"I know Dayer like a book. He and I traveled together several years up and down the Mississippi. On the boats, we both followed the same business, gambling; but when we stopped, Dayer preached, and I stole horses; and we went snucks. Dayer was the best partner I ever had. He understood his ps and qs better than most people. He knew about half the Bible by heart; and was a Baptist, Methodist, or Presbyterian, just as suited the people where we halted. But at Natchez he was a little imprudent, and the sheriff nabbed us both for it, and we had quarters provided for us in the penitentiary. ́· Dayer worked at shoemaking; and you'll find he understands the trade about as well as he does preaching.' "Mr. Garrow tested the truth of this story by putting Dayer upon the shoemaker's bench; where sure enough, he proved an excellent workman. "His five years expired, and he was discharged. About three months afterward, Mr. Garrow was traveling in the west. He stopped at a public house, and had scarcely lighted a segar, when who should enter but the shoemaker! Why, Dayer!' said Mr. Garrow, is this you?' For God's sake,' replied the other, drawing him aside, 'don't call me Dayer here! My name is — -! I am pastor of the Baptist church in this place, and have a salary of six hundred dollars! For Heaven's sake, don't expose me here!' These facts were related by Mr. Garrow himself to the narrator. PORTRAITURE. 133 73 "Before night we arrived in Syracuse. Here Mr. George Cross met us with his carriage, and conveyed us to his residence, a beautiful yellow cottage, romantically situated among the hills, about five miles from the town. * * * The next morning we pursued our journey. Our ride to Syracuse was exhilarating and delightful. The rising sun had flung his golden shadow before him upon the hill tops to herald his advent. The newly sown wheat fields, with their delicate shade of green, contrasted beautifully with the deep emerald of the forest, sprinkled here and there with the crimson hues of the maple. As we proceeded, the sun came up, gilding the spires of the little city upon the plain, and throwing a glorious garniture over the landscape of surrounding hills. The scene harmonized perfectly with my feelings. I felt myself a wanderer in some fairy world; and looked around me, half expectant of seeing its fairy denizens. But fifteen minutes ride dissipated the sweet delusion. "Before noon we passed the Lunatic Asylum, near Utica. It is a magnificent edifice, and charmingly situated. I thought I would be almost willing to forego my reason for the sake of such a residence. So much beauty and grandeur would seem sufficient to fix the wandering mind, and cure it of its lunacy. Who could rave in Paradise? Yet even within those walls is madness-madness in all its sad varietiesthe vacant stare, the idot laugh, the dismal howl, the voiceless melancholy, and the thousand other accompaniments of mental shipwreck. One of the inmates is a young lady of my own acquaintance, whose insanity is the fruit of disappointed love. They say she daily decks herself for the bridal, and looks wildly out for the faithless lover. Alas, unhappy girl! ere he come, they shall robe thee for the burial, and marry thee to death! Another is the wife of a venerable clergyman in the western part of the state. She imagines herself in hell; and deems the officers of the institution so many devils, and all her associates damned spirits. Another tells the visitor that he is placed there to work out the salvation of his soul, by eating up the building, and drinking all the water in the Erie Canal. What a melancholy spectacle is the noblest work of God in ruins! The bard has not drawn too dark a picture: 'I've seen the dark ship proudly braving, And heard the seaman farewell sighing, (His body on the dark sea lying,) His death prayer to the wind; The shipwreck of th' immortal mind!' "Passing this paradisaic Pandemonium, we swept over the intervenient distance of ninety miles, and reached Albany about five o'clock in the evening. Though the novelty and variety of the scenery, and the agreeable sociality of the company, had kept me very happy during the day, I now desired a change; and when I found myself seated at the hotel, felt like an Olympic racer who has gained the goal." CHAPTER X. SCENERY TERMINUS. "The hills-the everlasting hills- "Hail, nature's storm-proof fortresses, The masonry of God!" Bryant. ON Monday morning, in company with Mr. and Mrs. Van Valkenburg and their two daughters, we embarked on board the steamboat Troy, for New York. Afloat on the far-famed Hudson, amidst scenery sanctified to freedom by the events of the revolution, and rendered classic by the genius of Washington Irving, all the latent enthusiasm of Leila awoke into inspiration, and poured itself forth in torrents of extemporaneous poetry, brilliant as the sheen of the sunlit river, and beautiful as the rainbows that danced behind the waterwheel. Let her speak for herself: "I had read of the Hudson in story and in song. From early childhood, I had listened to the narration of its incidents, and the description of its scenery. Most ardently had I longed to float upon its classic waters. The desire is gratified; and as I look back |