know, is contained in a very contracted sphere. I went out to large parties, though not with my own consent, I assure you, every afternoon last week. There is but one respect in which I prefer the New York society to Boston, which is the estimation in which they hold a stranger's rights, the manners of which universally proclaim that 'stranger is a sacred name.' I have never met any lady or gentleman who have not treated me as their friend. Perhaps this is a prevailing hypocrisy, but it is flattering, and makes us feel satisfied with ourselves." Afterwards having gone with Mrs. Murray to her father's home at Greenfield Hill, she writes: "I have been extremely happy ever since Monday at Green Vale; both A. J. and E. must have improved astonishingly since you saw them. A., without any remarkable natural endowments, has the most judgment, and the most firmly fixed good principles of any young person I ever met with. She is a most indefatigable and patient instructress to three children, the two eldest of whom are Emma and Catherine's age, who stammer out words of two syllables all the forenoon for my amusement. E. is the in dustrious manager and housewife of the family. They both daily regret that they cannot become Calvinists, which is all that is wanting to make them perfect in Dr. Romeyn's eyes. Owing to my wicked influence they concluded to go to a party this evening, instead of going to Dr. Romeyn's lecture; and have promised to go to the next assembly with me, to the astonishment of all their friends." CHAPTER V. Let other bards of angels sing Such if thou wert in all men's view, A universal show, What would my fancy have to do, My feelings to bestow? WORDSWORTH. IT T was in the spring of 1811 that Anne Jean, after passing some months under the hospitable roof of her cousins in New York, accompanied them to the early home of Mrs. Murray, at Greenfield Hill, Connecticut. From her own letters it is easy to see that her visits in New York had been crowded with gayety, and filled with kind attentions of numerous friends. That she owed these attentions to her own personal beauty or talents in conversation, or other attractions, never seems to have crossed her mind. She was at all times simple and unconscious, which constituted one of her greatest charms. My aunts have told me what I could never have learned from herself that she had many admirers, both in Boston and New York society, and that she was solicited to remain for life in either city. But it does not appear that her heart responded to any of these appeals. It was at Greenfield Hill that she met her fate. Among the guests at Mr. Bronson's came Judge Lyman, of Northampton, with his eldest daughter, a beautiful girl of eighteen, to pass a week. He went to see his friend on banking business, little expecting to find there his future partner for life. He was soon attracted by her beauty and her superior conversation; and she, on her part, was inspired with a most ardent love and admiration for the man who was old enough to be her father. I dare not trust myself to speak of him even now, but must use the words of another,—our beloved pastor, Mr. Rufus Ellis,-written long after his death, to show that the young girl loved one who might well have been the ideal of the most enthusiastic youthful fancy: "To many, many hearts the words 'Judge Lyman' are charmed words. They call up the image of one, the manly beauty of whose person was but the fit expression of a most noble. soul; they recall a man singularly gifted and singularly faithful, a thinker, clear-sighted, yet reverent, a lover of religious liberty, yet only for the pure Gospel's sake; a devoted friend, a self-sacrificing philanthropist, an ardent patriot, a man diligent in business, yet ready to meet the largest demands of every hospitable office; a cheerful giver, one who made virtue venerable and lovely by the uniform dignity, grace, and courtesy of his manners, and by the sweetness of his speech; a man whose moral and social qualities so occupied attention, that we ENGAGEMENT TO JUDGE LYMAN 67 could hardly do justice to a very wise, discriminating, and cultivated intellect." When the news of Anne's engagement to Judge Lyman, of Northampton, reached Brush Hill a few weeks later, the sisters were thrown into a state of much excitement and commotion. But their feelings are well described in a letter written by Sally to Eliza, who was then absent at Hingham: Sally Robbins to Eliza Robbins, Brush Hill, July 24, 1811. DEAR ELIZA,- In these hours of more than common agitation, I think you will like to know what is going on, and what my opinion upon the subject is. Last Saturday evening as I was sitting, watching for the return of pa, ma, and Mr. Forbes, some one drove up, and I thought it was Mr. F., and addressed him as such, when much to my surprise. the answer was in Judge Lyman's voice. The family collected in the course of the evening, and the Judge, Mr. Forbes and son, and our own two boys were here all Sunday. John Knapp breakfasted here, and James Lovell and wife took tea here; so that, amid the whole of it, I was not very sorry that Anne was not here. Monday he went into town and brought her out. She introduced him to some of her friends there, the thing took air, and is now circulated far and wide. Yesterday they spent the afternoon in riding together, and called at Mr. James Perkins's, and at Mr. Prince's; and to-day they have gone into Boston together again. As you must have perceived, she is very much pleased with it herself. I should have liked it better if she did not express it so openly; and it is mysterious to me how a handsome young woman, who has been caressed by the world as she has, should be so flattered and delighted with the love and admiration of a man old enough to be her father. Sometimes I feel grieved that she should undertake such cares, and such responsibility. Sometimes I feel angry that she should allow this prepossession apparently to occupy every feeling of her heart, and so entirely to engross and swallow up every other, as never to have named as a privation that she has to remove a hundred miles from all she has formerly known and loved. Indeed, I do not think that if he was five-and-twenty, unincumbered, handsome and rich, good and estimable that she could have been more pleased with it, or decided upon it with less reflection. Sometimes I am pleased that she is to be so well provided for, to have so excellent a guardian, and so kind a friend. Amid these various sensations I am in constant agitation, and really do not know how to set myself about any thing. Thus much I have to comfort me: in my disinterested estimate of the character of the man, I do not think that I could desire a better one for the dearest friend I have on earth. Respectable talents, chastened sensibility, and pure benevolence beam from his countenance, and enliven his conversation. But twenty-one years is an awful chasm in human life, and five children a great charge! I will not "forecast the fashion of uncertain evil," but trust all to the mercy of that God whose protection has hitherto been abundantly granted to us. With re |