28. CHAPTER XXVIII.
LOVE AND PATRIOTISM.
Love rais'd his noble thoughts to brave achievements;
For love's the steel that strikes upon the flint,
Gives coldness heat, exerts the hidden flame,
And spreads the sparkles round to warm the world.
Dryden.
A short and happy week flitted rapidly away,
and the day of separation again arrived. A fearful
day to Catharine; for she felt that her newly-acquired
felicity would depart with the source
from which it emanated; and a void, still more
dreadful than the former, be left in her bosom.
It was the twenty-first of June—the day on which
George was to bid adieu to Mulberry-Grove, and
all the peaceful scenes around it.
Their parting interview cannot be described,
for no eye but Heaven's was permitted to witness
it. Those bosoms which have never experienced
the thrilling transports of reciprocal love, will
feel no regret that I pass over the affecting scene
in silence; while genuine lovers will duly appreciate
that delicacy which forbids my intruding
on its sanctity.
In the awful hour of death, all disguise is discarded,
and the real character of the man appears;
Hypocrisy, alarmed, throws off her mask,
and the heart resumes its long interrupted intercourse
with the tongue and features. The effect
of parting is similar, when two fond lovers are
about separating for an indefinite time. Reserve
is banished, the heart will be heard, and Virtue
forgets to blush. One such parting interview is
worth a month of wooing, for it will induce a tender
confession, when nothing else can effect it;
it removes all doubts, and displays the progress
of affection in characters too legible to be misunderstood—
“Hail, Separation! then, since it imparts
“Such rapturous confidence to doubting hearts;
“Delightful Parting! pledge of future bliss,
“To thee I owe the long-protracted yes,
“The unrestrain'd embrace, and voluntary kiss.”
Major Willoughby accompanied his son as far
as New-Salem, forty miles on his journey, where
they found their old friend the missionary, their
former fellow-traveller to Erie. He entertained
them one night at his house, and showed them
many curious Indian antiquities, which he had
collected in his various peregrinations. The next
morning our young soldier received his father's
blessing, accompanied with much excellent advice,
and a purse of fifty eagles, bequeathed him
by his aunt. George drew his sword, and exclaimed,
“Whatever be the fate of George Washington
Willoughby, neither the weapon he wears,
nor the name you have given him, shall ever be
tarnished by his conduct; he swears to prove
himself worthy of both, or perish.”
So saying, he kissed the motto, and returned
the blade to its scabbard; then embraced his father,
shook hands with the missionary, and
mounting his horse, hastened forward to join his
brave countrymen in arms. He slept the next
night at Sandusky, and in the afternoon following
beheld the American standard waving on the
walls of Fort Meigs; and within those walls he
shortly after reposed.
For several days our hero amused himself in
exploring the surrounding country, and particularly
the interesting theatre of Wayne's victory
over the Indians. It would be difficult to portray
his sensations on surveying the ground where his
father's hand had mingled with its kindred dust,
and where his own birth had been so mysteriously
announced. Lost in thought, he remained for
some time leaning against a tree, with his eyes
fixed on the ground.
From this reverie he was at length aroused by
approaching footsteps; and on raising his eyes,
the Mysterious Chief stood before him. His
dress was like that which the friar's mantle covered
at the masquerade; but the majesty of his
deportment, and the dignified expression of his
countenance, had given place to an air of dejection
and melancholy—a shade of sorrow was visible
on his brow. After a moment's silence, our
astonished hero addressed him—
“You see, mysterious being! that I have at
length obeyed your summons. I am now in my
country's service. May I hope for your approbation?”
“You have it,” replied the chief; “but without
me, your services will be vain.”
“Will you then accompany me?”
“I am always with you—for our souls are congenial;
I shall always continue to be with you,
unless you prohibit my approach by suffering
your mind to descend from the orbit in which it
now revolves, and in which I move. I am ever
present with all who travel in the same circle; but
with those in larger or smaller ones, I can hold
no intercourse. Mars and Saturn can never revolve
in the same orbit—their paths must ever remain
distinct.”
“I do not understand you,” answered George,
“your language, like yourself, is all a mystery.”
“It is a mystery which you will one day clearly
comprehend,” returned the chief. “But the
invaders of Canada approach—you must join
their standard; and whatever be the result of the
expedition, do your duty, and leave the rest to
Heaven. I will never desert you while you deserve
my assistance. I have no access to your
leader, or this campaign should end in glory.”
“Why not to him, as easy as to me?” asked
George.
“When human philosophy can clearly explain
the laws of attraction and repulsion, I will answer
your question,” replied the chief. “But I
shall not fail to assist and animate every one to
whom I can approach. If such gain nothing else,
they shall gain the approbation of their country.
But to the object of my visit: While your country
claims your services, she alone must possess
your heart—to her your undivided affections must
be devoted. Beware, then, how you suffer a rival
to engross them. Patriotism must rise superior
to all selfish considerations. When the
Champions of Freedom have secured her temple
from profanation, and when the dove shall again
nestle with the eagle—then, and not till then, you
may with honor yield to the gentle sway of virtuous
love. But if you suffer any object to stand
between you and duty, mark me—such object
shall be removed. Your country claims you, and
she must have you undivided—entire. Continue
to deserve my friendship, by cherishing my counsels
in your heart, and this high honor shall be
your rich reward—your single arm shall defeat
a host! Remember me!”
On saying this, he walked deliberately away;
and before George could frame a reply, or determine
to follow him, he had turned a jutting eminence,
and disappeared. In a moment George
scaled the rocky summit, but could nowhere discover
the object of his search; and stood for
some minutes a motionless statue of wonder.
The notes of a distant bugle, floating on the
southern breeze, awoke him from his trance, and
in a short time he could distinctly discern the
waving banner and nodding plumes of an advancing
host. He precipitately descended the eminence,
and mounting his horse, soon met the van-guard
of the Northwestern army.
