To Col. Bellville.
Belmont, Sunday Morning.
I AM desired by my Lord to ask you
hither, and to beg you will bring my
niece with you. Lady Belmont joins in
the request; her nobleness of sentiment has
conquered the reluctance she had to see her;
she has even promised to endeavor to bear
the sight of Lord Melvin, but I fear this
is more than is in her power; she fainted
when the request was first made. Lady
Mary is expected here this evening.
Bellville, you are coming to Belmont,
once the smiling paradise of friendship.
Alas! how changed from that once happy
abode! Where are those blameless pleasures,
that convivial joy, those sweet follies,
which once gave such charms to this place?
For ever gone, for ever changed to a gloomy
sadness, for ever buried with Lady Julia.
Lady Belmont struggles nobly with her
grief; she has consented to see her friends, to
see all who will hear her talk of her child:
a tender melancholy has taken place of
those horrors, which it was impossible long
to support and live.
Colonel Mandeville is to stay at Belmont;
they are to indulge in all the voluptuousness
of sorrow; they are to sit all day and
talk of their matchless children, and count
the hours till they follow them to the grave.
They have invited all who will join in tears
with them; the coach is gone to-day for
Mr. and Mrs. Herbert.
Emily Howard and I bend our whole
thoughts to find out means to soften their
sorrows; I hope much from your conversation,
and the endearing sensibility of your
soul; it is not by resisting, but by soothing
grief, that we must heal the wounded
heart.
There is one pleasure to which they can
never be insensible, the pleasure of relieving
the miseries of others: to divert their attention
from the sad objects which now engross
them, we must find out the retreats of
wretchedness; we must point out distress
which it is in their power to alleviate.
Oh! Bellville! But in vain does the pride
of human wisdom seek to explore the counsels
of the Most High! Certain of the paternal
care of our Creator, our part is submission
to his will.
FINIS.
