05-the enemy conquered-第3部分

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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　persons。　　This　the　illiterate　and

inexperienced　little　dream　of；　and　now　if　you　will　receive　me　as　I　am；

with　these　deficiencieswith　all　my　misguided　opinions；　I　will　give

you　my　honor；　sir；　that　I　will　never　disgrace　the　Institution；

or　those　who　have　placed　you　in　this　honorable　station。〃　

The　instructor；　who　had　met　with　many　disappointments；　knew　how　to

feel　for　a　stranger　who　had　been　thus　turned　upon　the　charities

of　an　unfeeling　community。　　He　looked　at　him　earnestly；　and　said：　

〃Be　of　good　cheerlook　forward；　sir；　to　the　high　destination　you

may　attain。　　Remember；　the　more　elevated　the　mark　at　which　you　aim；

the　more　sure；　the　more　glorious；　the　more　magnificent　the　prize。〃　

From　wonder　to　wonder；　his　encouragement　led　the　impatient　listener。　

A　stranger　nature　bloomed　before　himgiant　streams　promised

him　successgardens　of　hidden　treasures　opened　to　his　view。　

All　this；　so　vividly　described；　seemed　to　gain　a　new　witchery　from　his

glowing　fancy。



In　1842　he　entered　the　class；　and　made　rapid　progress　in　the　English

and　Latin　departments。　　Indeed；　he　continued　advancing　with　such

rapidity　that　he　was　like　to　become　the　first　in　his　class；

and　made　such　unexpected　progress；　and　was　so　studious；　that　he　had

almost　forgotten　the　pictured　saint　of　his　affections。　　The　fresh

wreaths　of　the　pine　and　cypress　had　waited　anxiously　to　drop　once

more　the　dews　of　Heavens　upon　the　heads　of　those　who　had　so　often

poured　forth　the　tender　emotions　of　their　souls　under　its　boughs。　

He　was　aware　of　the　pleasure　that　he　had　seen　there。　　So　one　evening；

as　he　was　returning　from　his　reading；　he　concluded　he　would　pay　a　visit

to　this　enchanting　spot。　　Little　did　he　think　of　witnessing　a　shadow

of　his　former　happiness；　though　no　doubt　he　wished　it　might　be　so。　

He　continued　sauntering　by　the　roadside；　meditating　on　the　past。　

The　nearer　he　approached　the　spot；　the　more　anxious　he　became。　

At　the　moment　a　tall　female　figure　flitted　across　his　path；　with　a

bunch　of　roses　in　her　hand；　her　countenance　showed　uncommon　vivacity；

with　a　resolute　spirit；　her　ivory　teeth　already　appeared　as　she

smiled　beautifully；　promenadingwhile　her　ringlets　of　hair　dangled

unconsciously　around　her　snowy　neck。　　Nothing　was　wanting　to　complete

her　beauty。　　The　tinge　of　the　rose　was　in　full　bloom　upon　her　cheek；

the　charms　of　sensibility　and　tenderness　were　always　her　associates。。

In　Ambulinia's　bosom　dwelt　a　noble　soulone　that　never　faded

one　that　never　was　conquered。　　Her　heart　yielded　to　no　feeling

but　the　love　of　Elfonzo；　on　whom　she　gazed　with　intense　delight；

and　to　whom　she　felt　herself　more　closely　bound　；because　he　sought

the　hand　of　no　other。　　Elfonzo　was　roused　from　his　apparent　reverie。　

His　books　no　longer　were　his　inseparable　companionshis　thoughts

arrayed　themselves　to　encourage　him　in　the　field　of　victory。　

He　endeavored　to　speak　to　his　supposed　Ambulinia；　but　his　speech

appeared　not　in　words。　　No；　his　effort　was　a　stream　of　fire；

that　kindled　his　soul　into　a　flame　of　admiration；　and　carried

his　senses　away　captive。　　Ambulinia　had　disappeared；　to　make　him

more　mindful　of　his　duty。　　As　she　walked　speedily　away　through

the　piny　woods　she　calmly　echoed：　　〃O！　　Elfonzo；　thou　wilt

now　look　from　thy　sunbeams。　　Thou　shalt　now　walk　in　a　new　path

perhaps　thy　way　leads　through　darkness；　but　fear　not；　the　stars

foretell　happiness。〃



Not　many　days　afterward；　as　surrounded　by　fragrant　flowers　she　sat

one　evening　at　twilight；　to　enjoy　the　cool　breeze　that　whispered

notes　of　melody　along　the　distant　groves；　the　little　birds　perched

on　every　side；　as　if　to　watch　the　movements　of　their　new　visitor。　

The　bells　were　tolling　when　Elfonzo　silently　stole　along　by　the　wild

wood　flowers；　holding　in　his　hand　his　favorite　instrument　of　music

his　eye　continually　searching　for　Ambulinia；　who　hardly　seemed

to　perceive　him；　as　she　played　carelessly　with　the　songsters

that　hopped　from　branch　to　branch。　　Nothing　could　be　more　striking

than　the　difference　between　the　two。　　Nature　seemed　to　have　given

the　more　tender　soul　to　Elfonzo；　and　the　stronger　and　more　courageous

to　Ambulinia。　　A　deep　feeling　spoke　from　the　eyes　of　Elfonzo

such　a　feeling　as　can　only　be　expressed　by　those　who　are　blessed

as　admirers；　and　by　those　who　are　able　to　return　the　same　with

sincerity　of　heart。　　He　was　a　few　years　older　than　Ambulinia：　

she　had　turned　a　little　into　her　seventeenth。　　He　had　almost　grown

up　in　the　Cherokee　country；　with　the　same　equal　proportions　as　one

of　the　natives。　　But　little　intimacy　had　existed　between　them　until

the　year　forty…onebecause　the　youth　felt　that　the　character　of　such

a　lovely　girl　was　too　exalted　to　inspire　any　other　feeling　than

that　of　quiet　reverence。　　But　as　lovers　will　not　always　be　insulted；

at　all　times　and　under　all　circumstances；　by　the　frowns　and　cold

looks　of　crabbed　old　age；　which　should　continually　reflect　dignity

upon　those　around；　and　treat　unfortunate　as　well　as　the　fortunate

with　a　graceful　mien；　he　continued　to　use　diligence　and　perseverance。　

All　this　lighted　a　spark　in　his　heart　that　changed　his　whole　character；

and　like　the　unyielding　Deity　that　follows　the　storm　to　check　its

rage　in　the　forest；　he　resolves　for　the　first　time　to　shake　off

his　embarrassment　and　return　where　he　had　before　only　worshiped。



It　could　not　escape　Ambulinia's　penetrating　eye　that　he　sought

an　interview　with　her；　which　she　as　anxiously　avoided；　and　assumed

a　more　distant　calmness　than　before；　seemingly　to　destroy　all　hope。　

After　many　efforts　and　struggles　with　his　own　person；　with　timid

steps　the　Major　approached　the　damsel；　with　the　same　caution

as　he　would　have　done　in　a　field　of　battle。　　〃Lady　Ambulinia；〃

said　he；　trembling；　〃I　have　long　desired　a　moment　like　this。　

I　dare　not　let　it　escape。　　I　fear　the　consequences；　yet　I　hope

your　indulgence　will　at　least　hear　my　petition。　　Can　you　not

anticipate　what　I　would　say；　and　what　I　am　about　to　express？　

Will　not　you；　like　Minerva；　who　sprung　from　the　brain　of　Jupiter；

release　me　from　thy　winding　chains　or　cure　me〃　〃Say　no　more；

Elfonzo；〃　answered　Ambulinia；　with　a　serious　look；　raising　her　hand

as　if　she　intended　to　swear　eternal　hatred　against　the　whole　world；

〃another　lady　in　my　place　would　have　perhaps　answered　your　question

in　bitter　coldness。　　I　know　not　the　little　arts　of　my　sex。　

I　care　but　little　for　the　vanity　of　those　who　would　chide　me；

and　am　unwilling　as　well　as　shamed　to　be　guilty　of　anything

that　would　lead　you　to　think　'all　is　not　gold　that　glitters'；

so　be　not　rash　in　your　resolution。　　It　is　better　to　repent　now　than

to　do　it　in　a　more　solemn　hour。　　Yes；　I　know　what　you　would　say。　

I　know　you　have　a　costly　gift　for　methe　noblest　that　man　can　make

YOUR　HEART！　you　should　not　offer　it　to　one　so　unworthy。　

Heaven；　you　know；　has　allowed　my　father's　house　to　be　made　a　house

of　solitude；　a　home　of　silent　obedience；　which　my　parents　say

is　more　to　be　admired　than　big　names　and　high…sounding　titles。　

Notwithstanding　all　this；　let　me　speak　the　emotions　of　an　honest　heart；

allow　me　to　say　in　the　fullness　of　my　hopes　that　I　anticipate

better　days。　　The　bird　may　stretch　its　wings　toward　the　sun；

which　it　can　never　reach；　and　flowers　of　the　field　appear　to

ascend　in　the　same　direction；　because　they　cannot　do　otherwise；

but　man　confides　his　complaints　to　the　saints　in　whom　he　believes；

for　in　their　abodes　of　light　they　know　no　more　sorrow。　　From　your

confession　and　indicative　looks；　I　must　be　that　person；　if　so；

deceive　not　yourself。〃



Elfonzo　replied；　〃Pardon　me；　my　dear　madam；　for　my　frankness。　

I　have　loved　you　from　my　earliest　days；　everything　grand　and　beautiful

hath　borne　the　image　of　Ambulinia；　while　precipices　on　every　hand

surrounded　me；　your　GUARDIAN　ANGEL　stood　and　beckoned　me　away　from

the　deep　abyss。　　In　every　trial；　in　every　misfortune；　I　have　met

with　your　helping　hand；　yet　I　never　dre