LONDON AND TO BEDLAM, TO SEE MRS. WEnlow. COUNSELLOR HADWELL, &c. DURING a whole year the greatest and most endeared intimacy subsisted between Charles and Eugenia. Their friend, Kindley, saw and approved it, and congratulated Charles on his success. Her mother also, and all the ladies approved it. But the father, with his more than natural surliness, frowned upon it, and behaved roughly to Charles whenever he came to his house. Their beloved pastor, the Rev. Mr. Bredwell, was always happy to see them; but though he never ventured to touch on the sub. ject, he spoke of it with regret, and predicted that it would not last, and hoped it might not end in a union for life. He became the joyful father of a son after having had ten daughters; he fondly anticipated his becoming the darling of his advancing age; described the plans he would adopt, and the pains he would take in his education, and looked forward to his distinguishing himself at college and in the pulpit. But all these fond hopes were swept away by his early death. Bredwell was cut to the heart; but at length he said to Charles, "you will ere long see a reason why my heavenly Father took my son." They did see it; for soon himself was confined by sickness to his room, and after a few months he felt the sentence of death in himself. "Now," he said, "I see the reason why God was pleased to take my son, because he meant soon to call me home." Charles and Eugenia were his constant visitors. One day Charles persuaded him to walk out with him in his garden. After a slow walk in silence, he stood still, and lifting up his eyes to Heaven, he said, pointing upwards, "I shall soon be there with my Father and my God and my Redeemer, and the spirits of the just made perfect. What a happiness! To be with Abraham and all the patriarchs, with Moses and all the prophets, with Paul and all the Apostles, and with all the martyrs and the saints of every age! What blessed society! What exalted pleasures!" At length he took to his bed. said to Charles, "what I am going to say. I am about to die, and I have surrendered up my wife and children to God. I leave them with perfect composure in resignation and in faith. I have nothing to leave them but my prayers and my faith. But mark my words. I am assured the providence of God will raise them up friends, and make them prosperous!" His anticipations were more than realized. About 1,500l. was raised for them by the religious world, and his children have heen happily settled, some in wealth, and all have trod in his steps, and continue respected and beloved. "Mark," he The last time Charles and Eugenia visited him (to anticipate a few weeks,) he was unable to speak; but he beckoned Charles to approach him. He squeezed his hand, and whispered, "the Lord is with me! Keep close to Christ!" That night beloved Bredwell's spirit departed "to shine with them who have turned many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever." This affliction led the thoughts of the two friends into different channels. Such was the fond endearment which united them the first part of the year, that if separated for a few days, they fixed on eight in the evening to think of each other, and implore blessings from above. Three admirers during that period made proposals to Eugenia, but she gave them all a decided negative, and afterwards told Charles, with triumph, of her proceedings. If they went into company, they agreed upon signals of notice, though sitting apart, and Charles, at her request, moderated his attention to other ladies in the company. But by the end of the year a variety of circumstances contributed to make Eugenia reflect on the disproportion between Charles and herself in point of age; and her sensitive mind was much agitated by the long succession of harassing feelings which she was called to endure in attending the death-bed of the beloved Bredwell. Charles, during this period, was invited by Mr. Whiteden to accompany him to London. There he went with Mr. Whiteden to several interesting scenes, and by himself to others, so that he prolonged his absence more than a month. The state of her feelings, and the condition of Mr. Bredwell in his last hours, will be best explained by Eugenia's letter to Charles. While in London, Charles paid a visit to the old lunatic asylum, called Bethlehem or Bedlam, to see the poor lunatic Mrs. Wenlow, of whom mention has been made before. Charles had promised Mrs. Gell, her sister, and Eugenia that he would visit her, and send them the particulars of his visit. On going thither, he announced that he came to see Mrs. Wenlow; and Mr. Scott, the governor, received him with the greatest urbanity, and promised him the interview. He gave orders that they should prepare Mrs. W. to see him, and meanwhile he invited Charles to accompany him as his guide through the abodes of misery in this asylum for lunatics. Charles was horrified to behold a woman almost naked lying upon straw; but the guide replied, it was useless supplying her with clothing. He was then conducted to a large ward, where he noticed persons perambulating the place in every variety of attitude, manner, and speech. One man was wearing a crown of straws, saying, he was emperor of Europe; another making a speech, as a statesman, to the parliament; another with a book giving out hymns to a congregation; another sitting, as in deep thought, calculating eclipses; another declaring he had found out the art of turning all things into gold, &c. Charles now entered a small parlour, where he beheld a lady elegantly dressed in white, fair and full, who immediately accosted him with the pleasantest smiles, and the most cheerful voice, "Dear Charles! I am delighted to see you." "Is it possible," said Charles, "that I am speaking to Mrs. Wenlow? When last I saw you, you were worn to a skeleton; and now you are far more graceful and buxom than your elegant sister, Mrs. Gell!" "Oh !" said she, "that was in the time of my ill health and delusion. I am thankful that I am now quite recovered from that horrible delirium; and, Charles, it was your rallying me and ridiculing my foolish whims, which helped to dissipate the cloud; and as light and reason emerged from the mist, my bodily frame acquired health, till I am become as healthy and high-spirited as I used to be. I assure you, Charles, I am now perfectly recovered, and am comfortable, and should be perfectly happy if I were to be brought home again to my sister and my friends." "I suppose, said Charles, you long for the country, and the rural walks in which you formerly used to delight." "I do, I do, Charles; can I forget those pure and refreshing sources of happiness-the woodland glade, the purling stream, and the green meadow? These afford greater peace and joy to the untroubled bosom than the royal palace and the gayest parterre! 66 om Ed Gives not the hawthorn bush a sweeter shaderow i do To shepherds, looking on their silly sheep.1 bow omor Than doth a rich embroidered canopy To kings, that fear their subjects' treachery otheo) TIVE Ford aM } rehm The shepherd's homely curd, now "Ah!" said Charles, "you have known much of the world, and speak feelingly." "Yes, Charles! I have known too much. I feel for you-you are just stepping into a strange world. 200122919m 901 red hovomst yɛbistroy The untainted virtue of your year oy bus ; 9090 Hath not yet div'd into the world's deceit ; No more can you distinguish of a man Than of his outward show.' સો "O yes. I can," said Charles, "and have discovered that the greatest moral worth often resides with the poor. 193 Rich honesty dwells, like a miser foul oyster. 5 30 201 s 15 Charles promised to make known her situation and her wishes to her friends, and to use all his influence with them to send for her home again. She talked so rationally, that Charles began to suppose she was really recovered. But at length he touched a tender string. "Mr. Bredwell," he said, "has been very ill! I fear he will soon quit this world for a better!" "Mr. Bredwell ill !" she replied! "Mr. Bredwell, O Mr. Bredwell! I loved him, Charles, to my very heart! |