And this is all for necessity's sake!" In this musing mood she sits
rocking in her chair, until at length, overcome with the heat, she
reclines her head against the cushion, resigning herself to the
soothing embrace of sweet sleep.
The moon's silver rays were playing on the calm surface of the
river, the foliage on its banks seemed bathed in quiet repose, the
gentle breeze, bearing its balmy odours, wafted through the arbour
of oaks, as if to fan her crimson cheeks; the azalia and magnolia
combined their fragrance, impregnating the dew falling over the
scene, as if to mantle it with beauty. She slept, a picture of
southern beauty; her auburn tresses in undulating richness playing
to and fro upon her swelling bosom,-how developed in all its
delicacy!-her sensitive nature made more lovely by the warmth and
generosity of her heart. Still she slept, her youthful mind
overflowing with joy and buoyancy: about her there was a ravishing
simplicity more than earthly: a blush upon her cheek became
deeper,-it was the blush of love flashing in a dream, that tells its
tale in nervous vibrations, adding enchantment to sleeping
voluptuousness;-and yet all was sacred, an envied object no rude
hand dare touch!
Franconia had been educated at the north, in a land where--God bless
the name--Puritanism is not quite extinct; and through the force of
principles there inculcated had outgrown much of that feeling which
at the south admits to be right what is basely wrong.
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