ng extract is given:

'We saw each other every day, and I became excessively attached to
her. Her shyness wore off by degrees. The more I saw of her the
more I had reason to admire her. Her mind seemed to unfold itself
leaf by leaf, and every time to discover new sweetness. Nobody knew
her so well as I, for she was generally timid and silent, but I, in
a manner, studied her excellence. Never did I meet more intuitive
rectitude of mind, more native delicacy, more exquisite propriety
in word, thought, or action, than in this young creature. I am not
exaggerating; what I say was acknowledged by all who knew her. Her
brilliant little sister used to say that people began by admiring
her, but ended by loving Matilda. For my part, I idolized her. I
felt at times rebuked by her superior delicacy and purity, as if I
was a coarse, unworthy being, in comparison.

'This passion was terribly against my studies. I felt my own
deficiency, and despaired of ever succeeding at the bar. I could
study any thing else rather than law, and had a fatal propensity to
belles-lettres. I had gone on blindly like a boy in love, but now
I began to open my eyes and be miserable. I had nothing in purse or
in expectation. I anticipated nothing from my legal pursuits, and
had done nothing to make me hope for public employment, or
political elevation. I had begun a satirical and humorous work,
(_The History of New-York_,) in company with one of my brothers;
but he had gone to Europe shortly after commencing it, and my
feelings had run in so different a vein that I could not go on with
it. I became low-spirited and disheartened, and did not know what
was to become of me. I made frequent attempts to apply myself to
the law; but it is a slow and tedious undertaking for a young man
to get into practice, and I had, unluckily, no turn for business.
The gentleman with whom I studied saw the state of my mind. He had
an affectionate regard for me--a paternal one, I may say. He had a
better opinion of my legal capacity than it merited. He urged me to
return to my studies, to apply myself, to become well acquainted
with the law, and that in case I could make myself capable of
undertaking legal concerns, he would take me into partnership with
him and give me his daughter. Nothing could be more