ine.
Unsearchable are thy purposes! mysterious thy movements! inscrutable thy
operations! An atom of thy creation, wildered in the mazes of ignorance
and woe, would bow to thy decrees. Surrounded with impenetrable gloom,
unable to scrutinize the past, incompetent to explore the future----fain
would he say, THY WILL BE DONE! And Oh, that it might be consistent with
that HIGH WILL to call _this atom_ from a dungeon of wretchedness, to
worlds of light and glory, where his only CONSOLATION is gone."

Thus prayed the heart-broken Alonzo. It was indeed a worldly prayer; but
perhaps as pure and as acceptable as many of our modern professors would
have made on a similar occasion. He arose and repaired to his lodgings.
One determination only he had now fallen upon--to bury himself and his
griefs from all with whom he had formerly been acquainted. Why should he
return to the scenes of his former bliss and anxiety, where every
countenance would tend to renew his mourning; where every door would be
inscribed with a _memento mori_, and where every object would be
shrouded in crape? He therefore turned his attention to the army; but
the army was far distant, and he was too feeble to prosecute a journey
of such an extent.

There were at that time preparations for fitting out a convoy, at
private expense, from various parts of the United States, for the
protection of our European trade; they were to rendezvous at a certain
station, and thence proceed with the merchantmen under their care to the
ports of France and Holland, where our trade principally centered, and
return as convoy to some other mercantile fleet.

One of these ships of war was then nearly fitted out at New-London.
Alonzo offered himself to the captain, who, pleased with his appearance,
gave him the station of commander of marines.

Alonzo prepared himself with all speed for the voyage. He sought, he
wished no acquaintance. His only place of resort, except to his lodgings
and the ship, was to Melissa's favourite rock: there he bowed as to the
shrine of her spirit, and there he consecrated his devotions.

As he was one day passing through the town, a gentleman stepped out of
an adjoining house and accosted him. Alonzo immediately recognized him
to be the cousin of Melissa, at whose house he had first seen her. He
was dressed in full mourning, which was a sufficient indication that he
was apprised of her death. He invited Alonzo to his house, and he could
not complais