ulet which rushed from the hills, formed a
little lake on the borders of the village, which beautifully reflected
the cottages from its transparent bosom. Amidst a cluster of locusts and
weeping willows, rose the spire of the church, in the ungarnished
decency of Sunday neatness. Fields, gardens, meadows, and pastures were
spread around the valley, and on the sides of the declivities, yielding
in their season the rich flowers, fruits and foliage of spring, summer
and autumn. The inhabitants of this modern Auvernum were mostly farmers.
They were mild, sociable, moral and diligent. The produce of their own
flocks and fields gave them most of their food and clothing. To
dissipation they were strangers, and the luxuries of their tables were
few.

[Footnote A: Some who read this description will readily recognize
the village here described.]

Such was the place for the residence of Alonzo and Melissa. They had
visited the spot, and were enraptured with its pensive, romantic
beauties. A site was marked out whereon to erect their family mansion.
It was on a little eminence which sloped gradually to the lake, in the
most pleasant part of the village. "Here, said Alonzo one day to
Melissa, will we pass our days in all that felicity of mind which the
chequered scenes of life admit. In the spring we will rove among the
flowers. In summer, we will gather strawberries in yonder fields, or
whortleberries from the adjacent shrubbery. The breezes of fragrant
morning, and the sighs of the evening gale, will be mingled with the
songs of the thousand various birds which frequent the surrounding
groves. We will gather the bending fruits of autumn, and we will listen
to the hoarse voice of winter, its whistling winds, its driving snow,
and rattling hail, with delight."

The bright gems of joy glistened in the eyes of Melissa. With Alonzo she
anticipated approaching happiness, and her bosom beat in rapturous
unison.

Winter came on; it rapidly passed away. Spring advanced, and the
marriage day was appointed.

* * * * *

The spring opened with the din of preparation throughout America for
defensive war. It now was found that vigorous measures must be pursued
to oppose the torrent which was preparing to overwhelm the colonies,
which had now been dissevered from the British empire, by the
declaration of independence. The continental army was now raising, and
great numbers of American youth voluntee