05-the enemy conquered-第2章

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We　believe　that　Woman　should　associate　freely　with　man；　and　we　believe

that　it　is　for　the　preservation　of　her　rights。　　She　should　become

acquainted　with　the　metaphysical　designs　of　those　who　condescended

to　sing　the　siren　song　of　flattery。　　This；　we　think；　should　be

according　to　the　unwritten　law　of　decorum；　which　is　stamped　upon

every　innocent　heart。　　The　precepts　of　prudery　are　often　steeped

in　the　guilt　of　contamination；　which　blasts　the　expectations　of

better　moments。　　Truth；　and　beautiful　dreamsloveliness；　and　delicacy

of　character；　with　cherished　affections　of　the　ideal　woman

gentle　hopes　and　aspirations；　are　enough　to　uphold　her　in　the　storms

of　darkness；　without　the　transferred　colorings　of　a　stained　sufferer。　

How　often　have　we　seen　it　in　our　public　prints；　that　woman　occupies

a　false　station　in　the　world！　and　some　have　gone　so　far　as　to　say　it

was　an　unnatural　one。　　So　long　has　she　been　regarded　a　weak　creature；

by　the　rabble　and　illiteratethey　have　looked　upon　her　as　an

insufficient　actress　on　the　great　stage　of　human　lifea　mere　puppet；

to　fill　up　the　drama　of　human　existencea　thoughtless；　inactive　being

that　she　has　too　often　come　to　the　same　conclusion　herself；　and　has

sometimes　forgotten　her　high　destination；　in　the　meridian　of　her　glory。　

We　have　but　little　sympathy　or　patience　for　those　who　treat　her　as

a　mere　Rosy　Melindiwho　are　always　fishing　for　pretty　complements

who　are　satisfied　by　the　gossamer　of　Romance；　and　who　can　be

allured　by　the　verbosity　of　high…flown　words；　rich　in　language；

but　poor　and　barren　in　sentiment。　　Beset；　as　she　has　been；　by　the

intellectual　vulgar；　the　selfish；　the　designing；　the　cunning；　the　hidden；

and　the　artfulno　wonder　she　has　sometimes　folded　her　wings　in　despair；

and　forgotten　her　HEAVENLY　mission　in　the　delirium　of　imagination；

no　wonder　she　searches　out　some　wild　desert；　to　find　a　peaceful　home。　

But　this　cannot　always　continue。　　A　new　era　is　moving　gently　onward；

old　things　are　rapidly　passing　away；　old　superstitions；　old　prejudices；

and　old　notions　are　now　bidding　farewell　to　their　old　associates

and　companions；　and　giving　way　to　one　whose　wings　are　plumed

with　the　light　of　heaven　and　tinged　by　the　dews　of　the　morning。　

There　is　a　remnant　of　blessedness　that　clings　to　her　in　spite　of　all

evil　influence；　there　is　enough　of　the　Divine　Master　left　to　accomplish

the　noblest　work　ever　achieved　under　the　canopy　of　the　vaulted　skies；

and　that　time　is　fast　approaching；　when　the　picture　of　the　true

woman　will　shine　from　its　frame　of　glory；　to　captivate；　to　win　back；

to　restore；　and　to　call　into　being　once　more；　THE　OBJECT　OF　HER　MISSION。





Star　of　the　brave！　thy　glory　shed；



O'er　all　the　earth；　thy　army　led



Bold　meteor　of　immortal　birth！



Why　come　from　Heaven　to　dwell　on　Earth？





Mighty　and　glorious　are　the　days　of　youth；　happy　the　moments

of　the　LOVER；　mingled　with　smiles　and　tears　of　his　devoted；

and　long　to　be　remembered　are　the　achievements　which　he　gains　with　a

palpitating　heart　and　a　trembling　hand。　　A　bright　and　lovely　dawn；

the　harbinger　of　a　fair　and　prosperous　day；　had　arisen　over　the

beautiful　little　village　of　Cumming；　which　is　surrounded　by　the

most　romantic　scenery　in　the　Cherokee　country。　　Brightening　clouds

seemed　to　rise　from　the　mist　of　the　fair　Chattahoochee；　to　spread

their　beauty　over　the　the　thick　forest；　to　guide　the　hero　whose

bosom　beats　with　aspirations　to　conquer　the　enemy　that　would　tarnish

his　name；　and　to　win　back　the　admiration　of　his　long…tried　friend。　

He　endeavored　to　make　his　way　through　Sawney's　Mountain；　where　many　meet

to　catch　the　gales　that　are　continually　blowing　for　the　refreshment

of　the　stranger　and　the　traveler。　　Surrounded　as　he　was　by　hills

on　every　side；　naked　rocks　dared　the　efforts　of　his　energies。　

Soon　the　sky　became　overcast；　the　sun　buried　itself　in　the　clouds；

and　the　fair　day　gave　place　to　gloomy　twilight；　which　lay　heavily

on　the　Indian　Plains。　　He　remembered　an　old　Indian　Castle；

that　once　stood　at　the　foot　of　the　mountain。　　He　thought　if　he　could

make　his　way　to　this；　he　would　rest　contented　for　a　short　time。　

The　mountain　air　breathed　fragrancea　rosy　tinge　rested　on　the　glassy

waters　that　murmured　at　its　base。　　His　resolution　soon　brought　him

to　the　remains　of　the　red　man's　hut：　　he　surveyed　with　wonder　and

astonishment　the　decayed　building；　which　time　had　buried　in　the　dust；

and　thought　to　himself；　his　happiness　was　not　yet　complete。　

Beside　the　shore　of　the　brook　sat　a　young　man；　about　eighteen　or　twenty；

who　seemed　to　be　reading　some　favorite　book；　and　who　had　a　remarkably

noble　countenanceeyes　which　betrayed　more　than　a　common　mind。　

This　of　course　made　the　youth　a　welcome　guest；　and　gained　him

friends　in　whatever　condition　of　life　he　might　be　placed。　

The　traveler　observed　that　he　was　a　well…built　figure；　which　showed

strength　and　grace　in　every　movement。　　He　accordingly　addressed

him　in　quite　a　gentlemanly　manner；　and　inquired　of　him　the　way

to　the　village。　　After　he　had　received　the　desired　information；

and　was　about　taking　his　leave；　the　youth　said；　〃Are　you　not

Major　Elfonzo；　the　great　musicianthe　champion　of　a　noble　cause

the　modern　Achilles；　who　gained　so　many　victories　in　the　Florida　War？〃　

〃I　bear　that　name；〃　said　the　Major；　〃and　those　titles；

trusting　at　the　same　time　that　the　ministers　of　grace　will　carry

me　triumphantly　through　all　my　laudable　undertakings；　and　if；〃

continued　the　Major；　〃you；　sir；　are　the　patronizer　of　noble　deeds；

I　should　like　to　make　you　my　confidant　and　learn　your　address。〃　

The　youth　looked　somewhat　amazed；　bowed　low；　mused　for　a　moment；

and　began：　　〃My　name　is　Roswell。　　I　have　been　recently　admitted

to　the　bar；　and　can　only　give　a　faint　outline　of　my　future　success

in　that　honorable　profession；　but　I　trust；　sir；　like　the　Eagle；

I　shall　look　down　from　lofty　rocks　upon　the　dwellings　of　man；　and　shall

ever　be　ready　to　give　you　any　assistance　in　my　official　capacity；

and　whatever　this　muscular　arm　of　mine　can　do；　whenever　it　shall　be

called　from　its　buried　GREATNESS。〃　　The　Major　grasped　him　by　the　hand；

and　exclaimed：　　〃O！　thou　exalted　spirit　of　inspirationthou　flame

of　burning　prosperity；　may　the　Heaven…directed　blaze　be　the　glare

of　thy　soul；　and　battle　down　every　rampart　that　seems　to　impede

your　progress！〃



The　road　which　led　to　the　town　presented　many　attractions。　

Elfonzo　had　bid　farewell　to　the　youth　of　deep　feeling；　and　was

not　wending　his　way　to　the　dreaming　spot　of　his　fondness。　

The　south　winds　whistled　through　the　woods；　as　the　waters　dashed

against　the　banks；　as　rapid　fire　in　the　pent　furnace　roars。　

This　brought　him　to　remember　while　alone；　that　he　quietly　left　behind

the　hospitality　of　a　father's　house；　and　gladly　entered　the　world；

with　higher　hopes　than　are　often　realized。　　But　as　he　journeyed　onward；

he　was　mindful　of　the　advice　of　his　father；　who　had　often　looked

sadly　on　the　ground　when　tears　of　cruelly　deceived　hope　moistened

his　eye。　　Elfonzo　had　been　somewhat　of　a　dutiful　son；　yet　fond

of　the　amusements　of　lifehad　been　in　distant　landshad　enjoyed

the　pleasure　of　the　world　and　had　frequently　returned　to　the　scenes

of　his　boyhood；　almost　destitute　of　many　of　the　comforts　of　life。　

In　this　condition；　he　would　frequently　say　to　his　father；　〃Have　I

offended　you；　that　you　look　upon　me　as　a　stranger；　and　frown　upon

me　with　stinging　looks？　　Will　you　not　favor　me　with　the　sound　of

your　voice？　　If　I　have　trampled　upon　your　veneration；　or　have　spread

a　humid　veil　of　darkness　around　your　expectations；　send　me　back　into

the　world　where　no　heart　beats　for　mewhere　the　foot　of　man　has

never　yet　trod；　but　give　me　at　least　one　kind　wordallow　me　to　come

into　the　presence　sometimes　of　thy　winter…worn　locks。〃　　〃Forbid　it；

Heaven；　that　I　should　be　angry　with　thee；〃　answered　the　father；

〃my　son；　and　yet　I　send　thee　back　to　the　children　of　the　world

to　the　cold　charity　of　the　combat；　and　to　a　land　of　victory。　　I　read

another　destiny　in　thy　countenanceI　learn　thy　inclinations　from

the　flame　that　has　already　kindled　in　my　soul　a　stranger　sensation。　

It　will　seek　thee；　my　dear　ELFONZO；　it　will　find　theethou　canst

not　escape　that　lighted　torch；　which　shall　blot　out　from　the

remembrance　of　men　a　long　train　of　prophecies　which　they　have

foretold　against　thee。　　I　once　thought　not　so。　　Once；　I　was　blind；

but　now　the　path　of　life　is　plain　before　me；　and　my　sight　is　clear；

yet　Elfonzo；　return　to　thy　worldly　occupationtake　again　in　thy

hand　that　chord　of　sweet　soundsstruggle　with　the　civilized　world；

and　with　your　own　heart；　fly　swiftly　to　the　enchanted　ground

let　the　night…OWL　send　forth　its　screams　from　the　stubborn　oak

let　the　sea　sport　upon　the　beach；　and　the　stars　sing　together；

but　learn　of　these；　Elfonzo；　thy　doom；　and　thy　hiding…place。　Our　most

innocent　as　well　as　our　most　lawful　DESIRES　must　often　be　denied　us；

that　we　may　learn　to　sacrifice　them　to　a　Higher　will。〃



Remembering　such　admonitions　with　gratitude；　Elfonzo　was　immediately

urged　by　the　recollection　of　his　father's　family　to　keep　moving。　

His　steps　became　quicker　and　quickerhe　hastened　through　the　PINY　woods；

dark　as　the　forest　was；　and　with　joy　he　very　soon　reached　the　little

village　or　repose；　in　whose　bosom　rested　the　boldest　chivalry。　

His　close　attention　to　every　important　objecthis　modest　questions

about　whatever　was　new　to　himhis　reverence　for　wise　old　age；

and　his　ardent　desire　to　learn　many　of　the　fine　arts；　soon　brought　him

into　respectable　notice。



One　mild　winter　day　as　he　walked　along　the　streets　toward　the　Academy；

which　stood　upon　a　small　eminence；　surrounded　by　native　growth

some　venerable　in　its　appearance；　others　young　and　prosperous

all　seemed　inviting；　and　seemed　to　be　the　very　place　for　learning　as

well　as　for　genius　to　spend　its　research　beneath　its　spreading　shades。　

He　entered　its　classic　walls　in　the　usual　mode　of　southern　manners。　

The　principal　of　the　Institution　begged　him　to　be　seated　and　listen

to　the　recitations　that　were　going　on。　　He　accordingly　obeyed

the　request；　and　seemed　to　be　much　pleased。　　After　the　school

was　dismissed；　and　the　young　hearts　regained　their　freedom；

with　the　songs　of　the　evening；　laughing　at　the　anticipated　pleasures

of　a　happy　home；　while　others　tittered　at　the　actions　of　the　past　day；

he　addressed　the　teacher　in　a　tone　that　indicated　a　resolution

with　an　undaunted　mind。　　He　said　he　had　determined　to　become

a　student；　if　he　could　meet　with　his　approbation。　　〃Sir；〃　said　he；

〃I　have　spent　much　time　in　the　world。　　I　have　traveled　among

the　uncivilized　inhabitants　of　America。　　I　have　met　with　friends；

and　combated　with　foes；　but　none　of　these　gratify　my　ambition；

or　decide　what　is　to　be　my　destiny。　　I　see　the　learned　would

have　an　influence　with　the　voice　of　the　people　themselves。　

The　despoilers　of　the　remotest　kingdoms　of　the　earth　refer　their

differences　to　this　class　of　pe