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قراءة كتاب The Hawthorne A Christmas and New Years Present
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FREDERICK ORMSBY.
Mr. Ormsby, a gentleman residing in the city of New-York, took his family to West Point, to spend a week of unusually warm weather at the close of spring, and to see his nephew Gustavus, who had been a cadet at the Military Academy for near three years, and who was a boy of a very different disposition from Frederick Ormsby, being spirited, manly, and of a most amiable temper. Frederick, whose age was almost thirteen, was not entirely devoid of good qualities; but he was idle, rude, mischievous, and took the greatest delight in frightening and tormenting every one about him, particularly his sister Madeline.
Gustavus, having obtained permission to visit his uncle and aunt at the hotel, devoted all his leisure time to them; and being one of the cadets that act as assistant professors, and are therefore exempt from military duty, it was in his power to accompany them on all their walks, and to show them every thing on West Point worthy the attention of visiters. These walks would have been delightful, had not Frederick caused much annoyance by his vexatious tricks, and (to use his own expression) by planning frights for his mother and sister. Reproof affected him only for a few minutes, and even during their short voyage in the steam-boat from New-York, his father more than once regretted that Frederick had not been left at home.
Their first walk was to Washington's Valley, so called from having been the head-quarters of the illustrious commander-in-chief. On their way thither they visited the German Flats, once the encamping place of a great number of Hessian deserters, who came over to the American army while it lay at West Point. These fields, formerly a desert of stones and weeds, are now in high cultivation; and at their farthest extremity, where the wooded heights run out into the river, is the cemetery, shaded with old cedars, and ornamented with an elegant monument of white marble, round which are buried the few cadets that die here.
The walk from the German Flats to Washington's Valley, is delightfully cool and shady, being cut through the forest. The trees meet across the road, while their tangled roots project in the most fantastic forms from the banks on each side, and between their branches are seen at intervals the waters of the Hudson glittering far below.
The house, for ever memorable as the temporary residence of Washington, is a mere cottage; but under its low roof heroes once met, and plans were discussed, whose results we are now enjoying. It is surrounded by locust-trees, at this season resplendent with their conic clusters of beautiful white blossoms; and a clear brook murmurs through the garden, seeking its way to the river, whose waves roll gently in, washing the smooth grey sand that lies in front of the valley. Immediately behind this classic spot, ascends the mountain called the Crow's Nest, the longest and highest of the chain, that, extending along both shores of the Hudson, appears to inclose it on every side, giving it at West Point, the form of a lake from which there seems to be no outlet. On the opposite, or northern shore, rise the wild and barren mountains of Fishkill, far beyond which lie the fertile plains of Connecticut. Looking up the river, the view is terminated by the town of Newburgh, at ten miles distance, with Polipel's Island in front, and a fine range of country behind; the Chemungo mountains (a branch of the Catskills) closing the long perspective, their vast blue forms faintly visible on the remotest verge of the horizon.
Mr. and Mrs. Ormsby, with Gustavus and Madeline, took their seats on one of the numerous fragments of rock that are scattered over the sands at Washington's Valley; and while they were admiring the prospect, Gustavus (who was skilled in revolutionary lore) reminded his uncle and aunt, as they cast their eyes down the river, and looked toward the plain, of the ball given there by the American officers to their French companions in arms, in honour of the birth of the Dauphin. For this purpose, there was erected on the green an arbour of immense length, constructed of laurel-branches brought by the soldiers from the hills. This rustic arcade was illuminated by a multitude of little tin lamps, which have been kept ever since in the public store-house, and which are still used with great pride at the balls given by the cadets. On this occasion, Washington led off the first dance with the lady of General Knox.
Frederick, who had no taste for such conversation, soon rambled away, and amused himself by throwing stones at some ducks that were paddling in a brook at the entrance of the woods, returning now and then to the party at the river side, and soliciting Madeline to join him.
"I am sure," said he, in a low voice, "you will find it much more amusing to ramble about with me than to sit here listening to tales of the old war."
"Indeed," answered Madeline, "I am always glad to hear as many tales of the old war as I possibly can, provided that there is nothing in them shocking or disgusting, and no particulars of the killing; and my father says that no person of good feelings or good manners will ever detail the horrors, the real sickening horrors of a battle, in presence of females. But I will go with you, if my mother will give me permission."
Mrs. Ormsby's leave was asked and obtained, and Mr. Ormsby cautioned his children to be absent but a short time.
Frederick took his


