who are in the same spirit as this vain girl was in the first place. Never let riches be your object in marrying, no, don’t entertain such an idea for a moment but seek one that loves you, one that is honest, upright, industrious, well-disposed, and every thing else that will tend to make your life one of continued joy and happiness as long as you have your being.

                                    Yours in sincerity, Giona

P.S.      If Miss Hannah Bernard – the present editor of the journal, should think the above communication worthy of a place in her paper, she is at liberty to insert it; if not, submit it to the flames.