{"id":"01KG6GMK31V87VZ71HNGWEJM9K","cid":"bafkreiglgpjbgitzaj6o2w4kh2gl3dyikos6fxwwoiq6x37mi3tbckphki","type":"chunk","properties":{"end_line":12576,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T03:55:03.886Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Chunk 10","source_file":"01KG6FXSCNX5F3D880P3YP3PKR","start_line":12495,"text":"and with a foot for which Cinderella’s slipper would be too large; a\r\ncountenance sweet and interesting, and in her manners eminently refined\r\nand engaging. The cast of her physiognomy is singularly mild and\r\namiable, and her whole person is replete with every feminine grace. Her\r\neyes\r\n\r\n               ‘Effuse the mildness of their azure beam;’\r\n\r\nand to her, above all her sex, are applicable the lines of our gentle\r\nColeridge:--\r\n\r\n               ‘Maid of my Love, sweet ⸻\r\n                In Beauty’s light you glide along:\r\n                Your eye is like the star of eve,\r\n                And sweet your Voice as Seraph’s song.\r\n                Yet not your heavenly Beauty gives\r\n                This heart with passion soft to glow:\r\n                Within your soul a Voice there lives!\r\n                It bids you hear the tale of Woe.\r\n                When sinking low the Sufferer wan\r\n                Beholds no hand outstretched to save,\r\n                Fair as the bosom of the Swan\r\n                That rises graceful o’er the wave,\r\n                I’ve seen your breast with pity heave,\r\n                And therefore love I you, sweet ⸻.’\r\n\r\nHere, my dear M----, closes this catalogue of the Graces, this chapter\r\nof Beauties, and I should implore your pardon for trespassing so long on\r\nyour attention. If you, yourself, in whose breast may possibly be\r\nextinguished the amatory flame, should not feel an interest in these\r\nthree ‘counterfeit presentments,’ do not fail to show them to ⸻, and\r\nsolicit her opinion as to their respective merits.\r\n\r\nTender my best acknowledgments to the Major for his prompt attention to\r\nmy request, and, for yourself, accept the assurance of my undiminished\r\nregard; and hoping that the smiles of heaven may continue to illuminate\r\nyour way,--I remain, ever yours,\r\n                                                                L. A. V.\r\n\r\nWritten in long hand (by Melville) across the inner margin:--\r\n\r\n‘When I woke up this morning, what the devil should I see but your cane\r\nalong in bed with me. I shall keep it for you when you come up here\r\nagain.’\r\n\r\n\r\n                     FRAGMENTS FROM A WRITING-DESK\r\n\r\n\r\n                                 No. 2\r\n\r\n                                                     LANSINGBURGH, N.Y.,\r\n                                               _Saturday, May 18, 1839_.\r\n\r\n‘Confusion seize the Greek!’ exclaimed I, as wrathfully rising from my\r\nchair, I flung my ancient lexicon across the room, and seizing my hat\r\nand cane, and throwing on my cloak, I sallied out into the clear air of\r\nheaven. The bracing coolness of an April evening calmed my aching\r\ntemples, and I slowly wended my way to the river-side. I had promenaded\r\nthe bank for about half an hour, when flinging myself upon the grassy\r\nturf, I was soon lost in revery, and up to the lips in sentiment.\r\n\r\nI had not lain more than five minutes, when a figure, effectually\r\nconcealed in the ample folds of a cloak, glided past me, and hastily\r\ndropping something at my feet, disappeared behind the angle of an\r\nadjoining house, ere I could recover from my astonishment at so singular\r\nan occurrence.\r\n\r\n‘Cerbes!’ cried I, springing up, ‘here is a spice of the marvellous!’\r\nand stooping down, I picked up an elegant little rose-coloured,\r\nlavender-scented _billet-doux_, and hurriedly breaking the seal (a\r\nheart, transfixed with an arrow) I read by the light of the moon the\r\nfollowing:--\r\n\r\n\r\n  ‘GENTLE SIR,--If my fancy has painted you in genuine colours, you\r\n  will on the receipt of this, incontinently follow the bearer where\r\n  she will lead you.\r\n\r\n                                                        ‘INAMORATA.’\r\n\r\n\r","title":"Chunk 10"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG6GK9PNMK2BH5C1BFJXTJS2","peer_type":"segment","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG6FXSCNX5F3D880P3YP3PKR","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG2T49K0H5GDRB0G4YDTPG8H","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG6GMK2H60CEW2Y27MP8SZA8","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"prev"},{"peer":"01KG6GMK3135MH1HX7934Y9HBA","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"next"}],"ver":2,"created_at":"2026-01-30T03:55:04.673Z","ts":"2026-01-30T03:55:22.910Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF0H3YRP9ZSM033AM0QJ47H"}}