attitude, are still before my eyes; I recollect a thousand little
caressing questions; could describe her clothes, her head-dress, nor
have the two curls of fine black hair which hung on her temples,
according to the mode of that time, escaped my memory.
Though my taste, or rather passion, for music, did not show itself
until a considerable time after, I am fully persuaded it is to her I
am indebted for it. She knew a great number of songs, which she sung
with great sweetness and melody. The serenity and cheerfulness which
were conspicuous in this lovely girl, banished melancholy, and made
all round her happy.
The charms of her voice had such an affect on me, that not only
several of her songs have ever since remained on my memory, but some I
have not thought of from my infancy, as I grow old, return upon my
mind with a charm altogether inexpressible. Would any one believe that
an old dotard like me, worn out with care and infirmity, should
sometime surprise himself weeping like a child, and in a voice
querulous, and broken by age, muttering out one of those airs which
were the favorites of my infancy? There is one song in particular,
whose tune I perfectly recollect, but the words that compose the
latter half of it constantly refuse every effort to recall them,
though I have a confused idea of the rhymes. The beginning, with
what I have been able to recollect of the remainder, is as follows:
Tircis, je n'ose
Ecouter ton Chalumeau
Sous l' Ormeau;
Car on en cause
Deja dans notre hameau.
--- --- ---
-un Berger
s'engager
sans danger,
Et toujours l'epine est sous la rose.
I have endeavored to account for the invincible charm my heart feels
on the recollection of this fragment, but it is altogether
inexplicable. I only know, that before I get to the end of it, I
always find my voice interrupted by tenderness, and my eyes suffused
with tears. I have a hundred times formed the resolution of writing to
Paris for the remainder of these words, if any one should chance to
know them: but I am almost certain the pleasure I take in the
recollection would be greatly diminished was I assured any one but
my poor aunt Susan had sung them.
Such were my affections on entering this life. Thus began to form
and demonstrate itself a heart at once haughty and tender, a character
effeminate, yet invincible; which, fluctuating between weakness and
courage, luxury and virtue, has ever set me in contradiction to
myself; causing abstinence and enjoyment, pleasure and prudence,
equally to shun me.
This course of education was interrupted by an accident, whose
