THE EMIGRANTS:

OR ASPASIA DE NEMOURS.

FOUNDED UPON FACT.

CHAPTER I.

'The bay trees in our country are all withered,
And meteors fright the fixed stars of heaven;
The pale faced moon looks bloodily on the earth,
And lean looked prophets whisper fearful change;
Rich men look sad, and ruffians dance and leap.'

Richard II.

It was during the sanguinary reign of the tyrant Robespierre, that M. De Nemours, a French gentleman of some consequence and a native of Paris, with his wife and only child, the lovely Aspasia, made their escape from the impending horrors of the French revolution, and embarked with a number of emigrants for the hospitable shores of the United States, whither he esteemed himself fortunate in having transported the bulk of his immense property.

M. De Nemours had for some time seen the lowering tempest that hovered, like the angel of death, in the political atmosphere of France, and with the cunning peculiar to his character, had been long secretly

preparing to escape from its terrors. He saw it burst, however, and had only time to elude its overwhelming influence. They were accompanied by two faithful Swiss servants, Jaques and Madalene, who had been married and entered the family of De Nemours about the time of Aspasia's birth.

After a short and prosperous voyage, the little household arrived in safety at their destined port, which was Philadelphia. But imagine their consternation when they found that the wretch to whom their property had been entrusted, and also in whom De Nemours had reposed the most implicit confidence, had absconded immediately upon the news arriving that the French revolution had broken out; but whither he had gone, it was impossible to learn. Even if he could have been found, however, the property had been placed in his hands in such a random manner, that there would have been no remedy for De Nemours but submission to his lot. He therefore collected the trifling remnant of his effects, and finding it insufficient to enable him to live comfortably, much less to indulge in the luxury and refinement he had been accustomed to, became gloomy, morose, and sullen, and abandoned himself to despair.

Madame De Nemours, as is invariably the case with the weaker sex on these trying occasions, instead of giving herself up like a shipwrecked mariner to be disposed of at the mercy of the elements, set herself seriously at work to remedy the evil. She had been taught the English language as an accomplishment, and having lived under the ancient régime of France,

her education had received the most careful attention. Aspasia was able to give her mother great assistance, as no pains had been spared to perfect her in all the accomplishments that could adorn her sex, or the rank she held in her native place. Madame De Nemours and her daughter immediately opened a boardingschool for young ladies. Their letters of introduction from Paris and Bordeaux, were addressed to some of the most respectable merchants of Philadelphia, and they soon had a large number of genteel pupils.

They became much attached to a Mr and Miss Mordaunt, whose parents had both of them died recently. The amiable and accomplished Emily Mordaunt was the affianced bride of a highly respectable young clergyman of the Episcopal church, who resided a short distance from the city on the romantic banks of the river Schuylkill, where he had built himself a cottage, in a beautiful and retired neighbourhood.

The Rev. Henry Edgars and Emily Mordaunt were to have been united some months previous to this period, but the rapidly declining health of her mother prevented it. They now only waited for a decent time to elapse after the death of Mrs Mordaunt for their marriage to take place. The senior Mr Mordaunt dying insolvent, nothing was left to his family but the small dowry of their mother. Emily had resided with Madame De Nemours since the death of her mother, till after her marriage with Mr Edgars, and when he claimed his interesting bride, Aspasia and Edward Mordaunt officiated as brides

maid and groomsman. The ceremony was celebrated at the house of De Nemours, after which the joyous little party repaired to their rural retreat on the banks of the Schuylkill.

Here, in the vicinity of the beautiful and romantic falls of this celebrated river, used Edward and Aspasia to ramble together, while Mrs Edgars superintended her household concerns, and her husband was engaged in his library. Arm in arm were these young persons constantly seen, amusing themselves by wandering in the woods, gathering wild flowers, and looking for strawberries, or in watching the boatmen descending the cataract with their loads of flour from the neighbouring mills. It is almost impossible for two young persons, blessed with an equal share of nature's most bountiful gifts, to be thrown thus constantly into the society of each other, as Aspasia and Edward were, without mutual danger to their hearts.

Mordaunt was now in his twentieth year, considerably above the common height of men, and at this early period his person had attained its fullness and maturity. He could have boasted of a form that might almost vie with that of the Apollo in grace, strength, and harmony of motion. His eyes were dark, brilliant, and expressive, and contrasted finely with his white and well formed forehead, shaded by dark locks.

Aspasia, in the sixteenth year of her age, was of the first order of Corinthian forms, easy and graceful. 'She looked a goddess and she moved a queen.' Her eyes were of a soft hazel, her hair dark, and fastened up with a golden bodkin, an ornament of her mother's,