THE RHINE CASTLE. WANDERED up the path of time, On cliffs precipitously steep; She saw the watch-fire's writhing blaze O'er moonlit forest, cliff, and vine. ; Some far-off weapons seemed to shine She tottered to a gloomy stair, I followed, by her weeping led; We passed a mighty hall where shone Great wassail-cups on tables spread, Swords gapped with shredding helm and bone, And trumpets oft for slaughter blown. Within a chapel's vaulted cell We reached an altar's sanctity; A wondrous change upon me came- And threatened her with eyes of flame, Which checked her ere she spake the Name. Then footfalls rent the woeful air, And swiftly through the gloom advanced A frenzied woman, ghastly fair, Who wildly sang and wildly danced. She seized the other by the arm, And fiercely in her visage glanced; "The time is come!" she shrilly cried. The belfries ring a wedding chime. And yet the sky is black as grime. But oh, my heart is lost and wonMy virgin days are told and done. “The baron bold of Bingensee Rides bravely down the banks of Rhine; A lover and a sire of mine; But it shall redder turn than wine; "I heard a voice which bid me fly; The raven to the she-wolf sings; I heard him singing in a tree, The war-axe falls, the helmet rings— The baron bold of Bingensee, Oh what a prize for me and thee!'"' She ended with a gurgling laugh Sudden, a far, discordant cry Swept hoarsely bodeful to my ear, Then, trampling feet, with maddened rush, With blasphemy of clanging arms; It chiefly flung its savage might; Yet still he faced the rushing fight, Beside his fainted child he fell, And clasped her with a dead embrace; She started staring from her spell, And shrieked and gibbered in his face; Till, agonized, I gave command To cleave that castle to its base; And down it thundered, shaking land THE BOSTON LADIES' RECEPTION OF WASHINGTON. CHAPTER I. And now unveiled the toilette stands display'd Each silver vase in mystic order laid, A LL that can now be recalled, relating even indirectly to our earliest President, commands such interest and attention, that I am tempted to offer a kaleidoscope glimpse of his noble figure, surrounded by the antiquated ceremonial of a ball-room in the eighteenth century. This ball, or, as we should now phrase it, this reception or levee, was given during Washington's last visit to the metropolis of New England in 1789, that the ladies of Boston might be gratified by a personal introduction with the opportunity of offering their respectful and grateful homage. In family conclave, it is decided, that the dress for the gala evening should be entirely new-nothing worn the preceding season may again appear in so distinguished a presence. The services of Mr. Rowe-the most fashionable ladies' coiffeur-should also be promptly secured, and the more speedily, from some uncomfortable reminiscences connected with commencementday at Harvard University. The hour for leaving the city was so early, and the time so limited, that this favorite hair-dresser was in requisition during the hours usually considered as belonging to the night, and even powdered and dressed the heads of many ladies the preceding evening, these votaries of fashion, unhappy victims of the tedious head-dress, passing the night in their high-backed chairs. His assistance is, therefore, at once bespoken, and the important matter satisfactorily arranged. For, though drawn in different directions, and having long-standing engagements with many a fashionable dame, he promises on the word of an honorable coiffeur to present himself at a convenient hour, on the afternoon of Wednesday, the 29th of October. The exciting business of shopping now commenced, and many a consultation was held to decide on the material and style of the new dress. A large trunk was placed in the young lady's apartment, and each article, when procured or completed, took its place in the spacious re ceptacle. Doubtless the lid was often raised to display its accumulating treasures to country cousins or admiring friends. I shall glance in-here is the costly lace, the transparent and filmy gauze, the delicate silk, hueless, but lustrous, with wreaths and clusters of blushing roses. In the folds of that silver paper are the quaint little shoes, pure and snowy as the dress, and near them, in the morocco case with velvet lining, are sparkling buckles. In this perfumed satchel are the delicate gloves, and here, incased from careless hands, the fan of exquisite workmanship. This beautiful dress is made at homeonly the mother's careful and tasteful hand may be trusted on so special an occasion. This ability to cut and fit their own dresses appears to have been not unusual with our gentlewomen of the last century, and was considered by them rather in the light of an accomplishment. While such preparations are supposed to be gradually advancing, allow me to introduce to your notice the masters of the ceremony. The traditions I consult preserve the names of but three individuals. In our own day we occasionally see published the names of seventy or a hundred persons as presiding over the fashionable assemblies of our summer watering-places, and sometimes wonder who can be left to appear simply as private citizens, without some indicating ribbon, or official badge at the button-hole. But we know the title is often a mere honorary distinction. Many are not even present, or, perhaps, have not been consulted in the use of their names. Behind this shadowy cloud of hypothetical managers, is the true working committee who understand and regulate the complicated machinery. Not so in the last century; a limited number of gentlemen, accustomed to society, and competent to the task, well-known themselves, and knowing all in the perhaps somewhat narrow circle of the then small town, were considered sufficient for the many and various duties of the situation, assuming no responsibilities they did not fully intend to meet. Of the three whose names have been handed down, and I am inclined to believe they were all who officiated, were, first, Colonel Bradford, who, at the head of his regiment, received and escorted Washington on the day of his reception. He is well remembered, and was equally at home on the floor of a ball-room as in the field. He was courteous and dignified, and could gracefully lay aside his dignity on social and appropriate occasions. He was easy in conversation, of ready and playful wit, with tact and urbanity of manner. The second name on my list is that of Mr. Joseph Russel. This gentleman was descended, I am told, from a Rhode Island family. He was wealthy, liberal, hospitable, and fond of society. His first place of residence appears to have been too narrow for him, and he had removed to the metropolis of New England, apparently for the enjoyment of a wider range of social privileges. He was showy and handsome, frank, gay, and jovial. A certain quaint drollery and humor about him, with his genuine kindliness of heart, made him a decided and general favorite in society. His ancestors were Friends; from this circumstance, with his still pertinaciously clinging to the shadowy broad-brimmed hat-last relic of his early associations-and, perhaps, also to distinguish him from another gentleman bearing the same name, he was familiarly known in Boston as "Quaker Joe." In an old poem, still remembered and quoted by the older inhabitants of his native place, and which notices the prominent gentlemen of that day, his name rhymes with "bustle." I have not seen the lines, and fancy they may be more graphic than elegant, but record the slight circumstance, as, though trifling, it gives an idea of the cheery, active, animated man. The third master of ceremonies was Mr. Jonathan Freeman, who was accounted one of the handsomest men of his time. His portrait, still in existence, would seem to authorize such an opinion. Being destined to fill a conspicuous place in this narrative, I hasten to present him to my readers, and the more readily, as I claim for him a degree of representative significance, considering the individual to be a fair specimen of the fine gentleman of that period. Some of his family papers have passed through the hands of the writer, while preparing this sketch. From these and other sources, it is gathered that he was liberally educated, accomplished, and of graceful manners. fond of the fine arts, and of much generous culture. He appreciated talent in others, and was himself a ready and elegant writer. Discriminating and enthusiastic in his friendships, and sensitive almost to a fault, in all that pertains to the honor of a gentleman, he would have made a model hero for a romance of the eighteenth century. He had been but a short time married, and had that prominence and weight in society which the control of great wealth is usually supposed to confer on its possessor. The three gentlemen I have mentioned were frequently brought together to preside on convivial occasions, and were at one time managers of a series of elegant assemblies given at Concert Hall, such as were famous in the social annals of the time. While these gentlemen are making all requisite previous arrangements, that the festivities committed to their charge should be worthy of the distinguished guests, we shall again glance at the more personal preparations of our youthful belle. Two little clouds have slightly shadowed the scene. A full set of ostrich feathers, suitable for a lady's head-dress, was at this time very costly and difficult to procure. I have somewhere met with a letter of Franklin's from abroad, in which he declines complying with the request of a relative to purchase such articles for her use, considering them not in keeping with our republican simplicity of manner. Notwithstanding the opinion of the philosopher, however, they continued in high favor and great demand. They were long and large, and worn high upon the head in order to add to the height, and give a more stately effect. A marked distinction had in the last century been sedulously observed between the dress of the matron and the youthful maiden. The young debutante was permitted, within certain bounds, great elegance of garb, but might not assume that expanse of hoop, that length of train, in a word, that expense and pomp of costume, claimed exclusively by the married lady. But the older generations, with their more stately manners and old-fashioned notions, were already passing away, and the fair and youthful Americans, with the new ideas and expansive natures, which seem al THE BOSTON LADIES' RECEPTION OF WASHINGTON. CHAPTER I. And now unveiled the toilette stands display'd Each silver vase in mystic order laid, ᎪᏞ In family conclave, it is decided, that the dress for the gala evening should be entirely new-nothing worn the preceding season may again appear in so distinguished a presence. The services of Mr. Rowe-the most fashionable ladies' coiffeur-should also be promptly secured, and the more speedily, from some uncomfortable reminiscences connected with commencementday at Harvard University. The hour for leaving the city was so early, and the time so limited, that this favorite hair-dresser was in requisition during the hours usually considered as belonging to the night, and even powdered and dressed the heads of many ladies the preceding evening, these votaries of fashion, unhappy victims of the tedious head-dress, passing the night in their high-backed chairs. His assistance is, therefore, at once bespoken, and the important matter satisfactorily arranged. For, though drawn in different directions, and having long-standing engagements with many a fashionable dame, he promises on the word of an honorable coiffeur to present himself at a convenient hour, on the afternoon of Wednesday, the 29th of October. The exciting business of shopping now commenced, and many a consultation was held to decide on the material and style of the new dress. A large trunk was placed in the young lady's apartment, and each article, when procured or completed, took its place in the spacious re ceptacle. Doubtless the lid was often raised to display its accumulating treasures to country cousins or admiring friends. I shall glance in-here is the costly lace, the transparent and filmy gauze, the delicate silk, hueless, but lustrous, with wreaths and clusters of blushing roses. In the folds of that silver paper are the quaint little shoes, pure and snowy as the dress, and near them, in the morocco case with velvet lining, are sparkling buckles. In this perfumed satchel are the delicate gloves, and here, incased from careless hands, the fan of exquisite workmanship. This beautiful dress is made at homeonly the mother's careful and tasteful hand may be trusted on so special an occasion. This ability to cut and fit their own dresses appears to have been not unusual with our gentlewomen of the last century, and was considered by them rather in the light of an accomplishment. While such preparations are supposed to be gradually advancing, allow me to introduce to your notice the masters of the ceremony. The traditions I consult preserve the names of but three individuals. In our own day we occasionally see published the names of seventy or a hundred persons as presiding over the fashionable assemblies of our summer watering-places, and sometimes wonder who can be left to appear simply as private citizens, without some indicating ribbon, or official badge at the button-hole. But we know the title is often a mere honorary distinction. Many are not even present, or, perhaps, have not been consulted in the use of their names. Behind this shadowy cloud of hypothetical managers, is the true working committee who understand and regulate the complicated machinery. Not so in the last century; a limited number of gentlemen, accustomed to society, and competent to the task, well-known themselves, and knowing all in the perhaps somewhat narrow circle of the then small town, were considered sufficient for the many and various duties of the situation, assuming no responsibilities they did not fully intend to meet. Of the three whose names have been handed down, and I am inclined to believe they were all who officiated, were, first, Colonel Bradford, |