him; "say that ambition shall not guide you, yield to another the existence and the conflict of powerto affection, and tell me that I have not loved, so ful emotions; but separation seems to dissipate such long and so truly, in vain !" reserve, and Florence wrote much that she could never otherwise have confessed. Perhaps her letter betrayed more than she was conscious of, the bitterness at war with her better thoughts; but she concluded thus:

But Florence was herself again; and gently, though firmly, she withdrew from her companion's clasp. Perhaps there were feelings warring with her resolution, thoughts that sued for his success, for the lady's voice faltered as she spoke, though her words were calm.

"Herman," she said, “I cannot give you hope, where there is none; our old friendship must be the only tie between us. Let us leave this place now, and with it, all remembrance of this scene." If, as weeks rolled on, that brief interview came too often to her thoughts, if she recalled it with a sadness strangely contradicting the refusal she had uttered, Herman knew it not, and he learned to think of Florence as a stranger unworthy his deep affection; as a gifted, fascinating and heartless woman of the world. But in this opinion he wronged her; for Florence was not heartless, and it was the constant effort to curb impulses naturally ardent, that gave such bitterness to her lonely moments. There were times too, when she doubted herself, and questioned the wisdom of the faith she followed. But the tempter was in her spirit; and with the false pride of her nature, she imagined to change would be condescension. Acting for the applause of society, more than for the silent sanction of her own heart, she had not the courage to abandon the path she pursued, and she fancied any sacrifice to ambition would be easy now, when the greatest one, had been already made. On Herman, the effects of her rejection soon disappeared; he learned while admiring her powers, to despise her worldliness. His dream had been rudely and effectually dispelled, and love gave way to a pity almost scornful, for one so rare in her gifts, so wilfully mistaken in her aspirations.

III.

"You once predicted, my friend, that my fate would be a lofty one, and your prophecy shall be fulfilled. If wealth and station, with the power they bring, can give me contentment, I shall find it in the marriage I am about to make; and the brilliant gratifications of pride will be mine. It is true, I despise the homage I seek; it gives me no throb of self-approval; and I turn contemptuously from the bestowers of such praise; but I must have excitement, and flattery sometimes awakens it when nobler means have failed. And yet there are periods when hope deserts me; I look around me in despair, and see nothing to soothe or satisfy, and nothing that deceives. I often think I would relinquish all the glittering pleasures of my lot, for one hour of the holy love-lit enthusiasm which gladdened my existence when I met you last. But these fancies are weak and idle, though they shadow me as they pass. Write to me, my friend, you are the only one in whose sincerity I can trust, but do not talk to me of the past. I know not why, but there is gloom in my recollections now, and I mourn, more than they deserve, the soaring and fervent visions, whose beauty I have lost. The real honors of the future are before me now, and I shall discover in them, if in any thing, a fulfilment of those ardent aspirations, which have hitherto wandered through the world, and found no resting place."

And with such feelings, Florence married. Her connexion though merely one of convenience was not unhappy; even less so, than she had anticipated, for her expectations whether of pleasure, or the reverse, always exceeded reality. Her husband was wholly destitute of the attractions calculated to inspire affection in one so discerning and fasti

It was with flushed brow and trembling hand, that Florence prepared to answer the letter of her old friend. Hers was not the beautiful emotion called by tender words. Love summons crimson dious as Florence. She could not even respect to the cheek; hers was pale and blanched; love him, for only lofty traits could awaken her revebrings a smile to the lip; on hers was cold, settled rence, and he was too weak to enter into, or even resolution. There is always a struggle in a wo- to comprehend, her erring, but exalted views. An man's mind, ere she can relinquish affection; with egotist by nature, his character was composed of Florence that silent trial had past. She had spoken follies, rather than distinguished by faults. Any but a few hours before, promises that had decided decided trait, even a glaring defect, Florence her destiny, and she felt, in sorrow, that she was could have borne with, but his soulless lassitude, voluntarily tracing in the future a lot of mental his languid vanity roused the contempt she felt so loneliness. She decided in accordance with the often. He was proud of her, for her grace and ruling principle of her life, and the seraph-voice genius reflected credit on him, and he saw all in her heart was stilled. Her letter to her friend things, only as connected with himself. There was long and confiding; the more so, because was no sympathy between them, but their marriage Florence was too proud to ask sympathy from many, was tranquil, for his indolent disposition yielded and too superior to find it, save in a few. To a easily to superior guidance, and Florence was high and over sensitive disposition, there is at-courteous and polished, too lofty and scornful to tached a feeling almost of humiliation, at revealing condescend to contradict. She submitted to his

silent and frequent regard, humiliating in its very sympathy, and she attached to it more importance than her conscience sanctioned, for the observer was Herman.

caprices, when they did not interfere with her rent the veil of concealment and read her untold schemes, for they were too idle to be reasoned sadness. From that calm, penetrating glance, with, and she was too politic to rule unnecessarily. Florence tried to turn haughtily away, but she felt And thus they lived; their thoughts and hopes and humbled. She saw, the unsatisfying character of wishes having nothing in common. Neither had her existence was detected, and there was pity in expected ardent happiness; Florence, because that earnest gaze, as it rested on one so nobly and penetrating at a glance, the shallow intellect of vainly gifted. She became piqued at last, by this her companion, she despised his vanity, and he, because commonplace in his ideas, common pleasures gratified him. Each was contented, for only contentment had been hoped for, and where little was expected, little had satisfied. For awhile, Florence was in a thoughtful mood, as she sat Florence was too busy to feel ennui, and gaiety alone, with a half finished letter before her. Her left her no leisure for reflection. There was noth- thoughts were not pleasant, for petulance and vexaing wanting in her outward lot. Admired by all, tion were on a face, usually so composed and envied by many, her destiny was brilliant, and the stately. She was reflecting on nothing very imenvy perhaps, was more acceptable than admira-portant, yet she tried in vain to think of something tion, for it is the highest compliment insignificance else. She opened a book, but it was a volume of can proffer to distinction, and the lady had not poems, and Florence had no taste for poetry now. sacrificed so much to the world, without losing She attempted to write, but her ideas came lansomething of those kind feelings, which would once guidly; so at length putting aside the paper, she have rendered so mean a tribute unwelcome. And gave herself up to her reverie. The previous thus it often is; feeling takes the hue of thought, evening she had passed at a ball. Many as fair as and the footstep which prints, sullies also the herself, had been eclipsed by her mingled grace snow.' and genius, and adulation was welcome then, because witnessed by the dark eyes which followed her so often. Perhaps it was the consciousness of this observation that lent so bright a glow of triumph to the lady's countenance, though that quiet look, was more in pity than admiration. How frequently it happens amid pleasure like this, that some light remark will dispel enjoyment; and be remembered disagreeably, long after the gladness of the evening has been forgotten. For joy passes away as the dew from the flowers, but sadness is like music among the hills, and ever wakes an echo. So it was with Florence. She had been engaged in animated conversation, when a girlish voice near her exclaimed

But for Florence's mind, ever grasping and rebellious, there was no enduring tranquillity. It was the defect of her nature, to be ever passing by the advantages possessed, for some undefined acquisition in the future. The sucùs du monde, began to weary, pleasure to pall, and excitement to be transient. Her interest in society decreased, and there was no purer one in her home, to replace it. Again languor crept over her hopes, and they grew dim. Wealth, homage, and genius, all were hers, yet the spirit of all, was wanting. She could scarcely tell why, but she became very weary of this career so high and glittering, with the vanity of youth, but without its expectations, its enthusiasm and its illusions. Florence had no friends in the gay circle where she ruled; and she did not seek them, for

"How very beautiful!”

"Not beautiful to me," was the reply, spoken in she was too proud to be confiding. In the society a low tone, but by a voice, Florence would have of the intellectual men who admired her powers, heard among a thousand, "Not beautiful to me. I she found most pleasure, and might have gained can see no loveliness in the studied attractions of most sympathy; but from this, her position and her an ambitiense." principles equally debarred her. She shrunk from She turned to behold the speaker, and the color revealing the self-summoned sorrow of her wed- faded from her cheek, when she looked at Herman. ded life; for, like all women with a superior order The next morning had come, and still that sentence of intellect, she possessed that stern sense of right was recalled more frequently and painfully than it which no temptation could destroy. No word or deserved. Those few simple words were echoed look betrayed the weariness within, and she was again and again, and the lady's reflections grew the more guarded, because in her heart there lived very sad. They told of a girlhood whose promises the memory of a moment now dangerous to recall, were unfulfilled, of years passed in useless toil, of the thought of a love, remembered and regretted false and vain success, of a childhood gay with too well. There were times, when repinings rose glowing hopes, and a womanhood disappointing to her lip, and it was hard to silence them, when them all. There had been a period when her reflection became a grief, and tears took the place wishes had spurned the very earth, and now, of languor; and often, when surrounded by the ap- least precious of the earth's rewards, made their plause of a crowd, eyes that had once looked love only recompense. The first flush of energy had in vain, met hers with searching power, as if they departed, and the delusions that sprang up like

the

flowers-where were they now? Confidence had ness that shone and conquered, not the quiet beauty gone from ambition, and left it unsatisfied. From of one, who had thought and suffered. the high paths of exertion, her sex debarred her, It was late in the evening, and Florence was and endowments misdirected and self-consuming about retiring from the scene of pleasure, when bestowed no blessing. For her, there was no she lingered to say a few parting words to one of comfort in friendship, no solace in love; with all her old friends. The gentleman with whom she the beauty of youth, she had none of its pleasures conversed was handsome and graceful, and by his or its dreams. There are times of depression, side stood a fair girl, with a wreath of orange when memories come to us like predictions, and it flowers in her hair. was with something of superstition, that the wearied, disappointed enthusiast, recalled the words of her old friend; "you can never be happy, Florence, till affection is more to you than praise."

IV.

66

“Yes, I leave to-morrow," said Florence, in reply to some question she had asked, "and you must give me a token to recall this evening;” and as she spoke, she separated from the bright ringlets of the lady, a cluster of the white blossoms. "I

both," and as she bent to kiss the fair brow of his bride, she met for the last time the earnest gaze of Herman.

When Florence reached home that night, her smiles had vanished, and unbidden tears fell fast and bitterly. As carefully, as if they had been some sacred relic, she placed between the leaves of a book, the orange flowers the bride had worn. As she opened the volume, a cluster of long withered violets, fell at her feet-had Florence forgotten who gave them?

FLORENCE TO HER FRIEND.

A few weeks went by, and the sudden death of shall treasure these," she continued, with a smile, her husband, left Florence free again. For once," to remind me of the last evening I spent in my even policy was forgotten, and she did not feign native land, and of all the happiness I wish you the grief she could not feel. Her marriage had given her no happiness, and she did not affect to mourn a loss, she considered as a release. Now, with wealth, youth, freedom, there was so much for her in the future; and with the hopes of younger years, came something of their sincerity too. Aware that many censured the lightness of her sorrow, she grew less dependent on the opinions whose criticism she braved, and resolved to seek enjoyment where she had been wont to care only for applause. There was no weariness in her heart now, for one name was to her a magic sound," and the gaze from which she used to turn proudly, was now sought with softer feelings. But Florence had not denied others so long, without at Yes, my friend, too well I recollect and mourn last deceiving herself, and it was with painful sur-the period of self-delusion, your last letter recalls. prise she met only calm reserve, where she hoped And yet, painful as it is, to remember the season, for warmer greeting. She had trusted to her daz- shadowed by our faults, I would not willingly part zling charms, and still more, to the remembrance with the warnings that era has left me. The time of that first love, which lingers so long in the heart. has come to me, when the past, though a sorrow, But Herman was changed, and there was no sign bears a lesson and a moral; and in looking back on of early passion in the tranquil pity with which he the consequences of my wild ambition and haughty looked now, on the radiant beauty of her he had will, I find peace in the humility they teach. Now, loved. The absence of all affliction at her be- better and truer wishes brighten my life, and expe reavement, told him the unworthy aim of her mar-rience causes more grateful reverence for the comriage, and revealed how much she had sacrificed to mon hopes of daily existence. If sometimes sad the world. With the sensitiveness of earnest feel- longing for my own land, that one yearning living ing, he had nothing of the constancy which out- in all hearts, comes over me, it stays but a moment, lives hope, and in contemning the lady's worldli- for I am bound by no ties of kindred or friendship ness, he was destitute of the intellect, which could to my early dwelling, and I feel that wherever the have sympathised with her lofty, aspiring spirit, starlight of love is shining, there is home. Now, even while condemning its direction. Florence in the tranquillity around me, I gain that mental soon realized the vanity of the expectations she peace which sanctifies solitude; and the vain dehad cherished, and bitterly did she grieve their sires, the vague aspirings of my gayer years, frailty; how bitterly they only know, who with the trouble and depress me no longer. I find in my haughtiness of genius, mingle the depth of affection. own mind, the repose I asked so vainly, from the For the first time, during several weeks, Flo-world; thought has changed from a tempter, to 3 rence mingled in gay society. She looked more guide, and hope is exalted into faith. The ro beautiful, than even in her early youth, and her mance of my girlhood has returned, with the one manner was unrivalled in its fascinating grace. passion, sacred alike, in its dawn and its destiny. There was no token of the ennui which used to Corinne says rightly it is not the first affection, depress her, nor of the tears that of late, had springing from the 'strong necessity of loving," usurped its place. Hers was the stately loveli- which is the best and warmest; for commencing

from impulse, it ends oftenest in disappointment. | mind, and know them to be omnipotent in the beBut when that light illusion like a dream has de- stowment of political honors. It is evident to clined; when the heart, though full of hopes, yet every intelligent patriot that this is the great danfeels the need of one, hope blending them all; when ger which impends over our institutions, and yet it the calmer dictates of reason rule us; and tender- is one concerning which no political aspirant; in ness while hallowing the feelings, is sanctioned by other words, no prominent statesman, dare raise his the intellect, then it is, that the voice of repining warning voice. is stilled; that the incense proffered at an earthly shrine, yet rises to heaven, and Religion blesses the garlands Love had twined.”

Some of the Northern and Western States, where this evil is most threatening, have made vigorous efforts for the diffusion of knowledge, with A firm step interrupted Florence's reflections, a forecaste highly honorable to their sagacity. and her smile as it greeted the intruder, was eager Massachusetts, Connecticut, New-York, Pennsyland welcoming. With a privilege she did not vania and Ohio, are energetically engaged in proquestion, he read what she had written, and there moting popular education. Even the infant State was loving pride in his look as he turned from the of Michigan has established its University, which, letter, to the beautiful face of his wife. Briareus like, is extending its branches over every portion of its territory. It is true that the Literary Fund of this State has been obtained by a grant from Congress, which was clearly unjust to the other and older members of the confederacy, if not a violation of the constitution. But if unjust and unconstitutional acts are to be perpetrated, the violation cannot take place in a better cause than that of education.

EDUCATION IN VIRGINIA.

It has now become a trite maxim, that virtue and intelligence are the only pillars on which republiNot only have our sister-republics that have can governments can safely rest, and that every been mentioned, as well as others, exhibited this attempt to build up free institutions without them, laudable anxiety for the diffusion of knowledge; must ultimately fail. Constitutions and laws, but the despotisms of the old continent have been which are intended to protect the weak and well-roused to unwonted activity on this subject, and meaning, against the strong and unprincipled, are have commenced a course, formerly esteemed fatal feeble barriers in a community where rights are to the very existence of absolute governments. not clearly understood, and the obligations of mo- Not only are efforts being made to enlighten the rality are slightly felt. But, while the abstract cor- people in Scotland, England, and even poor Ireland; rectness of this principle is universally admitted, but the sluggish Austrian, the phlegmatic German, it is to be feared that our citizens are not practi-and the Prussian whom we have been wont to concally alive to its important influence on the opera-sider as a mere military machine, have outstripped tion of our government, and the success of our the free nations of the Eastern and Western hemgreat experiment. The gradual extension of suf- isphere in their munificent provisions for national frage, until in some of our states it has become education. Nay, the zeal for mental improvement universal, imposes a solemn duty on all the en- has penetrated the Oriental regions, which were lightened friends of liberty, to make corresponding the cradle of civilization; the sinking empire of efforts for extending the light of knowledge, and, the Porte, and the very harams of Egypt, whose with it, that virtue which is its natural companion. ancient science and glories have been so long disThe purest of democracies is but the greatest of graced by its modern barbarism, ignorance and curses, where the minds and the hearts of the citi- degradation. Enthusiasm in this universal cause zens are unprepared for the exercise of their high has warmed the cold-blooded, half-frozen Siberians privileges. As those who believe this truth, find it into activity. The Czar of all the Russias, has impossible to check the tide of popular opinion that not only constructed that magnificent astronomical sweeps away every restriction of power to a select observatory which has recently drawn so glowing class, however numerous; all they can do is to an eulogium from the pen of Ex-President Adams, make, if possible, the moral and intellectual ad- but is adopting other means for pouring into the vancement of the people commensurate with their minds of his serfs, the stream of knowledge, that political elevation. If this can be done in time, no will hereafter undermine the despotic power of his doubt can be entertained that our noble scheme of successors. Is Virginia, "the mother of States self-government will triumphantly succeed. But and Statesmen," sufficiently alive to the importance if this much-desired object cannot be attained, all of this great subject, which is thus claiming the rational men should tremble at the ascendancy of attention of the world, whether civilized or uncia class, that must become the blind followers of vilized? Is she exerting herself as she ought to demagogues, who flatter them as all-virtuous and do, to give her citizens that intellectual and moral all-wise, because they believe them to be weak in power, without which nominal freedom is an empty

name, nay, a dangerous bauble? If she be not ac- of schoolhouses, and their interior arrangement, a tually engaged, or vigorously preparing to engage matter of great importance to children who attend in the promotion of this vital object, we her citi- common schools. In their estimation, not only zens, at least must abstain from charging despotic their health and comfort, but their taste or distaste monarchs with "loving darkness rather than light, for learning itself, may depend on those circumbecause their deeds are evil." The supineness of stances. So fully convinced is the able Secretary our legislators in this matter may, I will not say of the Massachusetts Board of Education, of this ought to, be ascribed either to that demagogue- truth, that he has made a separate and voluminous spirit, which would preserve a mass of ignorance to report on the situation, construction, ventilation, be deceived and misled, or to their actual insensi- &c. of schoolhouses; and has brought to bear on bility to the evils of mental darkness, and its twin the subject, not only all his own science and obsister, moral degradation. For fear that this in-servation, but those of all the enlightened gentlemen terpretation may be put on our conduct, let us re- whom he had an opportunity of consulting. Bet frain from censuring others for similar neglect, un- in Virginia, no attention whatever has been paid til" the beam has been taken from our own eye." to this matter, no public agent is consulted about Now we must confess that our zeal and prompti- the location of schoolhouses, and their very existude in commencing action in this department, have tence, as we all know, is dependent on the caprice never done us much honor. The poor pilgrims of of individuals. Massachusetts, passed an act in 1647, nearly 200 Another objection, and one inseparably connected years ago, for the establishment of an uniform with the preceding, is the fact that schools themcommon-school system. The rich colonists of selves are of as uncertain a character as the fertile Virginia were content with their abundant houses in which they are kept, and that there is no physical enjoyments, and attempted no legislative system, and little care in the selection of teachers. provision for general education until twenty or It may, and no doubt often does happen, that school thirty years since. The College, or University of commissioners are unable to find any suitable William and Mary, was indeed founded, and became schools and instructors for the children entrusted a flourishing institution at a comparatively early to their management. In a particular neighborperiod. But there were no academies nor common hood, there may be a teacher of competent knowschools patronised by government. Those who had ledge and unexceptionable moral character, one not the means of seeking instruction at William year, and the next, he may be succeeded by one and Mary, were compelled to rely entirely on their entirely deficient in both these particulars. This own exertions, or those of public-spirited individuals. must be the case, as long as persons acting volunAfter the conclusion of the revolutionary war, tarily, upon no system, and without any responsi both colleges and academies were incorporated, bility to the public, have the entire control of these but no money was ever granted to either, unless arrangements. It is a lamentable fact that men are the grant made to Gen. Washington, with a full usually more negligent in selecting the schools to knowledge that he meant to transfer the compensa- which, and teachers to whom, they send their chil tion, which he refused for himself, to some institu- dren, than in the transaction of any other business tion of learning, may be considered an exception. whatsoever. This is more especially the case in Occasionally, indeed, forfeited or glebe land, was this free country, where men are constantly rising given to the college or academy near which it lay. from poverty to wealth; and although sincerely But it was not until after our second war with Eng- anxious to have their offspring well educated, o land, that a permanent fund for popular education often seek to cheapen instruction, as well as every was established, and our present system, if system other article which they purchase, to the greatest it can be called, was carried into operation. It is possible degree. Even when this class of men not my purpose at present, nor if indeed I were quali- are liberal, as to their honor they frequently are, fied at any time, to examine the details of that plan, they are totally incompetent to decide on the qual but simply to point out some of the leading objections fications of teachers, the most convenient plans ef to its prominent features, and the nature of those schoolhouses, and other arrangements absoletely efforts that ought to be, and must be, made for its necessary to the establishment of valuable sebeels. improvement. If private interest and affection for their children, The first defect that must strike every observer, cannot stimulate parents to proper exertion, or, if is the want of permanent schools and schoolhouses. when they have sufficient energy, their efforts are The school-commissioners, are compelled to rely often ill-directed, what can be expected of the unon voluntary associations of individuals for the paid and uninterested school-commissioners, who selection of sites for houses, and for the erection are usually selected from the same class, without of buildings themselves. Now, those enlightened previous qualifications, and without any motive but philanthropists who, in other quarters, in Massa- public spirit to ensure the performance of their chusetts for instance, have devoted years to the troublesome duties. The remedy for this is, to examination of this subject; consider the situation make the selection of situations, the building