Ah happy hills! ah pleasing shade!
Ah fields belov'd in vain!
Where once my careless childhood stray'd, A stranger yet to pain!
I feel the gales, that from ye blow, A momentary bliss bestow, As waving fresh their gladsome wing, My weary soul they seem to sooth.
GRAY
On the following morning, Emily left Tholouse at an early hour, and reached La Vallee about sun-set.With the melancholy she experienced on the review of a place which had been the residence of her parents, and the scene of her earliest delight, was mingled, after the first shock had subsided, a tender and undescribable pleasure.For time had so far blunted the acuteness of her grief, that she now courted every scene, that awakened the memory of her friends; in every room, where she had been accustomed to see them, they almost seemed to live again; and she felt that La Vallee was still her happiest home.One of the first apartments she visited, was that, which had been her father's library, and here she seated herself in his arm-chair, and, while she contemplated, with tempered resignation, the picture of past times, which her memory gave, the tears she shed could scarcely be called those of grief.
Soon after her arrival, she was surprised by a visit from the venerable M.Barreaux, who came impatiently to welcome the daughter of his late respected neighbour, to her long-deserted home.Emily was comforted by the presence of an old friend, and they passed an interesting hour in conversing of former times, and in relating some of the circumstances, that had occurred to each, since they parted.
The evening was so far advanced, when M.Barreaux left Emily, that she could not visit the garden that night; but, on the following morning, she traced its long-regretted scenes with fond impatience;and, as she walked beneath the groves, which her father had planted, and where she had so often sauntered in affectionate conversation with him, his countenance, his smile, even the accents of his voice, returned with exactness to her fancy, and her heart melted to the tender recollections.
This, too, was his favourite season of the year, at which they had often together admired the rich and variegated tints of these woods and the magical effect of autumnal lights upon the mountains; and now, the view of these circumstances made memory eloquent.As she wandered pensively on, she fancied the following address TO AUTUMNSweet Autumn! how thy melancholy grace Steals on my heart, as through these shades I wind!
Sooth'd by thy breathing sigh, I fondly trace Each lonely image of the pensive mind!
Lov'd scenes, lov'd friends--long lost! around me rise, And wake the melting thought, the tender tear!
That tear, that thought, which more than mirth I prize--Sweet as the gradual tint, that paints thy year!
Thy farewel smile, with fond regret, I view, Thy beaming lights, soft gliding o'er the woods;Thy distant landscape, touch'd with yellow hue While falls the lengthen'd gleam; thy winding floods, Now veil'd in shade, save where the skiff's white sails Swell to the breeze, and catch thy streaming ray.
But now, e'en now!--the partial vision fails, And the wave smiles, as sweeps the cloud away!
Emblem of life!--Thus checquer'd is its plan, Thus joy succeeds to grief--thus smiles the varied man!
One of Emily's earliest enquiries, after her arrival at La Vallee, was concerning Theresa, her father's old servant, whom it may be remembered that M.Quesnel had turned from the house when it was let, without any provision.Understanding that she lived in a cottage at no great distance, Emily walked thither, and, on approaching, was pleased to see, that her habitation was pleasantly situated on a green slope, sheltered by a tuft of oaks, and had an appearance of comfort and extreme neatness.She found the old woman within, picking vine-stalks, who, on perceiving her young mistress, was nearly overcome with joy.
'Ah! my dear young lady!' said she, 'I thought I should never see you again in this world, when I heard you was gone to that outlandish country.I have been hardly used, since you went; I little thought they would have turned me out of my old master's family in my old age!'
Emily lamented the circumstance, and then assured her, that she would make her latter days comfortable, and expressed satisfaction, on seeing her in so pleasant an habitation.
Theresa thanked her with tears, adding, 'Yes, mademoiselle, it is a very comfortable home, thanks to the kind friend, who took me out of my distress, when you was too far off to help me, and placed me here!
I little thought!--but no more of that--'
'And who was this kind friend?' said Emily: 'whoever it was, I shall consider him as mine also.'
'Ah, mademoiselle! that friend forbad me to blazon the good deed--Imust not say, who it was.But how you are altered since I saw you last! You look so pale now, and so thin, too; but then, there is my old master's smile! Yes, that will never leave you, any more than the goodness, that used to make him smile.Alas-a-day! the poor lost a friend indeed, when he died!'
Emily was affected by this mention of her father, which Theresa observing, changed the subject.'I heard, mademoiselle,' said she, 'that Madame Cheron married a foreign gentleman, after all, and took you abroad; how does she do?'
Emily now mentioned her death.'Alas!' said Theresa, 'if she had not been my master's sister, I should never have loved her; she was always so cross.But how does that dear young gentleman do, M.
