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many mysteries； just take things by the right handle； be always sure
you know which is the smooth side before you attempt your polish；
be reconciled to your fate； be it what it may； and never find fault
with your condition； unless your complaining will benefit it。
Perseverance is a principle that should be commendable in those who have
judgment to govern it。 I should never had been so successful in my
hunting excursions had I waited till the deer； by some magic dream；
had been drawn to the muzzle of the gun before I made an attempt to fire
at the game that dared my boldness in the wild forest。 The great
mystery in hunting seems to bea good marksman； a resolute mind；
a fixed determination； and my world for it； you will never return
home without sounding your horn with the breath of a new victory。
And so with every other undertaking。 Be confident that your ammunition
is of the right kindalways pull your trigger with a steady hand；
and so soon as you perceive a calm； touch her off； and the spoils
are yours。〃
This filled him with redoubled vigor； and he set out with a stronger
anxiety than ever to the home of Ambulinia。 A few short steps soon
brought him to the door； half out of breath。 He rapped gently。
Ambulinia； who sat in the parlor alone； suspecting Elfonzo was near；
ventured to the door； opened it； and beheld the hero； who stood
in an humble attitude； bowed gracefully； and as they caught each
other's looks the light of peace beamed from the eyes of Ambulinia。
Elfonzo caught the expression； a halloo of smothered shouts ran
through every vein； and for the first time he dared to impress a kiss
upon her cheek。 The scene was overwhelming； had the temptation
been less animating； he would not have ventured to have acted
so contrary to the desired wish of his Ambulinia； but who could
have withstood the irrestistable temptation！ What society condemns
the practice but a cold； heartless； uncivilized people that know
nothing of the warm attachments of refined society？ Here the dead
was raised to his long…cherished hopes； and the lost was found。
Here all doubt and danger were buried in the vortex of oblivion；
sectional differences no longer disunited their opinions； like the freed
bird from the cage； sportive claps its rustling wings； wheels about
to heaven in a joyful strain； and raises its notes to the upper sky。
Ambulinia insisted upon Elfonzo to be seated； and give her a history
of his unnecessary absence； assuring him the family had retired；
consequently they would ever remain ignorant of his visit。
Advancing toward him； she gave a bright display of her rosy neck；
and from her head the ambrosial locks breathed divine fragrance；
her robe hung waving to his view； while she stood like a goddess
confessed before him。
〃It does seem to me； my dear sir；〃 said Ambulinia； 〃that you have
been gone an age。 Oh； the restless hours I have spent since I last
saw you； in yon beautiful grove。 There is where I trifled with your
feelings for the express purpose of trying your attachment for me。
I now find you are devoted； but ah！ I trust you live not unguarded
by the powers of Heaven。 Though oft did I refuse to join my hand
with thine； and as oft did I cruelly mock thy entreaties with
borrowed shapes： yes； I feared to answer thee by terms； in words
sincere and undissembled。 O！ could I pursue； and you have leisure
to hear the annals of my woes； the evening star would shut Heaven's
gates upon the impending day before my tale would be finished；
and this night would find me soliciting your forgiveness。〃
〃Dismiss thy fears and thy doubts；〃 replied Elfonzo。
〃Look； O！ look： that angelic look of thinebathe not thy visage
in tears； banish those floods that are gathering； let my confession
and my presence being thee some relief。〃 〃Then； indeed； I will
be cheerful；〃 said Ambulinia； 〃and I think if we will go to the
exhibition this evening； we certainly will see something worthy
of our attention。 One of the most tragical scenes is to be acted
that has ever been witnessed； and one that every jealous…hearted person
should learn a lesson from。 It cannot fail to have a good effect；
as it will be performed by those who are young and vigorous；
and learned as well as enticing。 You are aware； Major Elfonzo； who are
to appear on the stage； and what the characters are to represent。〃
〃I am acquainted with the circumstances；〃 replied Elfonzo； 〃and as I
am to be one of the musicians upon that interesting occasion；
I should be much gratified if you would favor me with your company
during the hours of the exercises。〃
〃What strange notions are in your mind？〃 inquired Ambulinia。
〃Now I know you have something in view； and I desire you to tell
me why it is that you are so anxious that I should continue
with you while the exercises are going on； though if you think I
can add to your happiness and predilections； I have no particular
objection to acquiesce in your request。 Oh； I think I foresee；
now； what you anticipate。〃 〃And will you have the goodness to tell
me what you think it will be？〃 inquired Elfonzo。 〃By all means；〃
answered Ambulinia； 〃a rival； sir； you would fancy in your own mind；
but let me say for you； fear not！ fear not！ I will be one of the
last persons to disgrace my sex by thus encouraging every one who
may feel disposed to visit me； who may honor me with their graceful
bows and their choicest compliments。 It is true that young men too
often mistake civil politeness for the finer emotions of the heart；
which is tantamount to courtship； but； ah！ how often are they deceived；
when they come to test the weight of sunbeams with those on whose
strength hangs the future happiness of an untried life。〃
The people were now rushing to the Academy with impatient anxiety；
the band of music was closely followed by the students； then the parents
and guardians； nothing interrupted the glow of spirits which ran
through every bosom； tinged with the songs of a Virgil and the tide
of a Homer。 Elfonzo and Ambulinia soon repaired to the scene；
and fortunately for them both the house was so crowded that they took
their seats together in the music department； which was not in view
of the auditory。 This fortuitous circumstances added more the bliss
of the Major than a thousand such exhibitions would have done。
He forgot that he was man； music had lost its charms for him；
whenever he attempted to carry his part； the string of the instrument
would break； the bow became stubborn； and refused to obey the loud
calls of the audience。 Here； he said； was the paradise of his home；
the long…sought…for opportunity； he felt as though he could
send a million supplications to the throne of Heaven for such
an exalted privilege。 Poor Leos； who was somewhere in the crowd；
looking as attentively as if he was searching for a needle in a haystack；
here is stood； wondering to himself why Ambulinia was not there。
〃Where can she be？ Oh！ if she was only here； how I could relish
the scene！ Elfonzo is certainly not in town； but what if he is？
I have got the wealth； if I have not the dignity； and I am sure that
the squire and his lady have always been particular friends of mine；
and I think with this assurance I shall be able to get upon the blind
side of the rest of the family and make the heaven…born Ambulinia
the mistress of all I possess。〃 Then； again； he would drop his head；
as if attempting to solve the most difficult problem in Euclid。
While he was thus conjecturing in his own mind； a very interesting
part of the exhibition was going on； which called the attention
of all present。 The curtains of the stage waved continually
by the repelled forces that were given to them； which caused
Leos to behold Ambulinia leaning upon the chair of Elfonzo。
Her lofty beauty； seen by the glimmering of the chandelier；
filled his heart with rapture； he knew not how to contain himself；
to go where they were would expose him to ridicule； to continue
where he was； with such an object before him； without being allowed
an explanation in that trying hour； would be to the great injury
of his mental as well as of his physical powers； and； in the name
of high heaven； what must he do？ Finally； he resolved to contain
himself as well as he conveniently could； until the scene was over；
and then he would plant himself at the door； to arrest Ambulinia from
the hands of the insolent Elfonzo； and thus make for himself a more
prosperous field of immortality than ever was decreed by Omnipotence；
or ever pencil drew or artist imagined。 Accordingly he made
himself sentinel； immediately after the performance of the evening
retained his position apparently in defiance of all the world； he waited；
he gazed at every lady； his whole frame trembled； here he stood；
until everything like human shape had disappeared from the institution；
and he had done nothing； he had failed to accomplish that wh