Alexandria Daily Gazette, Commercial & Political

For the Alexandria Daily Gazette.

THE OLD COUCH.

Mr. EDITOR,

On a small estate, which descended to me from my grand-father, stands a venerable mansion; which is terribly lacerated by the hand of time, having stood the buffetings of more than one hundred years.-- This edifice, and all the furniture appertaining, I have ever esteemed too superannuated for my occupancy, and too sacred for that of another: its doors have therefore been long sullenly closed, except to my occasional visits; and these have recently been very frequent. I often fly thither as to a refuge from the insipid and enervating rounds of idleness and dissipation. Here the drawing room is my favorite haunt:-- it was furnished in the true taste of 1760. Several devices in relievo, of exquisite workmanship, adorned the chimney piece: the hangings were principally composed of Scripture pieces, family paintings and heraldry. Passing, however, over the profusion of antique lumber with which this apartment is filled, I will only notice an ancient couch, on which I used to recline, 30 years ago, with my old grand-dad, and hear him, with vast attention, talk of the "regulars," and describe the battles of Bunker's-Hill, Monmouth, &c. till I often fell, involuntarily, into the arms of Somnus, and left the old codger responding with the crickets. He and his much honored spouse, with the principal part of their household, having been long gathered to their fathers, and I again reclined on the same old couch, and in the same apartment, where, with them, many of my infantile hours were passed away---the awful silence which reigns forever here, and the natural retrospection, which the mind takes on things that were --especially amidst the obsolete trappings that surround me, all contribute to fill me with sensations altogether indescribable. This old couch, apparently has the virtue of divesting me, when lolling thereon, of all the superstitions, partialities, or prejudices, incidental to human nature, and of suffering me to see, and speak, things as they are! From this peculiarly appropriate retreat. I intend, occasionally, to send you some reflections on the passing events of life, and whatever else may obtrude itself: they will be concise, and without preamble or apology--rude as the rough castings of the brazier, and nearly as replete with his metal. I do not promise to continue my correspondence any longer than it suits my convenience; on the other hand you can retaliate, by consigning to oblivion, the first fruits from the old couch.