05-the enemy conquered-第3章

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him　in　quite　a　gentlemanly　manner；　and　inquired　of　him　the　way

to　the　village。　　After　he　had　received　the　desired　information；

and　was　about　taking　his　leave；　the　youth　said；　〃Are　you　not

Major　Elfonzo；　the　great　musicianthe　champion　of　a　noble　cause

the　modern　Achilles；　who　gained　so　many　victories　in　the　Florida　War？〃　

〃I　bear　that　name；〃　said　the　Major；　〃and　those　titles；

trusting　at　the　same　time　that　the　ministers　of　grace　will　carry

me　triumphantly　through　all　my　laudable　undertakings；　and　if；〃

continued　the　Major；　〃you；　sir；　are　the　patronizer　of　noble　deeds；

I　should　like　to　make　you　my　confidant　and　learn　your　address。〃　

The　youth　looked　somewhat　amazed；　bowed　low；　mused　for　a　moment；

and　began：　　〃My　name　is　Roswell。　　I　have　been　recently　admitted

to　the　bar；　and　can　only　give　a　faint　outline　of　my　future　success

in　that　honorable　profession；　but　I　trust；　sir；　like　the　Eagle；

I　shall　look　down　from　lofty　rocks　upon　the　dwellings　of　man；　and　shall

ever　be　ready　to　give　you　any　assistance　in　my　official　capacity；

and　whatever　this　muscular　arm　of　mine　can　do；　whenever　it　shall　be

called　from　its　buried　GREATNESS。〃　　The　Major　grasped　him　by　the　hand；

and　exclaimed：　　〃O！　thou　exalted　spirit　of　inspirationthou　flame

of　burning　prosperity；　may　the　Heaven…directed　blaze　be　the　glare

of　thy　soul；　and　battle　down　every　rampart　that　seems　to　impede

your　progress！〃



The　road　which　led　to　the　town　presented　many　attractions。　

Elfonzo　had　bid　farewell　to　the　youth　of　deep　feeling；　and　was

not　wending　his　way　to　the　dreaming　spot　of　his　fondness。　

The　south　winds　whistled　through　the　woods；　as　the　waters　dashed

against　the　banks；　as　rapid　fire　in　the　pent　furnace　roars。　

This　brought　him　to　remember　while　alone；　that　he　quietly　left　behind

the　hospitality　of　a　father's　house；　and　gladly　entered　the　world；

with　higher　hopes　than　are　often　realized。　　But　as　he　journeyed　onward；

he　was　mindful　of　the　advice　of　his　father；　who　had　often　looked

sadly　on　the　ground　when　tears　of　cruelly　deceived　hope　moistened

his　eye。　　Elfonzo　had　been　somewhat　of　a　dutiful　son；　yet　fond

of　the　amusements　of　lifehad　been　in　distant　landshad　enjoyed

the　pleasure　of　the　world　and　had　frequently　returned　to　the　scenes

of　his　boyhood；　almost　destitute　of　many　of　the　comforts　of　life。　

In　this　condition；　he　would　frequently　say　to　his　father；　〃Have　I

offended　you；　that　you　look　upon　me　as　a　stranger；　and　frown　upon

me　with　stinging　looks？　　Will　you　not　favor　me　with　the　sound　of

your　voice？　　If　I　have　trampled　upon　your　veneration；　or　have　spread

a　humid　veil　of　darkness　around　your　expectations；　send　me　back　into

the　world　where　no　heart　beats　for　mewhere　the　foot　of　man　has

never　yet　trod；　but　give　me　at　least　one　kind　wordallow　me　to　come

into　the　presence　sometimes　of　thy　winter…worn　locks。〃　　〃Forbid　it；

Heaven；　that　I　should　be　angry　with　thee；〃　answered　the　father；

〃my　son；　and　yet　I　send　thee　back　to　the　children　of　the　world

to　the　cold　charity　of　the　combat；　and　to　a　land　of　victory。　　I　read

another　destiny　in　thy　countenanceI　learn　thy　inclinations　from

the　flame　that　has　already　kindled　in　my　soul　a　stranger　sensation。　

It　will　seek　thee；　my　dear　ELFONZO；　it　will　find　theethou　canst

not　escape　that　lighted　torch；　which　shall　blot　out　from　the

remembrance　of　men　a　long　train　of　prophecies　which　they　have

foretold　against　thee。　　I　once　thought　not　so。　　Once；　I　was　blind；

but　now　the　path　of　life　is　plain　before　me；　and　my　sight　is　clear；

yet　Elfonzo；　return　to　thy　worldly　occupationtake　again　in　thy

hand　that　chord　of　sweet　soundsstruggle　with　the　civilized　world；

and　with　your　own　heart；　fly　swiftly　to　the　enchanted　ground

let　the　night…OWL　send　forth　its　screams　from　the　stubborn　oak

let　the　sea　sport　upon　the　beach；　and　the　stars　sing　together；

but　learn　of　these；　Elfonzo；　thy　doom；　and　thy　hiding…place。　Our　most

innocent　as　well　as　our　most　lawful　DESIRES　must　often　be　denied　us；

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；　w