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diff --git a/25475.txt b/25475.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..bbf9893 --- /dev/null +++ b/25475.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6216 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Knickerbocker, or New-York Monthly +Magazine, June 1844, by Various + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Knickerbocker, or New-York Monthly Magazine, June 1844 + Volume 23, Number 6 + +Author: Various + +Editor: Lewis Gaylord Clark + +Release Date: May 15, 2008 [EBook #25475] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE KNICKERBOCKER *** + + + + +Produced by Barbara Tozier, Bill Tozier and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + T H E K N I C K E R B O C K E R. + +VOL. XXIII. JUNE, 1844. NO. 6. + + + + +THE PLAGUE AT CONSTANTINOPLE. + +BY AN EYE-WITNESS. + + +In 1837 I was a resident in Galata, one of the faubourgs of Constantinople, +sufficiently near the scenes of death caused by the ravages of the plague +to be thoroughly acquainted with them, and yet to be separated from the +Turkish part of the population of that immense city. It is not material to +the present sketch to dwell upon the subject of my previous life, or the +causes which had induced me to visit the capital of the East at such a +period of mortality; and I will therefore only add, that circumstances of +a peculiarly painful nature obliged me to locate myself in Galata, where +there were none to sympathize in my feelings, or any one with whom I could +even exchange more than a word of conversation. I saw none but the widowed +owner of the house in which I had a chamber, her daughter Aleuka, and +Petraki, her little son. + +While the epidemic raged, we four endeavored to keep up a rigid +quarantine. Each recommended to the other the strictest observance of our +mutual agreement not to receive any thing from without doors, except the +necessaries of life; and whenever we left the house, which was to be as +seldom as possible, not to come in contact with any one. Whenever I went +out I invariably wore an oil-cloth cloak, and by the aid of my cane +prevented the dogs of the streets, which are there so numerous, from +rubbing against me. If I visited any one, which I seldom did, I always sat +on a bench or chair to prevent conveying or receiving contagion; and +before even entering the house, I always underwent the preparation of +being smoked in a box, which during the prevalence of the plague is placed +near its entrance for that purpose. These boxes were some eight feet high +by three square, the platform on which the feet rested elevated about a +foot above the earth, so as to admit under it a dish containing the +ingredients of the prophylactic, and a hole in the door to let the face +out during the smoking of the clothes and body. We procured our daily +supply of provisions from a _Bak-kal_, a retail grocer, whose shop was +directly under our front window; an itinerant _Ekmekjer_, or bread-man, +brought our bread to the door; our vegetables were procured from a +gardener close by, and our water we drew from a cistern under the house: +in fine, our food was either smoked or saturated before we touched it, and +every possible precaution observed to cut our little family off from the +dreadful scourge, 'the pestilence which walketh in darkness and the +destruction which wasteth at noon day.' The mother and daughter throughout +the day spun silk, knitted woolen suits, or embroidered kerchiefs for head +dresses, called in Romaic _fakiolee_, and even to a late hour of the night +they frequently continued the same employment, until the plague prevented +the sale of their handiwork, and their materials were all used up. All day +long they would sit upon the sofa of their little apartment, facing the +street, and while their hands toiled for a subsistence, the widow's +daughter hummed a plaintive air, or occasionally broke the silence by +conversing with her mother. The son was yet too young to be of assistance +to his desolate mother and sister, and except when he said his letters to +them, spent the day in idleness. As to my own employment, the dull period +of time passed with them was a blank in my existence; and yet, such is the +influence of past penury and pain, that I now recall them with pleasure. + +The weather was generally very warm, and south-west breezes over the sea +of Marmora prevailed. From our highest windows we could observe sluggish +seamen lounging on the decks of their vessels in the port, afraid to land +amid the pestilence. Here and there a vessel strove against the current of +the Bosphorus to gain an anchorage; or would slowly float down that stream +into the open sea, on its way to healthier and happier Europe. The +starving dogs at nightfall would howl dismally, bewailing the loss of the +benevolent hands from which they usually received their food; the gulls +and cormorants floated languidly over our dwelling, overpowered by the +heat; and the dead silence, which in the afternoon and evenings prevailed, +made a most melancholy and affecting impression on my mind. + +The plague that summer, (I may limit the period to three months,) carried +off more than fifty thousand persons. For some time the mortality amounted +to a thousand _per diem_. The number of corpses which passed the limited +range of my window daily increased; and after witnessing the spectacle for +some time, I always insensibly avoided the sight of the dead, and felt a +cold shudder run over my frame whenever the voice of the priest +accompanying the corpses struck my ear. So dreadful is the malady, so +surely contagious, and so mortal, that so soon as attacked, the +unfortunate being is deserted by relatives and friends, and when dead, two +or four porters beside a priest were generally the only persons who +attended the body to the grave. When the deceased is a Mussulman, he is +more frequently attended during his illness, and after death to his tomb, +than if a Christian. With the former, the plague is a visitation of +Providence, from which it is both useless and a sin to escape, while with +the latter not only is it deemed necessary to provide for one's own life, +but even to do so at the sacrifice of the dearest friend. Often I noticed +a dead body tied on a plank which a single porter carried on his back; at +other times the object would be concealed within a bag, and then the grave +was a ditch common to all, into which the porter would shake off his load +and return for another. No priest or Imam there presided over the funeral +scene; few or none were the prayers that were said over the remains: he +who but a short week before had been proud of his strength or condition, +or she who in the same short space of time previous excelled in beauty and +grace, there lay confounded in one neglected, unhonored, and putrefying +mass. The air became impregnated with the effluvia; the houses around the +Turkish cemeteries, which are mostly in the heart of the city, where the +dead are interred, but some three feet beneath the surface, were soon +deserted, their owners dead. The ever-green cypress trees under whose +umbrageous quiet the beautiful children once played, now moaned over their +little graves; and in fine, every one in the deserted city walked with +measured steps, apprehensive of threatening death: awe and consternation +filled the minds of all. + +The Sultan's own household was not free from the scourge. By some means it +found access to his servants and carried off about fifty of them. Their +bodies were cast into the Bosphorus, and the Sultan fled to another +palace. The ministers of the Sublime Porte suffered severely in their +families; their wives and slaves died off in numbers; and even the +minister of foreign affairs is said to have taken it and narrowly escaped. +Few survived when once attacked, and the chances of recovery were scarcely +worth calculating. And yet among the Mussulmans little or no precaution +was taken; for although by a government order all the principal offices +were provided with fumigatory boxes, they were seldom used. The Mussulman +Sheiks declared that the contagion came from Heaven, and could only be +averted by Almighty power. Yet it was a well-known fact that cleanliness +of habits went far toward preserving against the disease; and frequent +change of apparel, with ordinary precautions, sufficed to preserve many +who otherwise would doubtless have taken it. + +But I think the reader will be able, from the preceding sketch, to form +some idea of the nature and extent of the mortality of the plague in 1837. +While it raged, every feeling approaching to a similarity with what is +known to denote an attack, excites apprehension. A pimple, through the +medium of the imagination, is transformed into a horrid _bubo_; a cold or +a simple head-ache, however trifling, are attributed to the dreaded +malady; and even the firmest mind at such times quails under trifling +appearances. In some cases the scene of agony closes in a few hours--even +minutes; they fall down and almost immediately expire. Others linger for +twenty-four or forty-eight hours, or several days elapse before death puts +an end to their sufferings. Some again bear it in their systems for +several days, and attend to their usual occupations: at length it appears, +they fall ill and expire, or recover. Few account for their being +attacked; they do not remember having touched any one suspected or +exposed; and again, the porters, whose duty it is to convey the attacked +to the hospitals and the corpses to their graves, escape. The mother +attends upon her dying child, sacrifices every apprehension to her +affection, and yet escapes, or the child brings it to its parent, who +dies, while the innocent cause survives. No cure has yet been found for +it; and Nature must be left to take her course. Extreme heat or cold have +a favorable effect upon it; but the temperate climate of Constantinople, +with the frequent dearth of water, the dust, and other impurities, tend +greatly to its dissemination. + +It was therefore during this painful period that I resided in Galata; +free, as I had hoped, from the contagion; and yet it found its way into +our little family, accompanied by all its horrors. + +One morning in the latter part of the month of October, invited by the +clearness of the air and a fresh breeze which had scarcely strength +sufficient to ruffle the water of the harbor, I left my humble apartment +and ascended the steep hill of Pera. The view--from the small tuft of +graves near the Galata tower, some of which were fresh; of the surrounding +villages and the great city itself, where, although devastation had been +and still was being carried on with horror, there seemed to reign the most +perfect tranquility, resembling the calm bosom of the treacherous sea, +quiet over the lifeless bodies of its victims and the wreck of the noble +vessels which had furrowed its surface--relieved the monotony of my +existence. I gazed longingly upon the many ships lying before me at anchor +in the stream, which could in a few days bear me far away from the scenes +of death and desolation that surrounded me; or I exchanged a word with any +passing acquaintance who ventured from Pera to his counting-house in +Galata. A longer walk gave rise to too many sad reflections. Farther on +was the _Petit Champ des Morts_, a small Turkish cemetery, here and there +spotted with new-made graves, over which more than one aged female mourned +the loss of her life's companion, or perhaps it would be one of fewer +years, who wept the fatal destiny of her young husband, brother, sister, +or child. + +After spending the best part of the day in walking about, I returned to +the house of my residence. As usual, I found the door fastened; I knocked, +but no one answered me. Again I knocked, and called repeatedly before my +voice was heard. At length a low moan, and then a scream, issued from +within. Petraki, the widow's son, opened the door, and with a pale and +frightened countenance told me his mother had suddenly been taken very +ill. There was no alternative. I entered her sitting-room, where in the +company of the family I had spent many quiet hours. Now how changed! The +mother lay upon the sofa, pale; and breathing with difficulty. Aleuka, the +daughter, knelt by her side on the floor, though greatly agitated herself, +and endeavoring to calm her mother's apprehensions. Without once +reflecting on the possible consequences, I sat down on a chair beside the +sufferer, felt her pulse, and as well as I could, made inquiries after her +health. Her pulse was quick, her tongue white and thickly furred, and +extreme lassitude was shown by her dejected countenance. Uncertain as to +the nature of her disease, and unable to offer any alleviation of her +sufferings, I retired to my apartment. There I _did_ reflect on the danger +which I had incurred, and the possibility of the widow having caught the +plague. + +Every hour she became worse; her sufferings were intensely painful; and to +shorten the recital of the sad scene of that night, I will only add, that +the horrid disease showed itself on her person before midnight, and at +break of day her spirit fled. Of course my mind now prepared for death. I +felt confident that I also should soon be a victim to the plague. Early in +the morning I called a passing priest and had the widow's remains conveyed +to their last abode--I knew not where. I had no place to fly to; every +door would be closed against me; and I retired to my apartment, feeling +that I was stepping into my tomb while yet alive. There I was not long +kept in suspense, for soon the plague attacked first Petraki then myself. +When giddiness, the first symptom of the plague, seized me, and I could no +longer stand, but fell despairingly on my bed, what were my feelings! But +let me not recall them _now_; the mental agony which I suffered it is +impossible to describe, and I shudder at the recollection. Aleuka attended +upon me and her brother with all the tenderness and care and forgetfulness +of self which is so characteristic of the female character. I begged her +to leave me to die alone, to place water by my side and depart, but she +would not hear of it. + +The first night after his attack Petraki expired, and on the following +morning was borne away; and I have an indistinct recollection of being +visited on the evening of the same day by the priest and porters. They +endeavored to prevail upon Aleuka to desert me, saying that in a few hours +I would cease to exist. But she constantly refused, determined she +replied, to remain by my side until my sufferings were ended. + + * * * * * + +For several days I was delirious. I remember I knew of nothing; nothing +but water passed my lips. Sores broke out over my body, and those on my +groins and arm-pits were not closed for some months. My neck however was +free, and this no doubt saved my life. On the seventh day I regained my +senses, and found myself in my apartment, the wasted figure of my guardian +angel still watching over me. I remember, on perceiving in me a favorable +change, how her countenance was lit up with joy! Oh, Friendship! how +seldom are you found with the sincerity which I then beheld in an humble +and uneducated girl! Just when I thought all my prospects in life were +blighted; when I had keenly felt the unkindness of mankind, and despaired +of ever again finding any thing in this world worth living for; when I had +already bidden it farewell, and the other world was full in view; I found +what alone can make life delightful even in poverty and +misfortune--friendship and love. Soon the violence of the disease abated, +and I was saved. + +I must hastily pass over my long and painful convalescence. A month +elapsed before I could venture to go beyond doors. Aleuka attended upon +me, and through her economy my purse yet held out. The plague had greatly +subsided; the month of December set in with uncommon severity of cold, and +checked its progress. Oh! the exquisite delight with which I left my hard +and burning bed and close apartment, the scenes of all my sufferings, for +the first time! With a prayer of thankfulness on my lips, I crossed the +threshold of the humble dwelling, and once more slowly mounted the steep +hill of Pera. + +It was a bright, sunny, clear morning; the fresh, cool breeze from the +Black Sea blew over me, infusing new strength and life into my shattered +frame. The streets were again re-peopled, and business renewed. No one +recognized me in my pale, haggard and swollen countenance; and when I +presented myself at the door of a countryman in Pera, he drew back with an +exclamation of surprise, as if he had beheld a spirit. + +My short story is told. I have comprised in a few words the tale of many +long days of agony and suffering, both mental and corporeal. I fast +regained my strength and vigor; the hollow furrows of my forehead and +cheeks soon gave way to the effects of a generous diet; and I once more +stood forth in health and full powers. + +But you will ask, 'And where is she who watched over you during your +moments of suffering?--whom you called your guardian angel, and of whose +friendship and love you spoke in such feeling terms?' I reply, that she +sits even now at my side; her handsome and intelligent countenance reading +in my face the varied emotions to which the tracing of these lines give +rise. Devoted Aleuka is my loving and much-loved wife. + + J. P. B. + + + + +A SONG + +BY JOHN WATERS. + + +Time was I thought that precious name + Less meet for Court than Alley; +But now, no thrilling sound hath Fame, + No clarion note, like SALLY! + +There seems at first, within the word, + Some cause to smile, or rally; +But once by her sweet glance preferr'd, + Ev'n Heaven itself loves SALLY! + +The world moves round when move her Eyes, + Grace o'er each step doth dally, +The breath is lost in glad surprize; + There is no belle, like SALLY! + +Old hearts grow young, off flies the gout, + Time stops, his Glass to rally; +I hardly know what I'm about-- + When lost in thought on SALLY! + +Sometimes she's small, sometimes she's tall, + I can't tell how, vocally; +For there's a spirit over all, + That beams abroad from SALLY! + +A spirit bright, a beam of light, + Ah! fear not that I rally-- +No man can Evil think in sight + Of this pure-hearted SALLY! + +And yet Time was, I thought the name + For Court less fit, than Alley; +While now, no herald sound hath Fame, + No clarion note, but SALLY! + + + + +REMINISCENCES OF A DARTMOOR PRISONER. + +NUMBER THREE. + + +Under the circumstances related in my last number, it will readily be +inferred that sleep was out of the question. The only alternative was to +sit or lie down and meditate upon the next change which might befal us. +There was but little disposition for merriment at such a time and place; +yet there was one man, named John Young, but called by his companions 'Old +John Young,' who in despite of empty stomach and aching limbs, amused +himself and annoyed all others by singing a line of one and a verse of +another, of all the old songs he could recollect from his earliest +boyhood; dispensing his croaking melody with such untiring zeal as to keep +the most weary awake had they been inclined to sleep. + +At break of day we began to try to move about, and gradually straighten +ourselves, which was something of an effort, stiffened and benumbed as we +were with remaining in our wet clothing so many hours. We had now an +opportunity of examining our habitation. It was a building of about four +hundred feet long, by seventy-five or eighty wide, three stories high, and +built of stone, with massive doors and strongly-grated windows, the floors +being of stone or cement, and perfectly fire-proof. Each floor formed one +entire room, except being divided by five rows of posts running the whole +length of the building, by which the prisoners slung their hammocks. The +prisoners were divided off in 'messes' or families of six or eight, each +occupying room sufficient to sit around one of their chests, which usually +served as a mess-table. One row or tier of these messes were ranged next +to the walls on each side, and two rows down the centre, back to back, as +it were, leaving two avenues, or thoroughfares, the whole length of the +building. The entire arrangement resembled the stalls in a stable, more +than any thing else I can compare it to. + +There were seven of these prisons, all of about the same size and +construction, one of which was not occupied. The whole was enclosed in a +circular wall of about twenty feet high, and covering a space of from +eight to ten acres of ground. This was divided in three parts by a wall +similar to the outside one. The centre yard was occupied by No. 7, +allotted to the colored prisoners, and the other two yards had three +prisons in each. On the outside wall were platforms and sentry-boxes at +short distances, for the guards. About fifteen feet within that wall was a +high iron railing. In front of the main entrance was a large square, used +for drilling soldiers and other purposes, and twice a week as a market for +the country people; and on each side of this were the barracks and +hospital, and in front of these were the officers' quarters. This depot +was situated upon a hill, surrounded by a vast common of many miles in +extent, without a bush or tree to relieve the dreary waste; and from its +elevated position it was generally shrouded by clouds, rendering it chilly +and uncomfortable the greater part of the year. + +The daily allowance of food consisted of a pound of beef, a pint of soup, +and a pound of bread to each man; that is to say, at the rate of one +hundred pounds of raw beef to an hundred men. The meat was cut up and put +into large boilers, with sufficient barley to thicken it for soup. This +was boiled until the meat would leave the bone, and the barley was well +cooked; and when ready, was served up to the different messes. By the time +each person got his beef it was almost too small to be seen, being shrunk +up by long boiling; and the bone being taken out, it was no larger than a +small-sized tea-cup. The pound of bread was not much larger: it was made +of barley, slack-baked, and very dark, though sweet. Indeed it was good +enough, what there was of it. On Fridays the fare was varied by the same +amount in fish and potatoes. + +As some require more nutriment than others, the same quantity of fare did +not satisfy all the prisoners alike. I frequently saw many of them devour +their day's allowance at one meal without appeasing their hunger; and +before the next day's rations were served out, they would be almost +frantic from starvation. Some became so exhausted that they were compelled +to go to the hospital until they recovered strength. Those who possessed a +little money fared somewhat better, as they could indulge in the luxury of +bullock's liver, fried in water for the want of fat, or a hot pumgudgeon +fried in the same material. This exquisite dish is not appreciated +according to its merits. It commonly bears the undignified title of +'codfish-balls;' and is well known at the present day among our eastern +brethren, though not held in the same veneration by them as clam-chowder. +'Dartmoor pippins,' or potatoes, were also held in high estimation with +us. + +Dartmoor prison was a world in miniature, with all its jealousies, +envyings and strife. How shall I describe the scenes enacted within its +walls? how portray the character of its inhabitants? If I but held the pen +of DICKENS or the pencil of MOUNT, I might hope so to bring the objects +before the mind's eye of the reader, that they would stand forth in full +relief, inducing him almost to imagine that he stood in their midst. +Though many years have rolled by since those events occurred, they still +linger in my memory like the vivid scenes of a high-wrought drama; and +often in the 'dead waste and middle of the night' do I revisit in my +dreams scenes which I should be sorry to survey when awake. + +I think it one of the greatest blessings granted by an all-wise and +benevolent CREATOR, that He has bestowed upon man an intellectual and +physical capacity, which enables him to pass in comparative happiness many +a lonely hour. Many were the aerial maps and charts laid down for our +future journeyings through life, and plans formed, which were never to be +realized. And perhaps all was for the best; for we are all creatures of +circumstance. Not one in a thousand follows out his plans through life. +Half of our existence is imaginary; and wise-acres may scoff as much as +they please at what they term 'castle-building,' I believe all mankind +indulge in it more or less; and it is an innocent, harmless pastime, which +injures no one. I consider it the 'unwritten poetry,' the romance of life, +which all feel; but many, like the dumb, strive in vain to give utterance +to their thoughts. + +Many of the prisoners busied themselves in making some trifling article, +which, while it afforded amusement, aided in obtaining for them a little +money, and thereby added to their comfort. Many of the most ingenious +specimens of art I ever saw were made there; some of which were models of +vessels, of various classes, from the clipper-built brig to the +line-of-battle ship; made too of beef bones, obtained from the cook. They +were built up precisely like a large vessel; human hair twisted into ropes +of suitable sizes being employed for rigging. When completed, they made a +beautiful toy. Desks, work-boxes, etc., were also made here; violins, some +of which were of excellent tone, were likewise constructed. But it would +be useless to enumerate the endless variety of queer things made at this +multifarious manufactory. Some organized a music-society, with various +instruments, and used occasionally to give concerts; others got up a +theatre, screening it off with bed covering. I recollect some pretty good +performances among them. In short, all were employed in some way, to +divert their minds from the contemplation of their miserable condition. +Some would read while others listened; some practice fencing; some sing, +some dance. Others would relate their adventures, many of which savored +rather too strongly of the marvellous to be readily believed, while others +partook in an equal degree of the ludicrous. One of these latter was +related by 'Old John Young'--a tale of his early courtship. In his +youthful days he lived somewhere in Pennsylvania, where also resided an +old farmer, with his wife and two daughters, one of whom, contrary to the +old gentleman's wishes, he used to visit. One night while there, unknown +to the old people, they having retired, a huge pot of mush was left +boiling over the fire, getting ready for the next day. Late in the evening +the old gentleman called out for the girls to go to bed; and as they did +not retire in time to suit him, he began to stir round, to see why his +orders were not obeyed. Young, hearing him coming, took off his shoes to +prevent a noise, and glided silently up a ladder into the loft above. The +old farmer, having sent the girls to bed, lifted off the boiling pot, +which by accident he placed at the foot of the ladder; then putting out +the light, and covering the fire, he retired again to bed. When all was +still and quiet, Young, with shoes in hand, stole down the ladder, and +landed in the pot! Although badly burned, he escaped in some degree by +having his stockings on. He left his tracks on the floor, but got out of +the house unobserved. He had 'put his foot in it' in good earnest; and +mounting his horse, he bade a final adieu to the old farmer and his +family. + +Winter was now pretty well advanced, and many suffered for the want of +clothing. After considerable delay, however, a small portion was sparingly +dealt out, but was accepted by those only who stood in the utmost need. +The cause was, that the agent or contractor, having a quantity of garments +on hand, over what had been a sufficient supply for some English convicts, +who had been confined here at some former period, they were now offered to +us, but were rejected by all who could do without them. Those who did +receive them, cut a curious figure! I can almost imagine one standing +before me now, dressed in a jacket and trowsers of bright yellow cloth; +and as they were served out indiscriminately, the consequence was, that +large stalwart men were crammed into trowsers which looked more like +breeches, and jackets with sleeves terminating at the elbows; and small +men with jackets, the sleeves of which dangled far below the hands, and an +extra length of pantaloons turned up to the knees; the whole figure +surmounted by a knit-woollen cap, resembling an inverted wash-basin; +coarse brogans completed the costume. Just pause a moment, reader, and +contemplate the figure! + +What with starving and freezing, many became ill, and had to be removed to +the hospital. This was what all dreaded; and the consequence was, they +were so far gone before they went, that they survived but a short time +after getting there, although it was understood that the physician was a +skilful and humane man, and did all in his power to alleviate their +distress. I was taken very ill with the dysentery. I know of no disease +which brings a man down more rapidly. Two or three days weakened me so +much that I could scarcely move; and with it came a despondency of mind +that was almost insupportable. I had been for years a wayfarer in strange +lands, but never, during the whole time, did I so forcibly feel the want +of a home, and the solace and care of friends, as now. How did I long to +be once more under my father's roof, with an affectionate mother and kind +sister! I had a sad forboding that I should soon be numbered among the +multitude whose spirits had ascended from their prison-house, and whose +bodies were deposited outside the walls, in the ground assigned for that +purpose. + +The small-pox had also appeared in our midst, spreading havoc on all +sides; and despair seemed to rule triumphant. Of those who left for the +hospital, but few returned to their comrades. Among those taken ill, was a +young man who had been brought up on a farm. Like many others, he had left +home to 'go a-privateering,' and was taken prisoner. He never saw home +again. He messed just opposite to me, and was I think one of the most +exquisite amateur performers on the violin that I ever heard. For hours +have I listened with rapture to his delightful music. He was absent a day, +and his instrument was silent. The next day I enquired for him; he had +been taken suddenly ill, was removed to the hospital, and the second +evening brought me tidings of his death. There was another one, who had +been for weeks sullen and gloomy. Despair seemed to have thrown its pall +over him. He conversed with none, but shunning his companions, spent the +day muttering to himself. Early one morning he was discovered in a +secluded part of the prison, cold and stiff. He had hung himself. + +And was there no one to look after the spiritual or temporal welfare of +this mass of isolated beings? Was there none to soothe the troubled mind, +to cheer the drooping spirit, nor to whisper hope in the ear of the +desponding? Was there none of God's 'messengers of glad tidings' to offer +consolation to the dying, and a prayer for mercy on the departing spirit +of his suffering fellow-being? No; not one minister of the gospel, of any +denomination, did I see while I was there; nor did I hear of any having +been there, at any time; nor was there any person to see that the +prisoners had suitable beds and clothing, or that their food was +wholesome, during the many months that I was there. I was told that REUBEN +G. BEASLY, who was appointed by our government, and who received its pay +to see to American interests, had been there some months before, but had +done nothing for them; and to the letters of remonstrance written to him, +stating their wants, their insufficiency of food and clothing, etc., he +turned a deaf ear. He did not deign a reply to them; and what more could +be expected of a man who could be so base as to do what I will here state? + +About three years ago I met an old ship-mate. We went to India in the same +ship. He held a midshipman's warrant in the United States' navy, and went +out on this voyage for practice in seamanship. He was made prisoner at the +same time I was. In the shiftings and changes which took place, we were +separated; and when I saw him, several years after, he stated that after +parting with me he remained in London, endeavoring in vain to get +employment on board some ship; that becoming destitute, he went to Mr. +Beasly, (_Beastly_ it should be,) to get advice and assistance, stating +who and what he was; and that, in consequence of the unsettled mode of +life in which he had been living, he had unfortunately lost his warrant; +and urged him, as an act of humanity, to point out some method whereby he +might help himself. He turned away from him with indifference, saying he +could do nothing for him. After a lapse of several days, finding no hope +of extricating himself from his embarrassed situation, as a last resource +he went once more to Mr. Beasly, and asked assistance. The reply was: 'Be +off! and if you trouble me again I will put you on board of an English +man-of-war!' This gentleman[1] is now Lieutenant Commandant in our navy. +He told me he had seen Mr. Beasly not long before, in his official +capacity as consul at Havre, but did not make himself known to him. Is it +not strange, that one who was so regardless of the duties of his office +and the feelings of humanity should hold so lucrative and responsible a +situation as the one which he enjoys to this day? There have been serious +complaints made against him, within a year or two, by several respectable +captains of vessels. + + [1] STEPHEN B. WILSON, Esq. + +The number of prisoners on my arrival at the depot I understood to amount +to about three thousand; notwithstanding the deaths had gradually +increased, the number was kept good by detachments sent in from time to +time, many of them from English ships of war, who had been impressed into +the service; and although they had frequently asked for a discharge, they +could not get it until the European war had ended, and there was but +little farther use for them. But they obtained their dismissal, and with +it the pay and prize-money due to them at the time. + +Such occasions afforded a kind of jubilee, as the money they brought was +soon put in circulation through the prisons, from whence it speedily +evaporated, being spent in provisions, vegetables, and fruits, brought +there by the country-people for sale, and for which an enormous price was +paid. Many of the men thus delivered up, had spent several years of the +prime of life in fighting the battles of a foreign nation, and were then +dismissed with the most brutal treatment. As an instance: a man by the +name of SLATER, a tall, robust man, just such an one as they like to get +hold of, in the service where he had been several years, had made frequent +but unavailing applications for a discharge. At length when the war broke +out, he made more urgent solicitations for a release. The answer was, +'Yes, you shall have it; but we will first give you something to remember +us by.' And tying him up, they gave him three dozen lashes, and sent him +to Dartmoor. Such was the reward of his services! + + + + +THE SONG OF DEATH. + + + I. + + Silent and swift as the flight of Time, + I've come from a far and shadowy clime; + With brow serene and a cloudless eye, + Like the star that shines in the midnight sky; + I check the sigh, and I dry the tear; + Mortals! why turn from my path in fear? + + + II. + + The fair flower smiled on my tireless way, + I paused to kiss it in summer's day, + That when the storm in its strength swept by + It might not be torn from its covert nigh; + I bear its hues on my shining wing, + Its fragrance and light around me cling. + + + III. + + I passed the brow that had learned to wear + The crown of sorrow--the silver hair; + Weary and faint with the woes of life, + The tempest-breath and fever-strife, + The old man welcomed the gentle friend + Who bade the storm and the conflict end. + + + IV. + + I looked where the fountains of gladness start, + On the love of the pure and trusting heart; + On the cheek like summer roses fair, + And the changeful light of the waving hair; + Earth had no cloud for her joyous eye, + But I saw the shade in the future's sky. + + + V. + + I saw the depths of her spirit wrung, + The music fled, and the harp unstrung; + The love intense she had treasured there, + Like fragrance shed on the desert air: + I bore her to deathless love away; + Oh! why do ye mourn for the young to-day? + + + VI. + + I paused by the couch where the poet lay, + Mid fancies bright on their sparing way; + The tide of song in his heaving breast + Flowed strong and free in its deep unrest; + His soul was thirsting for things divine-- + I led him far to the sacred shrine. + + + VII. + + The sage looked forth on the starry sky, + With aspiring thoughts and visions high, + He sought a gift and a lore sublime + To raise the veil from the shores of Time, + To pierce the clouds o'er the soul that lie; + I bade him soar with a cherub's eye. + + + VIII. + + And now, neath my folded wing I bear + A spotless soul like the lily fair; + The babe on its mother's bosom slept; + Ere I bore it far, I paused and wept; + 'T was an angel strayed from its fairer home: + Peace to the mourner!--I come! I come! + +_Shelter-Island._ MARY GARDINER. + + + + +MARY MAY: THE NEWFOUNDLAND INDIAN. + +BY A NEW CONTRIBUTOR. + + +The tribe of aborigines to which MARY MAY, the heroine of our little +sketch, belonged, has been named by the Newfoundlanders, 'Red Indians;' +for what reason, I could never learn. This tribe, or probably the +miserable remnant of it, since the English have settled the island has +been regarded as altogether remarkable and undefinable. They have never, +in a single instance, been induced to visit the white settler since +British subjects have resided there. Little is known of their numbers, +habits, or general spirit, although the most sedulous exertions have been +made to bring about an amicable understanding and a reciprocal +intercourse. They have chosen to remain isolated and insolated; keeping +their history, their wisdom, and their deeds to themselves. They will hold +no communion with others of their own race. There are the Esquimaux, very +near their northern boundary; a people disposed to extend the rites of +hospitality in peace, and a trading tribe; but these have no more +knowledge of the 'Red Indian' than the white man; and they remain wrapt up +in a historical mantle as dark as the shades of their own impenetrable +complexion. + +Much, of a marvellous character, has been said about the Red Indians. The +fishermen of the island, as a mass, believe that these poor creatures are +semi-human. They will tell you of their having been seen one moment +cooking their venison, and composedly regaling themselves, and the next, +upon learning the contiguity of the white man, they would vanish from +sight, and not a trace could be found of their departure; that they +descend far under ground in winter, and lead a kind of fairy life; that +they have power to change themselves into birds and fishes, and to sustain +life for hours together under water. But all this is of course unnatural +and absurd. The Indians of Newfoundland are flesh and blood, and partake, +in common with other races of rational beings, of properties holding them +within 'delegated limits of power.' And in my opinion, they are as much +entitled to a character of consistency as the generality of tribes on our +continent. The secret of their shyness, and their unsocial and vindictive +disposition, may better be accounted for, from the probable fact that they +were inhumanly treated by the early discoverers of the island, the +Portuguese and Spaniards. These monsters without doubt butchered and made +havock of these poor natives as they did the South American Indians, and +indeed wherever their lawless adventures led them, in this new world. + +Various governors have been appointed to the Newfoundland station since +Great-Britain has possessed the island, and all have used more than +ordinary means to reach the Red Indians, and reconcile them to the +pale-faces, who have taken possession of the bays and harbors of their +bold and rugged coast. The last, of any magnitude, that was made, was +during the summer of 1830, and immediately preceding the administration of +Sir Thomas Cochran. It consisted of a regular exploring expedition, +numbering about fifty persons, a part of whom were regular soldiers, and a +part volunteer citizens, which left St. John's, the capital of the island, +with instructions to explore the interior, and traverse every portion of +it in quest of the Indians, and to bring some back with them; but to use +no cruelty, unless absolutely necessary. After traversing the internal +wilds for some ten days, the expedition discovered smoke in the distance, +and in a few hours came upon a party of Indians in their wigwams. The red +men were greatly surprised, and appeared much alarmed. But upon being +presented with some showy ornaments, accompanied by smiles, and other +friendly indications, their fears somewhat subsided, and two of them +became apparently willing to accompany the expedition into St. John's, on +learning by signs that two of the white men would remain as guarantees of +their good treatment and return. The white men left were supplied with a +large quantity of ornaments and trinkets to distribute among other Indians +whom they might find during the absence of their party, a period which was +not to be prolonged beyond a month. The good-bye was given, and the +expedition started on their return home. It had not travelled many hours +before an uncontrollable disposition seized them to go back again to the +spot of separation to see if all was well, for some declared that they had +a presentiment that there had already been foul play. Back they went, and +when they reached the spot where good wishes had just been interchanged, +the first spectacle which met their eyes was the mutilated dead bodies of +their faithful hostages! Without any consultation, or a moment's delay, +the commander of the expedition ordered the two Indians in their keeping +to be shot, and their bodies left exposed, as they had found those of +their comrades. This order was promptly executed. + +Soon after Sir Thomas Cochran was appointed governor of Newfoundland, he +offered a reward of one hundred pounds for the harmless capture of a Red +Indian, the person to be brought him at the capital. This reward was +advertised in the summer of 1832; and the next spring a fisherman, at a +distant, unfrequented part of the island, saw on a pleasant afternoon a +young female Indian, laving at the edge of the water. She was alone, and +unconscious of danger, and went through the offices of the bath with +singular grace and activity. After watching her for some time, he took his +measures for her capture. He first cut off her retreat, then approached +her carefully, and at the instant of surprise, obtained possession of her +person. She made no resistance, but acted as one paralyzed by fear or +wonder. He brought her to Sir Thomas, and received his reward. It being +the month of May when she was captured, she was given the name of MARY +MAY. She was apparently about eighteen years of age; an angelic creature, +tall, with perfect symetry of proportion, agreeable features, good +complexion, and as agile and graceful as a fawn. The governor and the +officers of the garrison, and the elite of St. Johns, vied with each other +in plans and devices for her gratification. She was taken to parties, to +the theatre, to military reviews; in short, she was flattered, caressed, +and made the reigning belle. But the poor Indian showed an almost blank +indifference to the various schemes devised for her pleasure. She was not +_at home_. Every face, every habit, every object was new, and appeared +strange to her. She undoubtedly pined to go back again into the dark wilds +among her own people. Perhaps her heart, that wonderful controller of +human destiny, was in the keeping of some extolled brave: at all events, +it was not in the scenes that were passing before her; and the efforts so +generously put forth for her amusement and happiness were like the crystal +droppings upon the hard insensible stone, falling in full profusion, but +leaving no impress. + +Mary was detained about a year, and was then given in charge of the +fisherman who captured her, with express directions that she should be +taken to the spot where he found her, and there be left to her own +guidance. She was richly clad and profusely decorated before she was given +her liberty, and was furnished with a large quantity of finery for +distribution among the members of her tribe. It was hoped that this +treatment, when communicated by one of their own blood, would cause a +change of feeling among the Red Indians, and that gradually a reciprocity +of confidence and intercourse would be established. But this experiment +and this hope proved futile and delusive. In 1836 I left the island of +Newfoundland, and up to that time not a glimpse of the red race had +flitted across the vision of civilization since the dark captive was +permitted again to bound over hill and dale without let or hindrance. Many +idle reports and tales were circulated about Mary May, after meeting with +her tribe; but little reliance is placed upon them, as they are for the +most part contradictory, and strongly savor of the marvellous. But I will +give the reader one, which is as well authenticated as any, and quite as +probable. + +On the second day after Mary was liberated, she found a portion of her +people; and when they first saw her, they were much alarmed, judging from +her fanciful, brilliant habiliments that she was some celestial visiter. +But hearing their own language addressed to them, the parentage of the +girl, and the cause of her absence, they became gradually calm, and +curiosity took the place of fear, and this gave place to admiration, until +the lost one was fairly constituted by acclamation a goddess, and to her +surprise and grief, worshiped as such! The daughter's return had been +communicated to the father, with such exaggerations and extravagances as +pertain to the grossly superstitious; and he, instead of falling upon his +child's neck, and receiving her as the lost found, came bowing and doing +reverence and worship. Mary was bewildered, and almost wished herself back +again with the pale-faces. + +But there was one link in the chain of her destiny yet to be proved; if +_that_ should be found true, she had not returned in vain. About a year +previous to her capture, on a sunny afternoon, she had strayed a mile or +two from her father's camp, invited partly by the romance of her own +nature, and partly by the novelty of new scenery, opened up by a change of +camping-ground. While hesitating concerning her return, and gracefully +leaning against a young sapling, she heard a rustling of leaves near her; +and quickly directing her eyes to the spot whence the alarm came, she saw +with terror a full-grown panther steadily and cautiously approaching her. +She had no weapon of defence, and Indian though she was, had never +participated in blood and strife. She knew that flight would be vain, for +what human being could outrun a hungry panther? She raised one +alarm-whoop, and awaited her fate. At the loud, piercing cry, the fierce +animal seemed alarmed in his turn, and paused in his progress. But after +some five minutes, he recovered his courage, and was making ready for the +fatal spring, when an arrow pierced his heart; and the next moment a +young, athletic brave sprang from the thicket, and clasped the dark damsel +to his breast. She remained an instant, passive and bewildered; the next, +she sprang from the embrace of the stranger, and with Indian dignity +thanked him for his kind and timely aid. She then turned her face toward +her father's camp, and with the fleetness of an antelope passed the +intervening space, and soon found herself safe in her changing habitation. + +But notwithstanding the assumed dignity and apparent coldness with which +she addressed the young stranger, Mary in that moment of rescue was +awakened to a new and impassioned existence. The image of the stranger was +before her by day and in her dreams by night. Six or eight months passed, +when the chiefs of the tribe celebrated a great festival, to which all the +members were invited. The ceremonies were to last a week; many did not +arrive until after the first day, and the father of Mary, and his camp, +were of this number. But toward the evening of the first day of the +festivities, a tall, graceful young brave stalked into the assembly, and +with cool solicitude scanned the faces of the female visiters; and not +appearing satisfied, he folded his arms upon his breast, and leaning +against a rude post, listlessly observed the sports. But a close observer +would have seen his eye lit up with unwonted interest when any new arrival +was announced. No one knew him; his dress was peculiar; still he spoke +their language, and the old chiefs passed him by for a future examination. + +On the second day of the gathering, toward noon, Mary May arrived, and +with her father, mother and sisters, entered that enclosure of merry +hearts. She hoped to see at the festival the youth who had so strongly +impressed her; and the moment she entered the rude structure, her eyes +eagerly ranged round the assembly until they rested upon the person of her +rescuer, who as eagerly returned her significant glance. During the +continuance of the feast and frolic, the lovers had many interviews; and +before it closed, their faith and vows were exchanged. They were to have +been married the month after her capture; and now, since her return and +deification, she had not learned a word about her 'brave,' and had come to +the determination if he proved false to destroy herself. Day after day +passed without the presence of the only one who could drive the dark cloud +from her mind, and it was becoming every day more dense and oppressive, +until she gave way to utter despondency, and bitterly bewailed her fate. +One afternoon, about two months after her return, while some of her +kindred were bowing before her in heathenish worship, hasty steps were +heard approaching; the next moment the young brave appeared and clasped +his lost treasure to his heart; and taking advantage of the bewilderment +of the worshippers, occasioned by his sudden appearance, the happy pair +escaped to the sea-coast, and passing over a portion of the bay, found a +secure retreat among the Mickmacs, to which tribe the young brave +belonged. + +And there may they rest. I sometimes, though quite infrequently, meet with +some one from Newfoundland; and among the first questions I ask is one +touching the 'Red Indians;' and although I have not heard any thing which +went to confirm the hope that they may yet be brought to place confidence +in the white man, yet I still trust that I shall; and when this result is +brought about, or any other thing of interest shall be learned of these +strange mortals, I shall take much pleasure in communicating the +information, for the benefit of the readers of the KNICKERBOCKER. + + + + +BIRTH-DAY MEDITATIONS. + + + I stand upon the wave that marks the round + Of Life's dark-heaving and revolving years; + Still sweeping onward from Youth's sunny ground, + Still changed and chequered with my joys and fears, + And colored from the past, where Thought careers, + Shadowing the ashes in pale Memory's urn; + Where perished buds were laid, with frequent tears, + That on the cheek of Disappointment burn, + As blessed hours roll on, that never may return. + + What have they seen, those changed and vanish'd years? + Uplifted, soaring thoughts, all quelled by fate; + Affection, mournful in its gushing tears; + And midst the crowd that at the funeral wait, + A widowed mother's heart made desolate + O'er a war-honor'd Sire's low place of rest; + These are the tales that Memory may relate: + They have a moral for the aspiring breast, + A lesson of Decay on earthliness impress'd. + + Yet Hope still chaunts unto the listening ear + The witching music of her treacherous song; + Still paints the Future eloquent and clear, + And sees the tide of Life roll calm along, + Where glittering phantoms rise, a luring throng; + And voiceful Fame holds out the laurel bough: + Where rapturous applause is loud and long, + Frail guerdon for the heart!--which lights the brow + With the ephemeral smile of Mind's triumphant glow. + + C. + + + + +THE HOUSEHOLDER. + +BY JOHN WATERS. + + 'For the kingdom of Heaven is like unto a man that is an + householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers + into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a + penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about + the third hour, and saw others standing in the market-place, and + said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is + right I will give you; and they went their way. Again he went out + about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the + eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle, and + saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? They say unto + him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them. Go ye also + into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right that shall ye + receive.'--ST. MATTHEW: XX, 1-7. + + + O thou blest Householder! the starry dawn, + The light crepuscular, the roseate morn, + Long since had melted into day! + Long since the glow of Youth's THIRD hour, + And the bird's song, and Fancy's magic power, + Long since have, traceless, pass'd away! + + Ent'reth the sun into its zenith height! + Ent'reth the mortal into manhood's might! + Op'neth again the vineyard Gate + And Labourers are call'd! but Honour's dream + Entranc'd my soul, and made Religion seem + As nought, Glory was man's Estate! + + The NINTH hour found me in the market place; + Fierce passion ruled my heart, care mark'd my face; + In vain, in vain, Thy blessed call! + To glitter, to achieve, to lose or gain, + Form'd every hope, or thought, delight, or pain: + The world, the world, was still my All! + + The TENTH hour sounded in my startled ear! + Thy gracious Spirit touched my heart with fear! + The harvest ended with the day; + That thought imbued my mind--'not saved? too late?' + I left the throng; I sought the Vineyard Gate; + 'Twas shut-- Death-struck, I turn'd away! + + Low sank the Sun adown the Western Sky! + Each cherish'd hope had prov'd its vanity! + Now neither Earth, nor Heaven was mine. + Rejected, sad, abandon'd, and forlorn; + Of God it seem'd not lov'd; of Hell, the scorn! + No hope, or human or Divine, + + Brighten'd my dark, cold, doubting, wretched mind; + The world, a wilderness; Heaven's self, unkind! + 'Blackness of darkness' seem'd my way: + Slow struck the ELEVENTH! Thy light around me broke! + And deep, unto my soul, these words were spoke: + 'Why stand ye idle all the day?' + + 'Enter and work through the waning hour!'-- + Lord of the Vineyard! grant Thy servant power + To labour, love Thee, and obey. + Let every thought, plan, word, deed, wish, be Thine! + Thine be all honour, glory, praise divine, + And let thy pardon close my day! + + + + +THE QUOD CORRESPONDENCE. + +Harry Harson. + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +On the day but one after Rust's death, Mr. Kornicker was very busy in his +office. His coat was off; his hat was on a chair, and in it was his +snuff-box, a black silk neckcloth, and a white handkerchief, not a little +discolored by the presence of snuff and the absence of water. In one +corner of the room lay a confused heap, consisting of bed, bedding, and +various odds and ends of wearing apparel; and from these Mr. Kornicker, +after due reflection and calculation as to the order in which to make his +choice, selected article after article. First, he spread upon the floor +his counterpane, then his blanket, then a sheet not a little akin in +appearance to his handkerchief, and then his bed: upon these he piled his +apparel, in a confused heap, and proceeded to roll the whole into a large +ball, which he secured with a piece of rope. 'Now then, the moving's +begun,' said he, opening the door and rolling the bundle into the entry. +'The premises are ready for the next tenant.' + +Having brushed his knees with the palm of his hands, and then dusted his +hands by knocking them together, he put on his neckcloth, coat, and hat; +pocketed his snuff-box and handkerchief, walked into the entry, locked the +door, put the key over it, as he had always been in the habit of doing; +seated himself upon his bundle, with his back leaning against the wall; +and immediately lapsed into a fit of deep abstraction, which he +occasionally relieved by kicking his heels against the floor, shaking his +head, in a sudden and emphatic manner, or inhaling his breath rapidly and +violently, producing a sound blending the harmonious qualities of a snort +and a whistle. + +'So,' said he, after indulging in one of the last mentioned performances +with so much energy as to arouse him from his abstraction, at the same +time nodding his head at Rust's office, '_his_ cake being dough, our +bargain's up; and here am I, Edward Kornicker, Esquire, attorney and +counsellor at law, a man of profound experience, severe knowledge of the +world, of great capacity in various ways, though of small means--I think I +may say of d----d small means--once more in the market; for sale to the +highest bidder. Such a valuable commodity is not met with every day. If +any gentleman,' continued he, raising his hand and looking round at an +imaginary audience, 'is extremely desirous of securing the eminent talents +of one of the most prominent young men of the day--not exactly new,' added +he, running his eye over his rusty coat, 'but wonderfully serviceable; no +cracks, nor flaws, no pieces broken off--here is an opportunity which will +not occur again. This is only a scratch on the surface,' said he, as he +thrust his finger into a small hole in his coat-sleeve; 'the article +itself is warranted to be perfectly sound, and of the best quality. How +much is bid?--how much for the promising young man aforesaid? How much? +One thousand dollars? Five hundred? Two fifty?--one?--fifty? It wont do,' +said he, in a melancholy tone; 'strike him down to me. The gentleman's +bought himself in; there being no demand for the article in this market, +he thinks of disposing of himself to some respectable widow lady with a +small family and a large purse. He may alter his mind, but that's his +present intention.' + +Here Mr. Kornicker concluded his rather extraordinary soliloquy by +plunging his hands in his pockets, and dropping into a subdued whistle; in +the course of which his thoughts seemed to have taken altogether a +different channel; for it was not long before he said, as if in +continuance of some unuttered train of thought: + +'Well, old fellow, I promised you to look after your girl, although you +didn't seem much struck with the offer. But I'll stick to my promise; +although, to tell the truth, I don't exactly know how to commence. But +nothing will be done by sitting on this bundle. So I'll to my work at +once.' + +He rose up hastily, and was descending the stairs when he abruptly turned +back, went up to his luggage, and after eyeing it for a minute, said: + +'It's a hazardous business to leave you here. You can't be distrained on, +nor levied on, because you're exempt by law. So you are safe from +landlords and creditors; the law makes you exempt from being stolen too; +but thieves consider themselves like members of parliament, out of the +reach of law. There's the rub. You might be stolen; and I very much regret +to say, that the gentleman who should lay violent hands on you would walk +off with all my goods, chattels, lands, tenements, and hereditaments; but +I've no where to take you, and as I expect to sleep in this entry, you +must take your chance. So, good bye, old acquaintance, in case you and I +should never meet again.' + +Having in a very grave manner shaken one corner of the counterpane, as if +it were the hand of an old friend, he gave his head a sudden jerk, to +settle his hat in the right place, and descended the stairs. + +The task which Kornicker had imposed upon himself was by no means easy; +but firm in his purpose of fulfilling his promise, he shut his eyes to all +difficulties, and commenced his pursuit. + +The first place to which he went was the prison, for he hoped that the +keeper of it might know something about her, or that she might have left +her address there, in case her father wished to see her when he was +imprisoned. But he was disappointed. They could tell him nothing, except +that Rust neither asked for her, nor mentioned her, and had always refused +to see her. She had never succeeded in gaining admittance to him, except +on the night of his death, when the jailer, a fellow unfit for his office, +for he had some human feeling left, unable to resist her tears and +entreaties, had let her in unannounced, as mentioned in the last chapter. +She had left the cell abruptly, had hurried off, and had never returned. +'God help the poor child!' exclaimed the man, as he told the story. 'Such +hearts as hers were made for heaven, not for this world. I have a daughter +of her age; and even if she had robbed a church, I couldn't have treated +her as that man treated his child.' + +The man looked at Kornicker, as if to observe the effect of his last +remark; but probably that gentleman viewed the robbing of a church in a +less heinous light than the jailer, for he made no comment on it, but +after a pause said: + +'So that's all you know?' + +The man nodded. + +'Good morning to you, Sir,' said Kornicker; and he walked straight out of +the building, and had crossed several streets before he had made up his +mind what to do next. This however was soon settled, and he buttoned his +coat tightly, pulled his hat firmly on his head, drew on a pair of shabby +gloves, and performed a number of those little acts which in ancient times +were known under the head of 'girding up the loins,' preparatory to +setting out to his next point of destination, which was the girl's former +home, the place where Rust had committed the murder. It was many miles +off; and the distance which Rust, under the whip and spur of fierce +passions, had traversed without trace of fatigue, drew from his clerk many +a sigh, and many an expression of weariness. + +When he got there he found the house deserted. He entered it, for there +was no one there to hinder it, but the rooms were empty and dismantled. +The house had been hired by Rust, and no sooner was he in the gripe of the +law, than creditors innumerable, who like birds of prey were biding their +time, kept in check by the unbending character of their debtor, came +flitting in from every quarter; seized and sold the furniture, and left +the house desolate. A single dark stain upon the library floor, where the +murdered man had fallen, was all that was left to tell a tale of the past. +The dust had gathered thickly on the walls, as if preparing to commence a +slumber of years; and as Kornicker went out, the rats raced through the +hall, startled at the tread of a stranger. + +With a heart as heavy as his limbs, as he thought of the past life of the +girl who had once tenanted this house, and then fancied what her present +fate must be, Kornicker set out on his return. 'If it had been me,' said +he, pausing to take a last look at the lonely house, 'if it had only been +Edward Kornicker who was thus cast adrift, to kick his way through the +world with empty pockets, and without a soul to say to him God speed, or +'I'm sorry for you,' it would have been right and proper, and no one would +have any cause to grumble or find fault; but this being a girl, with no +money, and consequently with no friends, no experience, as _I_ have, it's +a very hard case--a very hard case, indeed.' + +Having arrived at this conclusion, Kornicker took off his hat, wiped his +forehead, snuffed, and set out on his return. + +Day after day for several weeks he prosecuted his inquiries without +success; and just when he was in despair, chance led him to success. In +the course of his rambles, he encountered a person who had been at Rust's +trial, and happened to speak about him; for now that the criminal was dead +and in his grave, when public opinion could be of no service to him, many +who had hunted him down began to view less harshly the crime which had led +to his death; and this man was one of the number. He said that, although +he deserved punishment for his previous evil deeds, yet the best and +purest act of his life had been that by which he had struck down the +destroyer of his child. + +'Poor thing!' said he, 'she must have led a miserable life since her +father's death. I have met her several times since then in the street, but +that was several weeks ago; and then she was very feeble, scarcely able to +walk: perhaps she's dead now.' + +Kornicker waited only long enough to ascertain that she lived in a certain +out-of-the-way part of the town, which the man designated, and thither he +directed his steps, and resumed his search; and after several days spent +in fruitless inquiries, he discovered her. + +The house in which he found her was a small ruinous building, sagged and +jutting forward, as if struggling to sustain itself against time and +dilapidation. The windows were broken; the doors and shutters unhung, +except a solitary one of the latter, which creaked as it flapped to and +fro in the wind; and this was the home of Rust's child. + +Kornicker ascended the ricketty stairs and paused at the door of a room, +which a slipshod woman had pointed out as that of the 'murderer's +daughter.' He knocked, but there was no reply; he knocked again, but all +was silent. Then he opened the door and looked in. + +It was a small dingy room, unfurnished, with the exception of a bed on the +floor, and a single chair, on which stood a candle whose flaring light +served only to add to the gloom of the room by revealing its wretchedness. +The girl was in bed; her hair lying in tangled masses about the pillow. +Her cheeks were sunken and colorless, and her eyes deep-set and glowing, +as if all that was left of life was concentrated in them. + +Kornicker hesitated for a moment, and then pushed the door open and walked +in. The girl looked listlessly up, but did not notice him; for she turned +her head away with a weary, restless motion, and did not speak. Kornicker +went to the bed, got on his knees beside it, and took her hand in his. As +he did so he observed that it was very thin and shrunken, and that the +large veins stood out like cords. It was hot as fire. 'You're very ill,' +said he, in a low tone. 'I'm afraid you're very ill.' + +'I'm dying of thirst,' said the girl, pointing to an empty pitcher, which +stood on the floor. 'Give me water; the want of it is driving me mad. No +one has been near me to-day. I tried to get it myself, but could not +stand.' + +Kornicker waited to hear no more, but seizing the pitcher, darted out to a +pump, and in a very few minutes came back again with it filled to the +brim. The girl's eye grew even more lustrous than before, as she saw it, +and she attempted to rise, but was unable. + +'You must excuse ceremony,' said Kornicker, as he placed his arm under her +back and supported her while he held the pitcher to her lips. 'Nursing +isn't in my line.' + +The girl swallowed the water greedily, and then sank back on the pillow +exhausted. + +'Have you a doctor?' inquired Kornicker, placing the pitcher on the floor. + +'No,' answered she feebly; 'I have no money: the last went yesterday. I'm +deserted by all now.' + +'Not quite,' exclaimed Kornicker, slapping his hand earnestly on his knee, +while he experienced a choking sensation about the throat; 'not while I'm +left. I'm sorry I a'nt a woman, for your sake; but as I don't happen to +be, I hope you'll make no objections on that score; I'll look after you as +if you were my own sister.' + +It was the first word of kindness that the girl had heard for a long time, +and the tears came in her eyes. + +'There, there, don't cry,' said Kornicker. 'It bothers me; I don't know +what to do when women cry. But you haven't a doctor; that will never do. +Keep up your heart,' said he, rising; 'I'll return presently.' Saying +this, and without waiting for a reply, he left the room. + +Arriving in the street, his first impulse was not only to feel in his +pockets, but with the utmost care to turn them inside out, and to examine +them narrowly. + +'Not a copper--pockets to let!' said he, restoring them to their former +condition, after a long and unsuccessful search. 'But this girl must be +looked after; that's settled. Now then,' said he, in a very meditative +mood, 'who's able to do it and _will_?' + +This seemed a question not easily answered, for he stood for more than a +minute in profound thought, in endeavoring to solve it; but apparently +making up his mind, he hurried along the street. The direction which he +took was toward the upper part of the city, and he was some time in +reaching his destination, which was no other than Harry Harson's house. He +crossed the court-yard and knocked at the door, which was opened by +Harson. + +'I want a word with you,' said Kornicker, abruptly. + +Harson told him to come in; led the way to his sitting-room, and pointing +to a chair, told him to be seated. + +'I haven't time,' said Kornicker, shaking his head. 'Do you know me?' + +'I've seen you, but I can't recollect where.' + +'_Here_,' said Kornicker, 'here, in this room. I breakfasted here. I'm +Michael Rust's clerk.' + +'Then you can scarcely expect a cordial reception from _me_,' said Harson, +coldly. + +'I don't care what sort of a reception you give _me_,' replied Kornicker; +'you may kick me if it will be any comfort to you, provided you only do +what I ask. Michael Rust is dead, and his daughter is now dying, with +scarcely clothes to cover her, or a bed to lie in; without a cent to buy +her food or medicine; without a soul to say a single word of comfort to +her. I wouldn't have troubled you, old fellow,' continued he, with some +warmth, at the same time turning out his pockets, 'if I had a cent to give +her. The last I had I spent in getting a breakfast this morning; and +although it's the only meal I've eaten to day, damme if I would have +touched it if I had thought to have found her in such circumstances. But +since you won't help her, you may let it alone; I'm not so hard run but +that I can do something for her yet.' + +Kornicker had worked himself up into such an excitement, owing to Harson's +cold reception of him, that he took it for granted his request was to be +refused; and having thus vented his feelings he turned on his heel to go, +when the old man laid his hand on his shoulder. + +'Nature puts noble hearts in very rough cases,' said Harson, his eyes +glistening as he spoke. 'You're a good fellow, but rather hasty. I didn't +say I would not assist the poor girl; on the contrary, you shall see that +I will. She has no doctor?' + +'No.' + +'No nurse?' + +'No.' + +Harson rang the bell. The house-keeper answered it. + +'Martha, put on your things,' said Harson; 'I want you to sit up with a +sick person to-night. Bring a basket, and lights, and cups, and every +thing that's necessary for one who has nothing. I'll return in five +minutes; you must be ready by that time. Now then, Sir, come along; you +shall see what I'll do next.' + +He went into the street, and walked rapidly on, turning one or two +corners, but without going far, and at last knocked at the door of a small +house. + +'A very excellent fellow lives here,' said he to Kornicker; 'he's a +doctor; and if this girl can be saved he'll do it. Hark! there he comes. I +hear his step.' + +The door was opened by the doctor himself, and a few words sufficed to +explain matters to him. + +'I'll be ready in a minute,' said he, darting in the room and as suddenly +returning, struggling his way into the arms of a great-coat. 'Now then,' +exclaimed he, buttoning a single button, and dashing into the street, +'which way?' + +'Where does she live?' asked Harson. 'I'll go back and bring the nurse.' + +Kornicker told him, and was hurrying off, when Harson touched his arm, and +leading him a few steps aside, said in a low voice: 'You seem somewhat +straitened for money, Mr. Kornicker; I wish you would accept a loan from +me.' He extended a bank-note to him. + +Kornicker buttoned his pockets up very closely, not omitting a single +button, and then replied coldly: 'I ask charity for others, not for +myself.' + +'Come, come,' said Harson, kindly, 'you mustn't bear malice. I did not act +well toward you at first; you must forget it; and to show that you do so, +you must take this loan from me.' + +'I don't wish to borrow,' replied Kornicker. + +'Well, I'm sorry for it,' said Harson, taking his hand; 'but you're not +angry?' + +'No no, old fellow; it's not an easy matter to keep angry with you; you're +a trump!' + +'Perhaps you'll sup with me when we return?' said the old man, earnestly. + +'I'll see how the girl is,' replied Kornicker; 'good bye. We're losing +time.' + +Saying this, he shook hands with Harson, and joining the doctor, they set +out at a rapid pace for the girl's abode. + +They reached it without interruption, other than a short delay on the part +of the doctor, who being of a belligerent disposition, was desirous of +stopping to flog a man who had intentionally jostled him off the sidewalk. +Kornicker, however, by urging upon him the situation of the girl, had +induced him to postpone his purpose, not a little to the relief of the +offender, who in insulting him had only intended to insult an inoffensive +elderly person, who could not resent the affront. + +'Can it be possible that any thing human tenants such a den as this?' said +the doctor, looking at the half-hung door of the girl's abode, and +listening to the wind as it sighed through broken window-panes and along +the entry. + +'Come on, and you'll see,' replied Kornicker; and seizing him by the arm, +he led him half stumbling up the stairs, and finally paused at the girl's +room. + +'Look in there, if you want to see comfort,' said he, with an irony that +seemed almost savage, from the laugh which accompanied it. 'Isn't that a +sweet death-chamber for one who all her life has had every thing that +money could buy?' + +The doctor glanced in the room, then at the fierce, excited face of his +companion. 'Come, come,' said he, in a kind tone, taking Kornicker's hand; +'don't give way to these feelings. She'll be well taken care of now. Harry +Harson never does a good action by halves. Come in.' + +He pushed the door open very gently, and went to the bed. The girl seemed +sleeping, for she did not move. He took the candle, and held it so that +the light fell on her face. He then placed his hand gently upon her wrist. +He kept it there for some moments, then held up the light again, and +looked at her face; after which he placed it on the floor, rose up, and +took a long survey of the room. + +'It's a wretched place,' said he, speaking in a whisper. 'She must have +suffered terribly here.' + +'This is the way the poor live,' said Kornicker, in a low, bitter tone; +'this is the way _she_ has lived; but we'll save her from dying so.' + +The doctor looked at him, and then turned away and bit his lip: + +'What are you going to do for her?' demanded Kornicker, after a pause: +'have you medicine with you?' + +'She requires nothing now,' said the doctor, in a tone scarcely above a +whisper. 'She's dead!' + +Kornicker hastily took the light, and bent over her. He remained thus for +a long time; and when he rose, his eyes were filled with tears. + +'I'm sorry I left her,' said he, in a vain effort to speak in his usual +tones. 'It was very hard that she should die alone. I acted for the best; +but d--n it, I'm always wrong!' + +He dashed his fist across his face, walked to the window and looked out. + +At that moment the door opened, and Harson entered, his face somewhat +attempered in its joyous expression; and close behind followed the +house-keeper with a large basket. + +'How is she?' asked he, in a subdued tone. + +Kornicker made no reply, but looked resolutely out of the window, and +snuffed profusely. It would not have been manly to show that the large +tears were coursing down his cheeks. Harson threw an inquiring glance at +the doctor, who answered by a shake of the head: 'She was dead when we got +here.' + +Harson went to the bed, and put back the long tresses from her face. There +was much in that face to sadden the old man's heart. Had it been that of +an old person, of one who had lived out her time, and had been gathered +in, in due season, he would have thought less of it; but it was sad indeed +to see one in the first blush of youth, scarcely more than a child, +stricken down and dying in such a place, and so desolate. + +'Was there no one with her--not a soul?' inquired Harson, earnestly, as he +rose; 'not one human being, to breathe a word of comfort in her ear, or to +whisper a kind word to cheer her on her long journey?' + +The doctor shook his head: 'No one.' Harson's lips quivered, but he +pressed them tightly together, and turning to Kornicker said: + +'Come, my good fellow, you must struggle against your feelings; you must +not be downcast about it. She's better off than if she had lived--much +better off.' + +'I'm not in the least downcast,' replied Kornicker, in a very resolute +manner; 'I don't care a straw about it. She was nothing to me; only it's a +little disagreeable to be living in this world without a soul to care for, +or a soul that cares for you; and then there was some satisfaction in +being of use to some one, and in feeling it was your duty to see that no +one imposed on her, or ill treated her; but no matter; it's all over now. +I suppose it's all right; and I feel quite cheerful, I assure you. But +you'll look to her, will you? I can be of no farther use here, and I'd +rather go.' + +'I will,' said Harson. + +'You won't let her be buried as a pauper, I hope?' + +'No, upon my honor she shall not,' replied Harry. + +'Very well--good night.' + +Harson followed him down the stairs, and again endeavored to force a sum +of money upon him; but Kornicker was resolute in his refusal, nor could he +be induced to go home with Harson that evening. He said that he was not +hungry. + +After several ineffectual efforts, the old man permitted him to depart, +with the internal resolution of keeping his eye on him, and of giving him +a helping hand in the world; a resolution which we may as well mention +that he carried out; so that in a few years Mr. Kornicker became a very +vivacious gentleman, of independent property, who frequented a small +ale-house in a retired corner of the city, where he snuffed prodigally, +and became a perfect oracle, and of much reputed knowledge, from the +sagacious manner in which he shook his head and winked on all subjects. + + +CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE. + +It was a clear, cloudless night without, and the stars twinkled and +glistened as if the sky were full of bright eyes, looking gladly down upon +the world, and taking a share in all its gayety and happiness. There was +no moon, or rather the moon was a reveller, and kept late hours, and might +be detected sneaking through the sky at about one or two in the morning, +when she should have been a-bed; and in consequence of her neglect of duty +the streets were dark, except where here and there the shop windows threw +out bright streams of light, revealing now a wrinkled brow, now a fat, +jolly face, and now a pair of bright sparkling eyes, glowing cheeks, and +lips like a rose-bud, as the throng of people flitted past them; for an +instant clear, distinct, with face, feature, and form plainly visible, and +then lost in the darkness. Some paused to look in the windows, some to +chat; and it might have been observed, that those who lingered longest in +the light, were young, and such whose faces could bear both the test of +light and scrutiny. But amid that crowd was a single man, who followed the +same course as the rest; skulking in the dark corners, darting rapidly +across the streams of light, with his head bent down and his hat slouched, +as if he desired to avoid notice. When he reached those places which were +comparatively less thronged, he paused and leaned against the iron +railings of the houses, and more than once turned and retraced his steps, +as if he had changed or mistaken his route. He was, as far as could be +judged from the sudden and uncertain glimpses afforded of his person, tall +and gaunt, with sunken eyes, long unshorn beard, and a face disfigured by +a deep gash. He had the appearance of one broken down by ill health or +suffering, and his panting breath, as he stopped, showed that he was +taxing his strength by the pace at which he went. Although he paused +often, and often turned back, yet in the end he resumed his journey, and +finally reached the upper part of the city. There he struck into a dark +cross-street. Once free from the crowd, and where few could observe him, +his smothered feelings broke out; and muttering to himself, grating his +teeth, blaspheming, now striking his clenched fists as if aiming a blow, +he darted on. He did not pause until he came to the house of no less a +person than Harry Harson. He crossed the door-yard hastily, as if he +feared his resolution might give way; opened the front door, for Harry had +no enemies, and his door was unbolted, and entered the outer room. The +door communicating with the inner room was open, so that he could see +within; and perhaps never was there a greater contrast than between the +occupants of those two rooms. In one was a man eaten up by fierce +passions, desperate and hardened, with all that is noble in the human soul +burnt out as with a hot iron; in the other sat an old man whose benevolent +features beamed with good will to all mankind. There was scarcely a +wrinkle in the broad full brow; the hair was sprinkled with gray; but what +of that? His eye was bright; his mouth teemed with good nature; and his +heart--God bless thee, old Harry Harson! what need to speak of thy heart? + +The intruder had come in so noiselessly, although his motions were rapid +and bold, that Harson had not heard him, but sat reading a newspaper, and +was not a little startled in looking over it to see a man seated within a +few feet of him, and gazing at him with eyes as wild and bright as those +of a maniac. + +'Who are you, in the name of heaven?' ejaculated he, too surprised even to +rise, and looking at the stranger as if he still doubted the reality of +his being in that spot. + +The man laughed, savagely: 'Look at me, my master; look at me _well_; +you've seen me afore. Try and recollect it.' + +Harson's embarrassment was not of long duration, and he examined the man +from head to foot. A vague recollection of having met him somewhere, +mingled with an indefinable feeling of suspicion and pain, crossed +Harson's mind as he studied the sunken features which were submitted +unshrinkingly to his scrutiny. He thought, and pondered, and wondered; and +still the man remained unmoved. He looked again; the man changed his +position, and the light fell upon him from another direction. Harson knew +him at once. He started up: 'Murderer, I know you!' + +The man was on his feet at the same moment. + +'Down to your seat, Sir!' said he, in a loud, savage tone. 'You're right; +but you cannot take me alive, nor will mortal man. In that room,' said he, +in a low tone, and pointing toward the dark stair-case which led to the +upper part of the house, 'I killed Tim Craig--the only man that ever loved +me. He's been after me ever since!' He leaned his face toward Harson, and +looking stealthily over his shoulder said in a whisper: 'He's waiting for +me at the door. He sat down on the stoop when I came in. I don't know why +I came here, but _he_ made me do it, and I must see where I killed him. It +wasn't me. It was Rust; it was Rust. Hark!' He cast a hasty glance in the +room behind him. 'I'm going, Tim, I'm going,' said he. 'Quick! quick! give +me the light!' + +Seizing the candle, before Harson could prevent him, he rushed out of the +room, and sprang up the stairs two at a time. Harson followed; but before +he reached the door of the upper room, with a yell so loud and unearthly +that it made the old man's heart stand still, the murderer darted out; his +face livid; his hair bristling, his eyes starting with horror. With a +single bound he cleared the stairs; crossed the antechamber, the gate +swung heavily to, and he was gone! And this was the last that was ever +known of Bill Jones. A few months afterward, the body of a man was found +floating in one of the docks, and was supposed to be his; but it was so +mutilated and disfigured, that it was impossible to ascertain the fact +with any certainty, and it was deposited in the earth with none to claim +it or care for it, and with no mark to designate that the soil above it +shrouded a heart which had once throbbed with all the hopes and fears and +passions that were burning in the bosoms of those who were carelessly +loitering above its resting place. + + +CHAPTER THIRTY. + +Ned Somers had followed Harson's advice in not making his visits to +Rhoneland's too frequent. But whatever may have passed between him and +Kate, and even if they did occasionally meet in the street and stop to +speak, and sometimes to hold conversations which were neither short nor +uninteresting to themselves, that is a matter between themselves with +which we have nothing to do. Certain it is, however, that as Ned cooled +off in his intimacy with Rhoneland, he appeared to rise in the old man's +estimation; and he grew more cordial when they _did_ meet. It may have +been that the suspicions implanted by Rust were gradually giving way +before the frank, honest nature of the young man; or it may have been that +gratitude for the assistance which Somers had lent, (and which Harson was +very particular to give its full weight) in disentangling him from the +toils of Rust; or it may have been the secret influence of Harson, who +ventured, whenever it could be done, to speak a good word for Ned; or it +may have been the drooping face of his child, which he was wont more than +ever to study anxiously, that gradually softened his feelings; but there +is no doubt that, to Kate's surprise, he one day told her to get him pen, +ink and paper, and to draw the table in front of him, as he was going to +write a letter. And it must be confessed, that Kate's color heightened, +and her heart beat fast when he had finished the letter, directed it to +Mr. Edward Somers, and then asked if she knew the address of Somers, which +of course she did; although she hesitated and stammered as if it were a +profound secret, and the answer the most difficult thing in the world. + +But her surprise was scarcely greater than that of Ned himself, when a boy +came to him with a letter which ran thus: + + 'MY DEAR EDWARD: Come to me as soon as you can; I wish to see + you on a matter of much importance to both of us. + + Yours truly, + JACOB RHONELAND.' + +Ned felt something bouncing about in a very queer manner directly under +his ribs, as he read this note; but the sensation was not so painful as to +prevent his obeying it with a speed that was perfectly marvellous; for to +Rhoneland it seemed that the letter could scarcely have reached its +destination before Ned was back with it in his hand. + +'You got my note,' said he gravely, as Somers entered, his face flushed +with the rapidity with which he had come. + +'I have.' + +'Don't go, Kate,' said he to his daughter, who with an inkling of what was +to follow, was stealing away. 'What I have to say relates to both of you.' + +'Some time since,' said he, rising, and standing in front of Ned, 'I +wronged you, by making charges against you which I am now convinced were +false. My mind was poisoned by one who has gone to his long account, and +whose evil deeds may sleep with him. For this,' said he, extending his +hand, 'I ask your pardon; much more frankly and freely than I did on the +day when we met at Mr. Harson's.' + +Ned took the proffered hand; at the same time pouring out a confusion of +words, the sum and substance of which was intended to be, that he had +taken no offence; that he knew Jacob was misled by others; that he was not +only perfectly willing, but very happy, to make up the matter, and say no +more about it; which no doubt was very true, for within six feet of him +stood Kate, with her soft eyes fixed on his face, and her little mouth +dimpled with smiles, as she observed how swimmingly matters were going on. +And could he be crusty and dogged? or could he cherish a grudge against +_her_ father? The thing was impossible. The extended hand was grasped, and +grasped warmly. + +'Another thing I have to speak of,' said Rhoneland, relaxing somewhat at +the cordial tone of Ned's feelings. 'It is but a short time since I learnt +the full extent of my obligations to you, for the part you took in +unmasking the character of Rust, and in obtaining from him a disavowal of +charges against me, which, false as they were, were hard indeed to bear, +and were breaking me down. I have not finished,' said he, raising his hand +to prevent the interruption which Somers was endeavoring to make; 'let me +complete what I have to say, and you may speak as much as you like, +afterward. I will not thank you, for thanks are but words, and too often +mean nothing. Is there any thing that I can _do_, to lessen my +indebtedness to you?--or is there any way in which I can pay it off +altogether?' + +He stopped, and looked earnestly in Ned's face. The red blood dashed up to +Somers' very forehead, and he could scarcely breathe for the thumping of +his heart, as the idea crossed him that now was the time to ask for Kate; +nor was his agitation at all diminished by casting a glance at her, and +seeing her cheeks crimson and her eyes downcast, as if she anticipated +what was going on in his mind. It must be confessed, however, that had +Rhoneland had no other clue to his wishes than that afforded by his words, +he would have been very much in the dark; for although Ned attempted to +speak out boldly, his lips trembled very much, and his voice was not as +obedient as he could wish; and all that was distinctly audible was the +girl's name. + +'Why lad, what ails thee?' asked Rhoneland, unbending, as he observed the +embarrassment of his guest. 'You used to be as bold as a lion. Come here +Kate,' said he to his daughter; 'this young fellow has lost his voice; can +_you_ tell me what he wants?' + +It was now Kate's turn to grow confused, and the color to deepen on her +cheek; nor did she utter a word. + +'Young man,' continued Rhoneland, in a grave tone, 'I did not send for you +to trifle with your feelings. You love my daughter, and would ask for +_her_, and you fear to do so lest the request should be refused. She is +yours. Treat her kindly, and keep even a shadow of sorrow from falling +upon her brow. If you do not, an old man's curse will rest upon you; and +even though I be dead, and mouldering in my grave, where my voice cannot +reach you, that silent curse will follow you.' He turned abruptly away, +and left the room. + +Ned Somers took Kate's hand in his; passed his arm about her waist, and +drew her to him in so singular a manner, that their lips could not but +meet; and not only once, but at least some half-a-dozen times. + +'So you're mine at last, Kate!' said he, looking into her very eyes, +whenever they were raised enough for him to do so. 'Did I not tell you to +cheer up; and that all would be well? Did I not say so; and wasn't I +right? And now, Kate,' said he, in a less confident tone, 'your father, +though a most worthy old gentleman, is somewhat whimsical, and might +change his mind; so when shall _it_ be?' + +Kate's reply was so very low, that it reached no ears except those of Ned; +but whatever it was, it is certain that on that day month they had been +married a week, and were deep in preparations for a merry-making to be +held on that very evening at Rhoneland's old house, which had been so +furbished up and renovated, under the auspices of the young couple, that +every thing in it seemed to shine again. A party at Jacob Rhoneland's! It +was a thing unheard of, and produced quite a sensation in the drowsy part +of the town where he lived. Never had a household been in such a fluster +as his was. What deep consultations were held to prevent the old man--who +seemed to have grown quite cheerful and light-hearted, and chirruped about +the house like some gay old old cricket--from meddling in every thing, and +to throw dust in his eyes, so as to make him suppose that he was having +every thing in his own way, when in fact he was having nothing. And then +what a time it took, and what entreaties, to prevail on him to let the +great wooden chest, studded with brass nails, which he never took his eye +from, be removed to an upper-chamber, to make room for their guests. But +Harry Harson, who was in the thick of all the doings, in and out a dozen +times in an hour; rubbing his hands and enjoying the bustle, giving +advice, suggesting this thing and that, and setting every thing wrong; +managed to get the great chest out of the way, for he dragged it up stairs +under Rhoneland's very nose, and in the teeth of his remonstrances; and +depositing it in a little out-of-the-way room, very difficult of access, +by reason of the angles and turns in the entry, and the size of the chest, +told Rhoneland that if he wanted it below he might take it there himself; +but that it was better where it was, and much more safe and out of the +way; in which opinion Rhoneland finally coincided. + +Betimes Kate came down stairs to receive her guests, looking so +charmingly, and her eyes flashing with such malicious brightness, that on +meeting her in the entry Ned stopped to kiss her, and tell her that she +was looking 'gloriously;' a performance and observation by the way, which +he had already repeated half-a-dozen times in the course of the last hour. +By twos and threes the guests began to arrive, and went up stairs. There +was a great clatter above, where they were taking off their things. It +took a wonderful time to remove the hats and shawls; for although for a +long time up they went, none came down. There must have been thirty +assembled above stairs. At last Harry Harson, who was in the room with Ned +and Kate, dressed in his best black suit, and looking as young and merry +as any of them, vowed that he would not stand it, and sallied up stairs +and sent them down in a drove. How bright and cheerful they all were! how +the congratulations poured in upon Ned and Kate; and hopes for his future +happiness, and that he might have a large fortune, and a large family to +help him take care of it. + +A loud scraping and jingling announced that the music was there, and put a +stop to such flummery as conversation. The young folks were going into the +business of the evening. The little stunted black fiddler with rings in +his ears, was mounted on one chair; the big, fat fiddler, who fiddled with +his eyes shut, was seated on another; and the goggle-eyed negro, with a +self-satisfied face, who simpered on every body, and flourished the +tambourine, was placed like an umbrella in the corner, to be out of the +way. + +The fat fiddler called out for the gentlemen to choose their partners for +a quadrille. Then came the long premonitory screeching of the fiddle-bow +across the cat-gut; then the slight, tremulous jingle of the tambourine, +as if the goggle-eyed negro were dying to begin; then the bustling and +hustling, and squeezing of the couples, until they had obtained their +places in the dance. Then the scientific look of the fat fiddler, as he +opened his eyes and surveyed the whole, to see that all was right; then +the slight clearing of his throat, as he threw his head on one side, +bellowed out 'right and left,' and forthwith plunged into the matter, +might and main. Away he went, but fast and furious at his heels followed +the little stunted fiddler; and loud above the din of both, rose the +rattle of the tambourine. 'Right hand across! forward two; balancez; +ladies chain; forward four; dos-a-dos; chassez to the right; cross over; +all round;' here, there, every where, and all over--he was up to it all. +In vain the dancers fairly flew; the fat fiddler was equal to all +emergencies; he never lagged; he was sometimes too fast, but never--no, +not for a single instant--was he behind. + +'Whew!' said he, as he gave the final flourish of his bow, and laying it +aside, wiped his forehead on his coat-sleeve, and called for a tumbler of +cold water. And thereupon the stunted fiddler and the tambourine made the +same request; the latter suggesting that his glass might be tempered with +a 'small spirt of gin,' without hurting his feelings. + +In that dance, the lightest step and merriest voice was that of Harson, +who led out the bride, and footed it there with the best of them; and who +through the whole evening was bustling around the room, with a kind word +for every one, and as much at home as if the house, and the company, and +even the bride, belonged to him. And in fact, one or two of the +guests--but they were unsophisticated people from the country--were for +some time under the delusion that Harry was the bridegroom, instead of the +quiet young fellow who was seen walking about the rooms, talking to the +disagreeable old women, and getting partners for the ugly young ones, +without their knowing it; but all in such an unobtrusive manner that he +seemed quite a nobody when compared with Harson. + +But there must be an end even to the merriest meetings; and when they had +kept it up until the night had got among the small hours, they began to +drop off. And here, amid the adieus of departing guests, we will take our +leave of the young couple; for it is far pleasanter to bid farewell to +those whose friendship we have cherished when hope is strong and bright, +than when care or disappointment has flung its shadow over their hearts. + + +CHAPTER THE LAST. + +A few weeks had elapsed, and a small group were gathered one evening at +Harson's fireside. It was composed of three persons beside Harson. The +first was a man of about fifty; he might have been younger; and the heavy +wrinkles which were scored across his forehead may have been the fruit of +trouble and care, for they were almost too deep for his years; his mouth +was firmly compressed, like that of one in the habit of mastering strong +feelings; and the whole character of his face would have been stern, but +for his dark, gray eye, which at times brightened up almost to childish +playfulness. This was Mr. Colton, the father of Harson's protege, Annie. +The child herself was seated on Harson's knee, sound asleep, with her head +resting on his breast. The only other person in the group was the wife of +Mr. Colton. She was quite young, and had once possessed great beauty--the +beauty of youth and happiness; but that was gone, and in its place was the +patient look of one who had suffered much, and in silence. She spoke +seldom, and in a low tone, so soft and musical that one regretted when the +voice ceased. + +'Your letter,' said Mr. Colton, in continuation of a previous +conversation, 'put an end to all my plans respecting my poor niece. I had +hoped to assist her; for knowing her father's hostility to her, I feared +that she might be in want. Her death was a very melancholy one.' + +He looked in the fire in deep thought, and for a short time a silence +ensued which no one seemed inclined to break. + +'I never saw her,' said his wife, after some moments; 'I think _you_ did.' + +'Yes, once--at the trial,' replied he, uttering the last words with an +effort, as if the subject were painful. 'She was very beautiful.' + +'Did she resemble her father?' inquired Mrs. Colton. + +'Perhaps I can settle that question more easily than any one,' said +Harson, rising up, 'by letting you judge for yourself.' + +He went to a small curtain which hung against the wall, and drawing it +aside, disclosed a portrait of Rust's daughter--the same which Rust had +brooded over with such mingled emotions on the night previous to the +murder. The same childlike, innocent smile, played round the small, +dimpled mouth; the same calm, thoughtful expression of intellect mingled +with gentleness, shone out of the eyes. All was as it was when father and +child last looked upon it--the criminal and her accuser. Every line was +unaltered; but where were they? DUST! They had acted their part on earth; +their love, their hate, their fears, their remorse, were past. The tide of +time was hurrying on, bringing life and death, and hopes and fears to +others, but sweeping from the earth all trace of their footsteps. To them +forever, aye even until the last trump, time and thought, and care and +feeling, had no existence! + +Mrs. Colton's eyes filled with tears as she gazed upon the picture. 'She +deserved a happier fate,' said she, in a subdued tone, as if she feared to +disturb the spell which seemed to hang about it. + +'It was ordained for the best,' replied Harson, in a grave tone, as he +regarded the portrait with a kind of solemn interest. Then, after a +moment, he added: 'That _was_ her, before want and suffering had laid +their iron finger upon her. When I saw her, she was dead. She was very +beautiful even then; but in the short time that had elapsed since her +father's imprisonment, the work of years had been performed; she seemed +much older and thinner, and more care-worn.' + +'How did you get this?' inquired Mr. Colton, pointing to the picture. + +'A friend of mine, the person who aided the girl in her last moments, +accidentally learned that it was for sale, and begged me to buy it. He was +too poor to do it, and I was willing to gratify him; and so the picture +became mine.' + +Mr. Colton looked at him for a few moments, as if on the point of making +some remark, and then walked to the other end of the room and took a seat +without a word. He was aroused by the child climbing on his knee, and +putting her arms about his neck. + +'God protect you, my child!' said he, laying his hand affectionately on +her head; 'may you never know the misery which has fallen upon that poor +girl!' + +The words were intended to be inaudible, but they reached the ear of his +wife, who going up to him, and laying her hand on his arm, said in a low +voice: 'Come, come, George, do not give way to these feelings. You must +not be gloomy.' + +He looked at her sadly, and then placing his finger on his heart, said: +'Is not what has been going on here, for years, enough to wither to the +root every feeling of cheerfulness, so that it should never again put +forth a blossom?' + +'Hush! hush!' interrupted his wife, in a whisper; 'if you _have_ suffered, +you have gained at last what you have always prayed for; while _he_, the +one who caused it all, has paid the penalty of his misdeeds. Remember what +his fate was.' She pointed to the picture: 'Remember too, the fate of his +only child. George, George! his punishment has been terrible, even in +_this_ world!' + +'You are right, Mary--GOD forgive me! I'll think of it no more. _He_ and I +were nursed in the same arms, and watched by the same fond mother. From +the bottom of my heart I forgive him. It would be sacrilege to her memory, +for me to harbor an unkind feeling toward even a stranger, if she had +loved him.' + +He was silent for a moment, and then addressing Harson, enquired: + +'Who is this Mr. Kornicker?' + +'A poor fellow, with little to help him through the world but careless +habits and a good heart.' + +'What character does he bear?' inquired the other. + +'Such as might be expected from his position,' replied Harson; 'full of +flaws, but with a vein of gold running through it. Nature has given him +fine feelings, and fortune, unluckily, has placed him in a situation where +such feelings are impediments rather than otherwise. But he is a noble +fellow for all that.' + +'Where can he be found?' asked his guest. + +Harson probably anticipated the object of this inquiry, for he said with a +laugh: + +'He has been taken care of; he has been placed where the means of +livelihood and competence are in his grasp, if he will but work for them. +And what is better yet, he seems disposed to do so, although not much can +be expected of him at first. I do not think,' added he, 'that it +contributes to the happiness of a young man, with a long life before him, +to be altogether idle. I will do all that I can to help him; but he must +work. It will be more easy for him as he gets used to the traces.' + +The stranger acquiesced in this remark, and then added: 'I will take his +address, nevertheless, for I must see him when I return to the city, which +will be very shortly; but you seem to have anticipated me in every thing. +Even the lawyer, Mr. Holmes, declined to be paid for his services. He said +that _this_ was not strictly a business matter, and that what he had done +was out of friendship for you, and that I had better pocket the fee and +drop the subject; at the same time, he said he was going to dinner, and +asked me to join him, which I did, and a very pleasant time we had of it.' + +A good-natured laugh was indulged at the peculiarities of the old lawyer, +and many stories told of him, and of others who have figured in this +history. Nor was it until the little clock over the mantel-piece seemed to +give a very vehement wag of its pendulum as it struck twelve, and Spite, +who had been asleep in the corner, bounced up, alarmed at the lateness of +the night, and barked vociferously, that they dreamed of going to bed. + +The strangers were Harson's guests that night; and the old man, having +escorted them to their room, and wished them good night, was himself soon +in bed and asleep. + +Bright and early the next morning, they were astir; for they were to leave +the city, and Harson was up and ready to see them off. It was a fine +morning; the trees were just beginning to put forth their spring leaves, +and the grass in the public squares was looking quite fresh and green, as +they drove down to the wharf, where the steamer lay, whizzing and puffing, +and groaning as if in mortal pain, and tugging at its cable like some +shackled sea-monster struggling to escape to its home in the deep. Early +as it was, crowds were hurrying to and fro; carts driving up and +unloading; porters staggering along with trunks and bales on their +shoulders; carriages dashing up at a gallop, filled with people afraid of +being too late, and going off more leisurely after the passengers were +deposited on the wharf. People were bustling hither and thither, elbowing +their way to one place, merely to find out where to elbow it to the next; +friends were bidding each other adieu; and in particular, a stout lady +from the country, in yellow ribbons, from the upper part of the boat was +sending a confidential message to her family and friends by a gentleman +who stood in the crowd some sixty yards off. + +Through this throng the coach containing our friends drove, and just in +good time, for as they stepped on board, the last bell rang. + +'All aboard!' shouted the captain; 'take in the plank.' + +Harson shook hands with his friends. 'God bless thee, my child!' said he, +pressing Annie in his arms. The next moment he stepped on shore; and the +boat glided from the dock, and shot out upon the green water. + +'Ah, Annie!' said the old man, as he stopped waving his hand, and turned +away from the river, 'I had hoped that you would have been mine own as +long as I lived; but it's all right as it is. Your brother,' added he, 'I +did not miss much, when his parents took him, but _you_ had become a part +of my home. Well, well!' + +No doubt there was a great deal of hidden consolation in these last words; +for Harson's face soon recovered its usual cheerful character, and he +steadily trudged toward his home. + +A few words respecting the other characters, and our task is ended. + +Grosket was induced by Mr. Colton to remove to the country, where an +intercourse with different and better men than those with whom he had +hitherto associated tended in a great measure to soften his character, and +temper his fierce passions--the offspring of persecution and suffering. + +Mrs. Blossom, at first alarmed by the fear of the law, grew penitent and +rigorous in the discharge of her moral obligations to society; but the Law +being a notorious sleepy-head, and never appearing to have its eyes open, +she gradually fell into her old habits, reoepened her 'seminary for lambs;' +and from the great quantity of her disciples which frequent the +thoroughfares of the city at present, I should judge is getting along +prosperously. Mr. Snork was extremely desirous of becoming a partner in +the concern, and made several overtures to that effect, which might have +been accepted by the lady, had he not objected to being deprived of his +eye-sight, and seated at a corner to receive pennies from passers-by. It +was in vain that the lady represented to him that this would be the making +of their respective fortunes; that blind beggars, particularly if they +were remarkably disgusting, as was the case with him, had been known to +retire with handsome fortunes, and that some of them even bought snug +little farms in the country, and kept a horse and 'shay.' Mr. Snork +however, was obstinate; his proposals were accordingly rejected, and he +returned disconsolately to his abode, which was now lonely, his wife +having paid a visit to the penitentiary, for the benefit of the country +air. + +The widow, Mrs. Chowles, still lives in her quiet, blinking little house, +as cheerful and contented as ever; as happy as ever to hear Harry's heavy +step, and to see his honest face in his old corner in her parlor; and +although he is no longer accompanied by Spite, who has grown old and +rheumatic, so that he is unable to stir from the chimney-corner, where he +passes his time in crabbed solitude, except when he turns up his dim eyes +to his old master, as he hears his voice, and feels his caressing hand on +his head: all else is as it was in that little household; and that it may +long continue, is our warmest wish. + + +CONCLUSION. + +Mr. Stites' manuscript was written at different times, and in different +hands. The little man was evidently troubled with a defective memory, +(although I would not tell him so for the world,) and has permitted many +strange mistakes and anachronisms to creep into his tale, which inclines +me to think that the whole matter is not so authentic as he pretends, but +has been gleaned in various parcels from the regions of romance. But as he +is not a little tetchy on the score of his veracity, I can only suggest +that the tale be regarded by his good natured readers rather as a fiction +than sober truth. + +From beginning to end, strong disapprobation has been expressed by Mr. +Snagg, who says that 'that d--d dog is enough to kill any story, and that +for his part, he doesn't think much of Stites; never did, and never will; +and that a single hair of Slaughter's tail was worth Stites' marrow, fat +and kidneys, all done up together.' + +It is useless to argue with him; and I find the most judicious mode of +disposing of the matter is to let the question remain unanswered; by which +means he soon comes round, begins to discover a few merits in the +manuscript, and finally concludes with a warm panegyric upon Mr. STITES +himself, always however with a reservation as to the dog, whom he swears +'he never shall be able to stomach.' + +In all respects, my quiet old home remains as it was. The same mystery +hangs about it as formerly. The interest which for a time was excited +respecting it, when I gave an account of the murder which had left it +shunned and tenantless, has died away; and with the exception of Mr. +Snagg, Mr. Stites, and my dog, I have few visiters. Perhaps it is best +that it should be so; for I have the spectres of no hard feelings nor +bitter thoughts, nor painful recollections to haunt me, requiring +excitement and bustle to drive them off; and old age demands time for +solemn thought and serious meditation, to enable it to wean itself from +the past, and look cheerfully forward to the future. + +But no more of myself. My task is ended; and I now bid you farewell! + + JOHN QUOD. + + + + +THE PAST. + + + I. + + Despair not, though thy course is drear, + The past has pleasures for us all; + Bright scenes and things to hearts most dear, + And those how fondly we recall. + + + II. + + Such as some lovely girl we knew; + Such as some touching song we heard; + Such as some evening spent, when flew + The hours as swift as passing bird. + + + III. + + Such as some well-tried friend we had; + Such as some acts of kindness done, + Yet rising up to make us glad, + And so will rise when years are gone. + + + IV. + + Despair not! still be innocent; + Admire the beautiful, the good, + And when the cry of woe is sent, + Turn to relieve, in pitying mood. + + + V. + + So shall the present, when 'tis past, + Rich with harmonious scenes appear, + No gloomy shadows o'er it cast, + No spectres there, to make thee fear. + + E. G. + + + + +THE HEARTH OF HOME. + +BY MARY E. HEWITT. + + + The storm around my dwelling sweeps, + And while the dry boughs fierce it reaps, + My heart within a vigil keeps, + The warm and cheering hearth beside; + And as I mark the kindling glow + Brightly o'er all its radiance throw, + Back to the years my memories flow, + When Rome sat on her hills in pride; + When every stream and grove and tree + And fountain had its deity. + + The hearth was then, 'mong low and great, + Unto the Lares consecrate: + The youth arrived to man's estate + There offered up his golden heart; + Thither, when overwhelmed with dread, + The stranger still for refuge fled, + Was kindly cheered, and warmed, and fed, + Till he might fearless thence depart: + And there the slave, a slave no more, + Hung reverent up the chain he wore. + + Full many a change the hearth hath known; + The Druid fire, the curfew's tone, + The log that bright at yule-tide shone, + The merry sports of Hallow-e'en; + Yet still where'er a home is found, + Gather the warm affections round, + And there the notes of mirth resound, + The voice of wisdom heard between: + And welcomed there with words of grace, + The stranger finds a resting place. + + Oh! wheresoe'er our feet may roam, + Still sacred is the hearth of home; + Whether beneath the princely dome, + Or peasant's lowly roof it be, + For home the wanderer ever yearns; + Backward to where its hearth-fire burns, + Like to the wife of old, he turns + Ever the eyes of memory. + Back where his heart he offered first-- + Back where his fond young hopes he nursed. + + My humble hearth though all disdain, + Here may I cast aside the chain + The world hath coldly on me lain; + Here to my LARES offer up + The warm prayer of a grateful heart; + THOU that my household guardian art, + That dost to me thine aid impart, + And with thy mercy fill'st my cup; + Strengthen the hope within my soul, + Till I in faith may reach the goal. + + + + +PROFESSOR SHAW. + +A SKETCH. + + +PLUTARCH SHAW, the naturalist, was lately in the stocks, which has been a +matter of much talk among the virtuosi, and a good deal of malicious +laughter on all hands. He cut a devil of a figure, rest assured, propped +up in a straight jacket, his eye fiery with vengeance; the innocent victim +of 'circumstances,' and that very common error of putting the saddle on +the wrong horse. A very little explanation will serve to place this matter +in the right light, and show by what a fantastic adventure an honest man, +who was alway given to roam over much territory, was suddenly placed upon +the limits, and one of the most profound explorers of the curious became +himself for the time being a curiosity. + +Mr. Shaw is so much of an enthusiast, that it is very unpleasant to stand +near him when he is talking about his bugs, or exhibiting his specimens, +on account of being spattered all over with the spray of his eloquence. A +bat shot down in the dusk of the evening is enough to set him half crazy, +and make the saliva fly all over; it rolls and surges against the bulwarks +of his jagged teeth in a rabid foam, showers out with his descriptions, +and makes him only tolerable at arm's length. The beetles and butterflies +which he has transfixed are innumerable; and he is perpetually syringing +down the humming-birds, as stationary on vibrating wings, these beautiful +creatures of the air plunge their beaks deep into the cups of flowers. +With him pin-money is an item. If he marks any thing curious in the +natural world, he 'sticks a pin there,' and keeps it for future reference; +any thing from a lady-bug ready to unfold suddenly the gauze upon its hard +back, where you would think no wings existed, and fly away, to an +offensive black beetle that snuffs the candle, or cracks its head against +the wall, thence upward in the scale to the bird which Liberty loves as +her sublimest emblem, the proudest of the proud, the bird of our own +mountains, and the eagle of our own skies. + + 'I would not heedlessly set foot upon a worm,' + +writes Cowper: not so however with the great Shaw, whose collection of +worms is most disgusting; exceeded only by his reptiles preserved in +spirits, with all their sickening exhibition of claws. He has got some +dragons that fall little short of the Devil himself in general hideousness +and outrageous tails; some noots brought from Nootka Sound; some green +monsters from Green Bay; some devilish things from Van Diemon's land; and +finally, Plutarch is himself hideous, and ought to be put in a collection, +which by the by, he lately _was_. It was a great era in his life time when +he shot a wild-cat; that however has nothing to do with the present story, +and must be told shortly. He threw a stone at him, it seems, to frighten +him out of the bushes, where by dint of sneaking he discovered something +with a white and black fur, moving about in a short compass. Breathless +with excitement, standing on tip-toe, dodging his head among the brambles, +all ready, and meaning to have a shot at him 'pretty soon,' he was +whispering to himself, telling himself in a mysterious voice to 'hold +fast,' not to budge, but wait for the next movement; when this +_pole-cat_--there is a distinction, it is well known in the species, nor in +the present instance was it a 'distinction without a difference'--opened +the batteries with the precision of an artillery officer. 'O my eyes!' was +the exclamation of Professor Shaw, 'my eyes! my eyes! my eyes!' It was a +great era in his life time also when he shot a plover; _that_ however has +little to do with the present story, and must be told shortly. It was on +the Big Plains, where not a tree nor shrub may be seen for miles around; +where ambuscades are unknown, and it is very hard to steal a march upon +the timid birds which are frightened at a very shadow; only they do not +fear the flocks and herds which pasture upon the plains, but tamely pick +up the worms beneath their feet. Professor Shaw hit upon an expedient to +surprise them, which no other person would have thought of, than one of +his extreme ingenuity: a big box, opened at both ends, into which he +crawled with fowling-piece in hand. First, however, he procured an ox-hide +at the stall of a neighboring farm, with all its apparatus of horns, and +placed it over the box, to give it the appearance at a distance, of a +_bona fide_ ox. Sure enough, this scheme worked well. On came the plovers, +hopping about with much unconcern. Shaw chuckled. He flattered himself +that he should be the death of some of them, if his own life were only +spared a few moments. While he hammered the flint of his fowling-piece +with an old jack-knife, he heard a distant rumbling sound, which soon +waxed terrible, and caused him to thrust out his head. Thunder and Mars! +what should he do? If he ran, it was all up with him, and he was a dead +man if he staid where he was. A wild bull of the prairies was cutting up +shines at no great distance, tearing up the sod with hoofs and horns, and +threatening to demolish that refuge of lies. Shaw poked out his head, and +drew it in again, clutching his fowling-piece convulsively, and trembling +in an agony of fear. Involuntarily he began to say his prayers. 'Our +Father who art in heaven,' said he, with great fervor. The bull was now +up, bellowing in a tumultuous passion, galloping round and round in +circles which were diminishing with every turn, getting his horns ready to +toss the whole fiction of an ox, box, hide, horns, Plutarch Shaw and all, +into the air. 'Help! help!' shrieked the philosopher; 'I'll come out; I +must, I must, I _must!_' And he _did_ come out, by far the most sneaking +object for miles around on the Big Plains. Some men who were hunting +plover from a wagon, (which is the right way,) saw his fantastic position +with mingled laughter and alarm. They drove to his assistance, but the +horses shyed off at the terrific conduct of the bull, whose onslaught was +now made upon the box, which he attacked hoof and horn. Mr. Shaw had +barely strength to reach the shelter of the wagon, into which he was +taken, much chap-fallen, and resuscitated with brandy-and-water, which +were luckily at hand. + +He was an 'odd fish,' unanimously so styled, by those who knew him, nor +did his appearance belie him, as he started forth on a geological +excursion in the month of May last, making poems and tuning pianos by the +way. He strung up the old harpsicords to the satisfaction of the country +girls, who thought he 'played on music' with great skill, but his eyes +were the very wildest. Was Professor Shaw crazy? By no means. As a proof +of it, he had written several poems as voluminous as the Fredoniad; which +were unavailing for the present, but which he _did_ hope that his 'country +would not willingly let die;' added to this, some marches in double quick +time, some intricate and inwoven harmonies in the transcendental style, +stanzas set to music, thrown forth when the excitement was upon him, and +fugitives from justice. Yet all these were nothing, to judge by dark and +mysterious hints which were given out, of some GREAT WORK at which he was +now laboring, which the world, (he said it with a presentiment of triumph) +would be _compelled_ to own. But, as I remarked, his appearance did not +belie him. Whoever might doubt his metaphysics, his legs were +unquestionably the very longest, by the assistance of which he had lately +won a foot-race on the Union course for a hundred dollars, to enable him +to pursue his studies for the ministry. 'Accoutred as he was,' on one fine +day in the month of May, he had wandered to a distant part of the country +with a walking-stick, furnished at the extremity with a small hammer. +Absorbed in revery, and constructing verses by the way, he arrived at last +in a romantic valley, where he was soon busily employed in cracking rocks, +and collecting specimens for his cabinet. + +The solitude and pleasant walks were eminently suited to the mind of +Professor Shaw. The babbling of the rills which came down the hill sides +and washed the pebbles at his feet, were soothing to the sense, and the +birds sang sweetly on the trees, which were covered with the blossoms of +the spring. Only a single dwelling was seen on one of those swelling hills +which rose above each other, gently and far away, till their last +undulating lines were limited by the horizon's blue verge. The eye +wandered with pleasure over the diversified prospect, which included the +boundaries of three sovereign states, with various rivers, valleys and +fertile fields. On such a spot, where Nature reigned and developed herself +in quiet beauty, whether in the voluptuous budding of the spring, or in +the year's gorgeous decline, Charity had taken the hint and erected an +asylum for the insane. Happy invocation of Nature, most kind and gentle +saviour of the sick, who meeting her in her quiet haunts may touch her +beautiful garments and be whole! In the exhilarating sunshine, in the +fields garnished so exquisitely by our good God, in the religious woods, +the circling hills, and the unbounded sky, there is a force of healing, +when Art has consigned the victim to despair, and the soothing hand +aggravates the deep-rooted sorrow. Nature gently re-conducts the lost mind +through its labyrinth of error, speaking sweet consolation in the passing +breeze, and a volume of beauty in each unclasping flower. + +Professor Shaw was doubling up his grotesque figure over the stones, +gathering garnets. With the intent look of a gold digger, or an alchymist +prying into his crucible, he was seeking for treasures, cracking up rocks +into the size of sugar-lumps, and Macadamizing all the place for yards +round. His shadow stalked with him with colossal strides, according to the +declension of the sun, and the hammer in his shadowy arm fell on the +projection of the shadowy rocks. But not farther off than where his +grotesque head and slanting extremity were measured on the next wall, two +clowns had gee'd their oxen under a tree, and left their basket of +potatoes in the furrow, (w--hoy--gee, there--I tell yer to gee!) for the +sake of giving their undivided attention to the Professor. Geology they +had never heard of, beyond its application to stone fence; so they +considered the conduct of a man very queer indeed, who was muttering to +himself, and filling his pocket full of stones. After a little silence, +they nodded to each other with a knowing look, and said with one consent, +'He's as crazy as a coot.' They approached Mr. Shaw, dubiously. 'See his +eyes!' said they; 'aint they wild? Mister?' said the elder clown. + +Shaw made no reply. + +'Mister, look a-here; aint you--aint you----?' + +'Fel-spar,' said Shaw, cabalistically. + +'Oh dear me! that's enough! My dear feller, we've got a duty to perform. I +guess we know where you come from. Mister, aint you----?' + +'Are you addressing me?' said Professor Shaw, mildly, looking up. 'Are you +addressing your remarks to me, my friend? + +'Wonderful cunnin', but it wont do. 'T wont sarve you; I'm a-feard we +shall have to----' + +'Well, Sir, my name is Shaw.' + +'What's that you got onto your cane? What you doin' in Queens ceounty? Do +tell, aint you----got loose from somewhar? Honor bright!' + +The professor, lost in amazement, answered only by a broad stare. He then +bethought him that two lunatics had escaped from yonder mansion. The idea +satisfied his mind, and surprise gave way at once to a smile, full of +benevolence and pity. 'My poor friends,' said he, 'do go back; you have +surely wandered from home; do go up the hill--do go up the hill.' Then +stamping his foot with an air of authority, he exclaimed, stretching out +the hammer of his cane, 'Go back to the asylum, in-stan-taneously!' + +'I guess the one in the loft will be long enough,' whispered the rustic; +'but fetch the longest of the two _ropes_, and make haste. Oh, he's +stark!' + +'Ah! how sad!' soliloquized Professor Shaw, as both of his new friends +retreated, and one hurried out of sight, 'how sad a spectacle! the +deluded, wandering mind, told by such unerring symptoms; the wild eye, +strange words, and fantastic pleasantness; reason hurled from her own +throne, and that steady light exchanged for the fitful flickering over +decay! They mistake me for one of their melancholy fraternity, poor +lunatics! whereas my lamp of life, and reason, it appears to me, never +shone brighter. I shall yet work out something of which my country will be +proud, and which shall inscribe on an enduring pedestal the name of SHAW.' +The professor (with his hammer) split a rock. 'If those men come back, +what had I better do with them? I will contemplate the remarkable +phenomenon of the mind in ruins. Humanity suggests to me that I ought to +coax them back with sophistry as far as the garden-gate, and then holler +for help.' Shaw was the best hearted of men; he would not hurt a human +being in the world, cruel as he was to bugs, and to centipedes an 'outer +barbarian.' In the course of ten minutes he was at the base of a large +rock, scooping out garnets, and thinking casually of that 'great work +which his country would not willingly let die,' when a rope was let over +his head and shoulders from above, and the professor was noosed. The +countrymen jumped down, and began to drag him from the other end, +squeezing his bowels, and winding him round and round, till coming to +close quarters, they knocked his hat off, wrested his hammer out of his +hand, and seizing him by the collar, almost throttled him with the +knuckles of their immense fists. + +SHAW. (Kicking violently.) Murder! murder! murder! + +RUSTICS. It won't do no good; we got yer; you may as well come fust as +last. You're crazy as a coot, and wuss now than when we fus see you. Your +eyes shows it. + +SHAW. I'll go with you, my friends, but don't kill me; oh! I beseech you +don't kill me! + +RUSTICS. No, we wont hurt you; only come along to the house. Come along. + +SHAW. Take your knuckles out of my throat, please. _Aside._ Their +hallucination is extreme; the symptoms of their disease have taken a form +the most vindictive. Yes, my friends, conduct me safe. We shall soon reach +the house; then all will be explained. + +At this very hour an amusing scene was enacting among the lunatics in the +large hall of the asylum. One who professed magnetism was trying his skill +upon a subject, to the great entertainment of his fellows. He was making +the passes after a singular fashion, upon a docile fellow who sat bolt +upright in a chair with a face of the most stolid gravity. Standing at a +distance, he would rush up with long strides, make a wavy flourish with +his hands over the face of the subject, and retreat as rapidly. Then with +eager, swelling eyes, aiming with the fore-finger of each hand, he would +run up and point at some phrenological bump upon the cranium. But the +patient sat immovable, and was neither to be soothed into slumber, nor +coaxed into giving any indication that the organs were excited; as is the +case with the well-drilled _proteges_ of your itinerant lecturers. + +Nearly all the inmates were witnesses of this scene, except a few who were +restricted, and one fair girl who walked in the garden sobbing; and never +did tears fall out of more beautiful eyes, or shed over such a sweet face +the interest of sorrow. They gushed profusely on the rosebud in her hand; +fit emblem of herself; for she had not yet broke into the bloom of +womanhood. Where tears flow, despair has been already softened to sorrow, +and smiles may yet shine out of the darkness, as the bow of promise +bridges only a firmament of cloud. This poor creature, frightened at a +disturbance at the gate, fled like a fawn to her own apartment. The +professor was lugged in by the head and ears, with unnecessary roughness. +Appearances were much against him, as he always had a crazy look. His +strange dress and equipments, his unshaven beard, his long hair straggling +over his forehead, his long nose and long legs, his much-abused and +bunged-up hat, which yawned wide open at the crown and showed the lining, +wore the external tokens of a mind ill at ease. Added to this, a sickly +smile shed a yellow glare over his features, of which the effect was +neither natural nor pleasant; and as the lunatics pressed around, and the +clowns still clutched him by the throat, even that passed away, and left +an expression of bewilderment and undisguised dismay. At that moment the +physician arrived, and glancing at the new subject just brought to the +establishment, and concluding that his present wildness would need some +coercion at first, requested him to be brought into the nearest apartment. +The four formed a singular group. 'Sit down,' said the doctor, nodding +calmly to the professor, as he prepared to study the case. 'Ha! ha!' +exclaimed Professor Shaw, dropping into a chair, and striving hard to be +amused at his predicament, 'ha! ha! ha! My dear Sir, ha! ha! yes, I think +I may say ha! ha! ha!'--and he laughed so obstreperously as to set the +whole company in a roar. 'This excursion for scientific purposes; near +coming to an unpleasant termination; some of your poor fellows, doctor,' +casting a knowing look at the clowns, 'are strongly possessed they brought +me here against my will.' + +The doctor smiled. + +'Let me explain all,' said Mr. Shaw, recovering breath, and speaking with +preternatural calmness. 'Oblige me first by having those men removed. +Their presence disturbs me. I pity them from my lowest soul; but they +have--it is ridiculous--ha! ha! ha! yes, it _is_ ridiculous--but they have +hurt me very much and disturbed my equanimity. You should confine them +more strictly, Sir, and not let them go at large to murder strangers by +the way-side.' + +The doctor smiled. + +'In search of relaxation, during the intervals of a great work which I +have in hand, having been made an honorary member of the Tinnecum +Association, I came here for the prosecution of scientific purposes, and +for the collection of botanical and mineralogical specimens, which I have +at present in my breeches pocket.' + +RUSTICS. He! he! he! that's enough--see his eyes! + +SHAW. (_Smiling._) Doctor, how long have these subjects been in your +institution? Their insanity has not taken a very mild form. Will you +oblige me by removing them from the room? Indeed it hurts me to see the +immortal mind astray. + +The doctor smiled. + +SHAW. (_Enthusiastically._) As I entered these doors, a most lovely being +shot across my path. It was but an instant; a quick light, a momentary +flash, and all was gone! But it was enough! I saw her! I never shall +forget her. Who is she? That sweet girl has impressed her image on my +soul! + +DOCTOR. My friend, be calm. + +SHAW. Oh, my dear Sir! understand me. I _am_ calm, I _am_ calm. + +DOCTOR. Perhaps you will be so kind as to inform me where your _friends_ +reside, and when you left them upon this journey. + +'My friends!' exclaimed the professor, with a bitter sneer; 'who are my +friends? Where have I found any whose friendship was other than a name? My +books, my cabinet, my studies, the great work on which I am now +laboring--these are my friends; it is only through these that I shall be +raised to fame. _Sic itur ad astra._' + +DOCTOR. I am satisfied that we had better secure---- + +SHAW. Do you want any assistance, Sir? I will willingly help you to get +these poor fellows to their rooms. + +RUSTICS. He's the cunningest we ever seen. + +DOCTOR. Yes, he would deceive any one. Wait a minute my men. + +SHAW. If you don't need me I'll bid you good day; I can't stay any longer. + +DOCTOR. Oh no, we can't let you go, in common humanity, till we have +communicated with your friends. + +Professor Shaw, in the utmost alarm, attempted to plunge out of the room. +He was laid violent hands on by all three; his indignation boiled over; he +struggled most desperately, knocked down the doctor, and attempted to jump +out of the window, but in the end was overcome, a straight-jacket put on +him, the stones were taken out of his pocket, he was conducted to a +separate apartment, and as the shades of night fell around him, he almost +doubted himself whether he was in his sound mind. His wits seemed to be +indeed scattered. In vain he tried to collect them, and to realize his +present position, which was the most false and unfortunate one in which he +had ever been placed. He charged the Devil with conspiracy. He had already +sneered at the suggestion of having friends; how should he be the victim +and laughter of his enemies! He imagined them holding their gaunt sides +and shaking with a spectre-like malignity. Then he thought of the fair +girl whom he had seen in the garden shedding tears on roses, and strove to +weave a chaplet of verse which should be more unfading than flowers. What +a strange destiny was his! The victim of untoward accidents, persecuted by +some evil spirit, and leading an aimless, desultory life, which he yet +feared would lead on to lunacy. What should he do in the present instance? +Be patient? Yes, he would be calm, forgiving, philosophical as ever. +Footsteps are approaching; the door of his cell opens; perhaps it is +already the token of his release. Yes, one of his own townsmen enters. +Alas! he owed the professor a grudge, and assured the doctor that he was +cracked, and begged him to hold on to him by all means; he would go and +inform his friends. 'Ha! ha! ha!' exclaimed Shaw, as the door closed; +'there it is again; in luck as usual; ha! ha! ha!--ha! ha! ha!' + +As it grew dark, and he lay on his pallet, a crowd of thoughts and +imaginations pursued him through a long sleep, and when he opened his eyes +to the morning light, he gazed around the strange place with astonishment, +and tried in vain to persuade himself that his present position was not a +dream. + +In three days he was released from limbo; retracing his steps, with all +the bugs and specimens which he had collected. And, for those who feel an +interest in Professor Shaw, it may be agreeable to know, that in his +wanderings, having discovered in a green lane, on the margin of a +duck-pond, a district school in want of a pedagogue, he forthwith assumed +the birch, and may be now seen at almost any hour of the day, in the midst +of his noisy populace, commanding silence, or dusting them on their least +honorable parts. 'Tough, are you? I'll see if I can find a tender spot. +Come, no bawling, or I'll flog you till you stop. Thomas Jones, take your +book, and stick your nose in the c-o-rner. First division may go out. +First class in geography----' + + F. W. S. + + + + +STANZAS + +TO THE SPIRITS OF MY THREE DEPARTED SISTERS. + +WRITTEN AT MID-WINTER. + + + Sweet sisters! ye have passed away, + In solemn silence one by one, + And left a brother here to stray, + In doubt and darkness--and alone! + For like three lamps of holy flame, + Ye shone upon my weary way, + Till a chill breath from heaven came, + And quenched for aye the kindly ray. + + Where are ye now?--where are ye now? + Those loving hearts and spirits, where! + O'er three new graves in grief I bow, + But ye are gone--ye are not there! + The winds that sigh while wandering by, + Curl the bright snow in many a wreath, + And sing in mournful melody, + O'er the cold dust that sleeps beneath. + + The birds that sang when ye were here, + Are singing in another clime; + Have left the hedge and forest sere, + And gone where all is summer-time. + The frail bright flowers that bloom'd around, + When ye were blooming bright as they, + Lie crushed and withered on the ground, + Their fragrance heavenward passed away. + + And ye are gone where genial skies + And radiant suns eternal shine, + Where peaceful songs forever rise, + From saintly tongues and lips divine. + And like the flowers whose sweet perfume + Has left the soil and risen above, + Has risen from your silent tomb + The holy fragrance of your love. + + But often when the silver beams + Of the pale stars are on my bed, + Ye come among my sweetest dreams, + And bend in silence o'er my head; + And throngs of bright imaginings + Float round and o'er me till the dawn; + I hear the fluttering of wings! + I start--I wake! but ye are gone. + + Oh! I am sad; yet still the thought + That when this tired though willing hand + Its earthly destiny hath wrought, + Ye wait me in that distant land, + And that ye long to have me there, + More that I pine your absence here, + Shall heal the touch of every care + And quench the sting of every fear. + + No marble stands with towering shaft + To catch the stranger's curious eye; + No tablet graved with flattering craft, + Tells where your silent ashes lie; + But there is one secluded spot + In the deep shadows of my soul, + Where stranger foot intrudeth not, + Nor winter's wanton tempests roll. + + And there in Friendship's burial-ground + The willow of remembrance bends, + And ye my sisters there have found + A home among my choicest friends; + And modelled with etherial grace, + The form of HOPE with heavenward eyes, + Stands calmly on your burial-place, + And points her finger to the skies. + + I. G. HOLLAND. + + + + +AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF THE PRAIRIE HERMIT. + +EDITED BY PETER VON GEIST. + + +It happened on the twenty-seventh day of July, in the year of our Lord one +thousand eight hundred and forty-two, that I, PETER VON GEIST, found +myself, in the natural course of events, journeying on horse-back along +the northern bank of the Ohio river, in the state of Illinois. The space +between me and the house where I designed to stop, and the time between +then and sun-down, were somewhat disproportionate; so I pricked gallantly +forward; as gallantly at least as could be expected from a tired horse, +and a knight whose recreant thoughts were intensely fixed on dollars and +cents, supper, and other trifling affairs. By dint however of much +patience in the steed, and much impatience in the rider, we got over the +ground, and approached a house that had been in sight for some distance. + +It was placed on the summit of a steep, conical hill; there was no smoke +from its chimney, or voices to be heard, or persons to be seen, or other +signs of life, in its precincts. The grass grew high and green all around +the hillock, and there was no road, not even a foot-path, visible on its +side. Nevertheless, I dismounted, left my horse to improve the opportunity +of snatching a light repast on the abundant herbage, and forced my way up +to the top of the knoll. + +The building was constructed in the rude fashion of the country; but the +chinking had fallen out from between the logs; the chimney had partly +tumbled down; tall weeds sprung up between the stones of the door-steps; +the door itself was fastened with a huge padlock; the windows were nearly +all beaten in, and every thing about it gave evidence that it had not been +inhabited for several years. The summit of the hill was smooth and level. +A few stumps grew around the edge; and the ground seemed to have been, at +some former time, a garden. + +The situation was exceedingly fine, and the view on all sides very +beautiful. The eminence commanded on one hand three or four miles of the +river, and on the other an unlimited tract of prairie. At the particular +moment when I first visited it, the level sun-light came glancing over the +face of flood and field, tinging every thing that it touched with its own +mellow hue, and casting gigantic and ill-defined shadows of the hill, the +house, and myself, on the plain beyond. At the distance of a mile and a +half below, stood a couple of one-story houses, the logs of which they +were built newly hewed, evidently of recent construction. The inhabitants +of this old building, then, must have stood where I am standing, and gazed +over the vast extent of country that is spread out before me, without +meeting a single habitation of man, or any thing having life, except +perhaps a wolf or a buffalo. And it could not have been desire of wealth +that induced a family of refinement and taste, such as the little +decorations and ornaments show that this was, to select this solitude for +their home; for not more than an acre of land, at the foot of the hill, +had ever been invaded by the plough. + +There were several circumstances like these, that were unusual and +unaccountable; but not being in a mood just then to be much perplexed +about it, I descended the knoll, remounted, and hurried on towards the +more hospitable dwellings below. + +Of course, the traveller was received with a welcome, and his bodily wants +speedily and abundantly cared for. After this most important duty had been +satisfactorily performed, and quietude of spirit consequent thereon was +restored to my breast, it chanced that the host and his blue-eyed, +golden-haired, neatly-dressed, smiling-faced, half-matron, and +half-girlish young wife, who had lately set up business on their own +account, and I, seated ourselves without the door, to feel the cool air of +the evening. It chanced too that the door faced the east; and the old +house towered up darkly in the distance before us. In answer to my +inquiries, they were able to give but little information concerning it, +and that chiefly derived from others. + +It appeared that there was on the other side of the river, and a little +lower down, a small settlement. It had stood there from time immemorial; +at least, the memory of the tidy little wife did not run to the contrary, +and she had received her birth and education there, and ought to know. She +remembered, one of the first things that she could remember, a middle-aged +gentleman, in a black hat and coat, who used to row over the river from +the other shore in a small skiff, and walk into her father's store to make +his purchases, with a grave, but not cold or forbidding face, and used to +pat her on the head, with such a fatherly smile, and say a few words in +such a kind tone, as to fill her little breast quite full with delight. +She remembered more distinctly, a few years later, how this same gentleman +used to come into the settlement as often as once-a-week, and how glad +every one appeared to meet him and shake hands with him. The villagers +seemed to repose unlimited confidence in him. The moment he landed, +half-a-dozen were ready to ask his advice, or to show him papers, to see +if all were correctly done. He was the umpire in all differences and +quarrels, and seldom failed to send away the disputants at peace with each +other. If there was a wedding, he of course must be present. On May-day, +when the boys and girls went out into the woods to romp, and afterward to +sit down to a rustic pic-nic, he was sure to walk into their midst, just +at the right moment, bearing in his hand a wreath of flowers, so +beautiful, and so tastefully made, that all the girls cried when at length +it fell to pieces; and he would place it on the head of the Queen of May +with such a gentle, sweet little speech, that she would blush up to the +tips of her ears, and all her subjects would clap their hands and laugh +out with pleasure. + +At Christmas parties his place was never empty; and while he was there, +mirth never flagged. Perhaps their sports were not so boisterous as they +would have been if he had not been a spectator; but they were quite as +pleasant at the time, and a great deal pleasanter when looked back upon +from the next day. He used to sit in one corner, by the huge, roaring +fire, and look on, apparently as much interested as they themselves were. +Nothing went amiss; and there was never wanting some slight, good-natured +remark or act, to rectify mistakes and set them all going again. + +But much as he was loved by the villagers, he was no less respected. They +did not even know his name. Many would have been glad to, and wearied +themselves by indirect methods to find it out. But as no one had courage +to ask him, and as it never happened to fall from him incidentally, they +remained in the dark about it. He was known and addressed however, by the +appellation of 'the Lawyer,' as their conversation with him was chiefly +asking his advice on points of law too knotty for them, which he freely +gave. He affected no mystery or reserve; yet there was something in his +bearing, affable and unaristocratic as it was, that caused those very +men--who, if the governor of the state had come among them, would have +slapped him on the back, and offered him a glass of liquor--to rise in his +presence and approach him with respect. + +My bright-eyed informant, with her musical voice, recollected, a good +while ago, when she was about ten years old, and he had become gray and +wrinkled--though he never needed a staff, nor was his eye dim--that he +rowed over one spring afternoon, and requested the men to leave their work +for a few minutes, and hear something that he had to say to them. +Accordingly, they collected 'considerable of a little crowd' around her +father's store. The lawyer stood in the door, while she made her way +through the throng and sat down on the door-step, at his feet. She did not +remember all that he said; only that he talked to them for about half an +hour, in a calm, conversational tone, on the importance of building +school-houses and educating their children. They seemed to be much pleased +with what he said; and after another half hour's free discussion, the +whole village turned out, and went to work felling trees and hewing +timber; and in the course of a few days a substantial school-house was +erected. From that time forth, she and all her brothers and sisters, and +all her play-mates, at stated hours and seasons, were rigidly imprisoned +therein, and diligently instructed in the rudiments of science. + +About this time, she and a brother who was about two years older embarked +on a voyage of discovery. They pulled up the river, at least he did, for +she only held the rudder, two miles, till they come in sight of the +residence of the Great Unknown. There stood the old house, as she had +often gazed at it with wondering eyes from the opposite bank, just as +grim, and dark, and gloomy. It had been their intention to make an open +descent upon it, and boldly beat up the premises. But now, the building +was so silent, and deserted, and frowning, their hearts failed them, and +they crept cautiously along up the southern shore till they were concealed +by a bend in the river; then striking across, they floated down, by +accident as it were, close under the northern bank. When they arrived +under the hill, on the top of which the object of their curiosity was +placed, they looked anxiously up at it; but every thing was as silent as +the grave. Seeing it thus unguarded, they took courage, ran the skiff +ashore, and prepared to land. But when on the point of stepping on the +beach, the door of the house opened, the man himself walked out therefrom +and advanced to the brow of the eminence. There he stood; black all over, +except his face, which at that instant appeared to wear a peculiarly +terrible and ferocious aspect. The children were frightened, and hastily +shoved off their little cockle-boat. But the man came down to the edge of +the water, and called them by name to return. _She_ thought how far off +home was, and no one near to afford assistance in case of need; and when +she thought, she would have been glad to have retreated as fast as +possible; but her brother was commander of the expedition, and without +more words he pushed back to land. + +They went ashore, neither of them altogether devoid of fear and trembling, +and sat down on the grassy bank, by the side of their venerable friend. He +soon talked away their timidity; and seemed so mild and affectionate, that +in a few minutes they were chatting and laughing as merrily as ever +children could. He showed them his garden, his trees, and flowers, and +fruits. He gave them a little basket, which they filled with strawberries, +some of which he squeezed between his fingers and rubbed on her cheeks, to +see he said, if they could be made any redder. In fine, he amused them so +much with his stories, and was so pleasant and kind, that they fell more +than ever in love with him; and after promising a dozen times to come and +see him every week while it was summer, they returned gaily home. + +But the old man died at last. The children went up one sunshiny morning to +pay him a visit, and found the house all still, and the door locked. They +knocked and knocked, but no one answered. They peeped in at the window and +saw him stretched at length on the bed, fully dressed, with a handkerchief +over his face, and his gray hair lying dishevelled on the pillow. They +called to him; but still there was no answer. Then they became alarmed, +and hurried home. Some men came up, broke open the door, and found him +dead. Without sickness, or premonition of any kind, he had calmly passed +away. + +They dug his grave by the side of the cottage, and laid him in it, with +his feet to the east and his head to the west; and left him to rest there, +unknown and unnamed in death, as he had been in life. The whole village, +men, and women, and children, mourned for him many days. But when the days +of lamentation were ended, and they saw his face no more, though their +grief abated, his memory did not, and has not yet passed from their +hearts. + +I observed the voice of my hostess to falter more than once, while telling +this simple and dream-like story of her childhood. I could see by the +night-lights too that her bright eyes sometimes became brighter and +sometimes dimmer; both of which circumstances made it only the more +pleasant for me to sit and listen to her words. + +'There were no letters,' she said, found in his possession from which +they could learn his name. There were no writings of any kind, except a +bundle of old papers, which she had looked into, but they seemed to be +only disconnected thoughts and memoranda of events and feelings, and threw +no light on his history. At my request she produced a lamp and spread out +the papers on the table. I turned over the worn and time-stained +manuscripts; but the leaves were loose, unnumbered, and put together at +random, and it was some time before I could find a place to begin at. + +At length, however, I managed to bring a few sheets in juxtaposition, +such, that with a little stretch of the imagination I could discern a +slight connection between them. And thus, by dim lamp-light, alone, with +the silence of night around, and the old house lifting up its dark and +shadowy form in the distance, I read some of the old man's papers. + +Those which I read I took the liberty of putting into my portmanteau, +arguing that though they might be of no use to me, they certainly would be +of none to their present possessors. Some of these papers having appeared +in the KNICKERBOCKER, and met with 'acceptance bounteous,' I am induced to +transcribe for the edification of the reader, a portion of the +autobiography of the writer. It is contained in the last chapter, or +sheet, and is written in a different and more aged hand than the rest; and +gives the 'moving why' of the old man, in isolating himself from his kind, +in one of the great green deserts of the West, 'for which the speech of +England hath no name.' + + +A DREAM OF YOUTH. + +Sixty years old! Many sorrows, many storms encountered, both within and +without, and much journeying along the road of life, have left their +traces on my features and on my head; but I am thankful that they have not +touched my heart. I live alone, but not solitary; for I hold daily +communion with the absent and beloved; communion also, sad but sweet, with +the departed. The forms of those once hated too, are ready to rise up at +my bidding; but they are never summoned. For I wish all within me to be +gentleness and repose; and it ill becomes me on this my last failing +foothold on the verge of the grave, to allow thoughts of hatred to stir up +the turbid waters of bitterness which have been slumbering so many years +in my heart. + +So I stand up here calmly at the end of my journey, and look back on the +path which I have trodden. And what a path! Far back it runs, growing +fainter and narrower, till I lose sight of it, an indistinct line, in the +distance. I shall not say how many steep hills it crosses, where it might +better have kept in the plains; how many deviations it makes from a +straight course, apparently for the sole purpose of wandering through +difficult places; or how often it runs along over burning sandy deserts, +parallel with, and but a few steps from, the verge of a cool and pleasant +meadow. I shall say nothing of this; for of the million of paths that +intersect this vast plain of Life, there is probably not one which, when +the traveller looks back upon it, does not like mine seem marked out by +the veriest caprice of chance. Each one gropes its way along, like the +crooked track of a blind man; and when it would appear the easier and +almost the only way to keep on up the gentle eminence, whereon might have +been found renown and happiness, by that same constant fatality, it +suddenly turns short off to one side, plunges down into the rocky ravine, +and pants on, for many a weary mile. That man shapes not his own ends, is +a truth which I felt long since, and which each day's experience brings +home to me with the freshness of a new discovery. It is a truth which +rises up and mocks us, when we sit down to calculate or plan for the +future; and it almost staggers our confidence in the connection between +human means and the desired result. + +But what a path! Proceeding out of the darkness of morning, it struggles +through a brief day, sometimes in sunshine, and sometimes in shade, and +ends in the darkness of night. I glance along it, and the care-worn faces +of the companions of my manhood rise up, on either side, and farther back, +the speaking countenances of the friends of my youth. It is but a narrow +space, the land of Youth, and soon passed; but pleasant, and full of +images of beauty. The sun is not so bright and hot upon it as on some +other parts of the path; but we do not expect happiness in the garish +light of mid-day and reality. The mellowness of a summer evening sunset +lays on it, and thereby it becomes a faery land, a land of bliss and +dreams. How throng up, as I gaze, the forms of those early and best-loved +friends! How distinct and life-like, even at this distance, are their +characters and features! They are all there; not one name has been erased, +and not one picture dimmed, on the tablet of memory. The same warm smile +of kindling pleasure greets me; the same hands are thrown out, as if to +touch my own; and those bright eyes grow brighter as they are turned +toward me. + +It is with such companions that I spend the last days of my earthly +pilgrimage; and thus, as I said before, though alone I am not solitary. Is +not such companionship sweet? When they visit me, I throw off old age, as +a garment. Smiling thoughts come gently over me, and life and happiness, +as of wont, course like the mad blood of fever through my veins. I feel +over again those old feelings, repass through those same scenes, and my +heart beats faster or grows pale in the same places and in the same manner +as it once did. The old fields and houses and roads come up too, clothed +at my command, in the snows of winter, or in the beauty of summer. Old +scenes, but still fresh and young; and I am sometimes tempted to believe +that the intervening years have been the illusion of a dream, and that I +am awakening in their midst. + +All this, some will say, is the weakness of age. It seems to me to be +rather its strength. The future in life is nothing; and what is the bare +present to any one? The past, then, alone is left me. And if by living in +it I can keep my affections alive, instead of letting their fires, +according to the course of nature, or rather of custom, die down into cold +ashes, I do not call myself weak if I do as much as possible forget the +present. + +I had, when I was young, many dreams; such as I dare say all have. They +seem such to me now, only not at all shadowy. On the contrary, they become +more and more like reality as my distance from them increases, while their +hues are as well marked and distinct as ever. Many and bright; but the +brightest of all, the dream of my youth, is that which flashes across my +recollection, when there comes into my heart the thought of my cousin +Jane! + +My cousin JANE! Her form comes up before me, light and elastic and joyous, +as though summoned for the first time, and as though it had not been my +daily visitor for many a long year. Time writes no wrinkle on thy snowy +brow, my first love! That glad smile knows no weariness, and I know no +weariness in gazing on it. Those deep eyes, full of feeling; those soft +words that thrill; I see and hear and feel them now, as I saw and heard +and felt them first. Wilt thou never be tired of looking up to me, with +that sweet, timid, confiding, tearful glance? Will the rising flush of thy +cheek and thy subdued smile, be always fresh as now, and as in that hour +when first we met? Thou hast been my companion, my unmurmuring, +ever-present, unchanging companion, through many a dark time and stormy +scene; and thou and the heart in which thou livest will die together. + +We met, my cousin Jane and I, when she was just putting on womanhood; had +begun to find out the depths of her own heart, to doubt whether those +depths ever could be filled, and to feel that unless they were, life would +be but a blank. Not that there were not many willing enough to love her +and be loved; the beauty of her form and character drew around her a crowd +of admirers. But among them all, her nice perception saw that there was +not one, of whom the exterior did not form by far the largest part of the +man. Her admirers were good, honorable men; she respected and esteemed +them; but still, gentle and timid and humble as she was, without knowing +why, she felt that there was an impassable gulf between her and them. +Their thoughts were not like her thoughts. Her social disposition led her +much into their way, and though she tried to avoid it, she was told more +than once, that the happiness or misery of her devoted lover depended on +her smiles. It was a painful situation for one of her retiring and +benevolent disposition, to be sure; and it is doubtful to which of the +two, the lover or the mistress, every such rejection caused the keenest +pang. + +But this was not the end of it. Malice soon prefixed to her name the +epithet scornful; and among her school-girl friends there were some who +always passed by on the other side. Poor girl! She wept bitter tears over +these sneers and slights, for she had not studied the world enough to +learn and despise its despicable things. Even then, dear girl! too, she +tried to love all the world, that is, all her native village. And she +succeeded, at least far enough to forgive them all, and thus to feel her +own mind at peace and resigned. But there was a tinge of sadness left on +her Grecian face after all; for to the young, when the out-stretched hand +of kindly feeling is coldly put aside, the grief is as great as though the +repulse were deserved. + +And I--I hardly know what I was, when I first saw my cousin. I was without +father or mother; the world seemed wide and rather cheerless; and there +was a settled impression on my mind, that it was my business to glide +along through life, calmly and noiselessly; attach my affections to no +external object; exist without being the cause of joy, and die without +being the cause of tears, to any human being. I came and took up my abode +in the pleasant village where my uncle resided, and set down to gain some +knowledge of that noble science, civil law. I took up the study, not +because I had any intention of engaging in the active duties of the +profession, but for the name's sake, and because I loved it for itself. My +uncle, he was a kind, good man, showed himself a father to me, took me +into his family, tried to encourage and rouse me; and for his kindness, +though it failed of its end, he had at the time, and has always had, my +sincere though unexpressed thanks. + +I had hardly become acquainted with my relatives, uncle, aunt, and their +three children, when I entered my office, shut the door, and immersed +myself in books and my own thoughts. That those thoughts were not of the +most joyous nature, I need hardly say. Still, looking back to that period, +from where I stand now, I cannot say they were misanthropic. If I did not +love all my species, it was because I saw nothing lovely in any body; but +I did not hate them. I felt that I was an insignificant, an unnoticeable +drop in the great world; that it was my misfortune to be so constituted as +to be incapable of uniting closely and mingling with other drops; and +that, without offending my neighbors, it would be my duty and pleasure to +keep myself distinct from the rest, and hidden in some obscure corner. In +one word, the prevailing feeling was, that nobody cared for me, and I +cared for nobody. + +And yet, strange as it may appear, I was far from being unhappy. +Sometimes, it is true, my in-turned thoughts became weary, and pined for +human fellowship; and I grew sick at heart, as I contemplated the future, +a vast, dry, waste, desolate desert of parched sand, over which I must +toil and thirst, without one single being to speak a word of kindness, or +give me a drop of water. But these were fits, fits of wildness, I called +them, and seldom lasted long. And when they came over me, one attempt to +link my sympathies with others was always sufficient to throw me back into +a state of mind harder and colder than before. For it was so fated, that +all my overtures, and they were not many, were met with open repulse or +wary suspicion. It is true, suspicion is a necessary ingredient in human +character; but I did not think of this then, and so it had the same effect +as though I had found, indeed I thought I _had_ found, that coldness and +insensibility were the prominent characteristics of the race. + +And yet, as I said before, I was not unhappy. If there was no happiness, +there was at least no unhappiness, in sitting down for hours, and brooding +over my own idiosyncrasies. It made me proud, to see and despise the +weakness of others; and it gave me stern joy, to walk about and feel that +there was a kind of armed neutrality between them and me. By degrees there +arose, also, a gloomy pleasure in dwelling on, and picturing in deeper +colors, the failings and baseness of my neighbors. Humble and weak as I +knew myself to be, I exulted in my strength, because there were some still +more weak and humble. Far back as my recollection ran, there had never +been any thing in the world that seemed to me worthy of very much exertion +or toil to obtain; but now I first learned to despise others for +possessing feeble energies, as well as for directing them to the +attainment of little objects. I am afraid, if left to myself, I should +have hardened into a genuine hater; but I was not left to myself. + +I have mentioned my uncle's kindness; his whole family were not less kind. +My cousin Jane, especially, saw that I was silent, and fancied that I was +unhappy, and tried, by a thousand little devices and arts, to lull me into +forgetfulness of myself, and entice me into a more sociable frame of mind. +I will not say that I was insensible to her enticements; I rather liked +her, she was so gentle and mild and considerate. There was an air of truth +and simplicity about her; she would sit herself down so cheerfully to +amuse me, and there was such a sparkle in her blue eyes when, as she said, +I condescended to interest myself in her little affairs, that I began, at +length, to love to be with her. But proud as I was, when I viewed mankind +at a distance, I no sooner came in contact with any one, who was not +immeasurably beneath me, than I felt myself sinking immeasurably beneath +him; and so, like a fool as I was, I fancied that all my cousin's kindness +was the result of her sense of duty to her relation; or, what was worse, +of pity for his moroseness. This faint suspicion became, in a little +while, a strong certainty; and I confined myself more closely to my books, +and looked into my cousin's guileless, enthusiastic face, with coldness. + +I had known her now a year, and yet I hardly knew her at all; for I had +seen her scarcely ever, except when it was impossible to avoid it, and +those occasions were not frequent or long enough to enable me to learn +perfectly her mind and character. From every such meeting, I went away +resolved to see her no more in future; which resolution was sure to be +overruled by second and more bitter thoughts. How I lived during that +year, I scarcely know; or how it was that I grew uneasy away from her, and +frequently surprised myself courting her society. But as time rolled on, +so it was. There was a fascination about her, the magic of which was, that +it charmed to sleep my vigilant suspicion. I did not perceive any change +in myself, when night after night I was with her, talking to her about +poetry, beauty, love, and the thousand themes that interest the +unrestrained youthful heart; or that I was different from what I used to +be, when I listened to her, with a gush of pleasure, as she spoke at once +with lips and eyes, and in speaking, disclosed the unimagined riches of +her mind and heart. So gradual was the change, that I was wholly unaware +of it. + +But of one thing I was aware; the face of nature and of man underwent a +strange and sudden change in appearance. I looked into the face of my +neighbor, and lo, he was my brother! The fire of benevolence and sympathy +warmed every vein, and a new life animated every nerve within me. I felt +no longer that I was alone, but that indissoluble cords bound me to the +whole human family, to every being in whose nostrils was the breath of +life; and that for his good, as well as for my own, it was my business to +labor. New motives of action, (or rather motives of action, for there were +none before,) were set before me; and I felt light of heart and wing; +eager to bound forward and lend the strength of my arm to the cause of the +race. The face of nature too was altered. Every part that came within the +range of my vision, her seasons, her vestments in winter and summer, her +sunshine and clouds, each one was a melody, and all together made harmony. +Still, I was scarcely sensible that I was different from what I was a year +ago; for at each period I felt that I was in my natural and proper state +of mind. So slight are the influences necessary to turn the young heart +into the permanent channel of selfishness, hatred and unhappiness, or into +that of love and peace! + +It was not long before I found out that I loved my cousin Jane. How I +first discovered it I do not remember; but I do remember a firm and +abiding resolution, even then, that I would not love her. I sat down by +her side, I listened to her music, with that distinct impression. I would +not for the world have had any body suspect my feelings, because I was +ashamed of the weakness. I had persuaded myself, and could not convince +myself to the contrary, that there was no hope of her returning my +passion. And yet, with the words on my lips, 'This is folly--I will not!' +I yielded myself to the delicious current, forgot all the world and +myself, and in the intoxication of the hour, saw visions and dreamed +dreams. + +But there came a shock; one which awoke me from a trance like that of the +Opium-eater. It was when I saw that my cousin's smiles and attentions were +not all devoted to me. There was another, a young man of promise and +expectations, a year or two my senior, and far beyond me in the graces and +polish of society, who had lately become intimate in my uncle's family. +Engaged in the same pursuits, and being much with him, I had rather liked +him; in fact I liked him very much. He had seen, admired, and in less than +six months, _loved_ my Cousin Jane: this I knew, for jealousy is +keen-eyed. You will not wonder then that I hated him; not on his own +account--alter his feelings toward her, and I should have felt toward him +as before; but on account of his love--hated him with a deadly hatred. + +It would be useless to tell how often I have sat down and watched them, +when my cousin's sensitive countenance would brighten at his bright +thoughts, or burst forth into a merry laugh at his brilliant wit and ready +repartee; or how often the iron has entered into my soul when I have seen +her hang on his arm, and listen in breathless attention to his lightest +word, and testify in a thousand ways her pleasure at his coming, and in +his presence. And _he_, he looked on me with the most immovable +indifference. He did not seem to consider me worthy of his attention; even +as a rival. He went straight forward, calmly and quietly, as though I had +not existed; and if he ever glanced at my pretensions, it was perhaps with +a smile of confident success. I knew he loved her; I fancied that she +loved him, and I hated them both for it. + +I went into my office one day--if it were not part of the dream I would +not tell it--in a state of partial insanity. I knew, saw, heard, felt +nothing but one unalterable purpose of revenge. There happened to be a +small pistol lying in the back room; I took it up, and carefully loaded +it; loaded it without the tremor of a single muscle, for my heart was +lead. I put it into my pocket, and walked the streets up and down, an hour +or two, or it may have been four hours. I did not take count of the time. +The heavens reeled above me, and the earth reeled beneath. At last he +came. A thrill, the first that day, a thrill of triumph ran through my +whole frame. When we met I stopped and took hold of the pistol in my +pocket, but had not power to draw my hand out again; the strings of +volition seemed broken. He stopped also; looked at me in some surprise; +made a remark that I 'did not appear to be well,' and passed on. I looked +after him, sick at heart with revenge deferred, and cursed my own +pusillanimity. + +Well, well, we will let that pass. I had yielded my soul to the Author of +Hatred for a time; but we will let it pass, and strive to forget it; I +have been trying to ever since; I hope I shall succeed better in future. +It is pleasant if we can think that the results of our evil passions do +not extend beyond ourselves; and to me, it is pleasant to think that I did +not break my gentle cousin's heart, by letting her know that she had +nearly driven me mad. + +It was a month after this. How the intervening time had been spent, in +what thoughts, and hopes, and fears, it would not be profitable to tell, +or to recollect. I was sitting one evening by my cousin's side; it was +growing late, and we were alone. I had been heated, as though with wine, +and had probably talked incoherently. The conversation turned on that +never-failing theme, love. She delighted to hear me speak on that subject; +she said I spoke eloquently. If eloquence consists in earnestness, no +doubt I did. It began in sportiveness, but before long became deeply +serious and interesting. + +'And you do not believe, my grave cousin,' said she, in her own +half-jesting, wholly earnest way, 'that a woman can love as deeply and +long as the man who loves her?' + +'Bah!' said I, bitterly, 'women sometimes, like men, are revengeful, +proud, or ambitious, but it is on a smaller scale. Every thing about them, +every feeling and impulse is on a small scale. Very good objects they make +for men to love; because, when one _will_ be such a fool, it doesn't much +matter where he places his affection.' + +The poor girl looked grieved, but responded with a semblance of gaiety +nevertheless: 'Ah, you think so now, but you will be just such a fool +yourself, one of these days; and then you will find out that it is +necessary for a woman to have a soul; and more than that--that she has +one.' + +'Much obliged for your flattering opinion,' said I. 'But see here, my +bonny Jane, did it never enter into your innocent little heart to think +how _you_ would love?' + +'Oh yes,' she answered quickly; 'but that is all guess-work. I don't know, +because I haven't yet found a man to my taste.' + +Of course I knew that I could not be to her taste; but a plain man does +not like to be told that he is ugly, though he may be perfectly conscious +of the fact. And so this avowal, which was made with the most unthinking +honesty and simplicity, while it added weight to my despair, by a very +usual consequence, made me desperate. + +'You are certain,' I asked, after a pause, 'that you do not know what love +is by experience?' + +'Perfectly,' she answered, half laughing. + +'And that you mean to know, some time?' + +'To be sure,' said she, 'when the right man and the right time come.' + +'I do not know,' said I, beginning slowly and calmly; but before the +sentence was half completed, my voice and thoughts had escaped from under +my control; 'I do not know who the right man for you may be, but I--_I_ +love you--love you--love you!' + +She looked at me for a few seconds, with a countenance filled with +astonishment, not unmingled with alarm. She would have thought it a jest; +but my manner probably convinced her that I was far from jesting. She +tried to smile, but it was a painful effort, and she found it much easier +to conceal her face in her hands and weep. + +My recollection of the subsequent events of that evening is extremely dim. +There was a confused crowd of flying thoughts; many tears and much +friendship on one side, and much love on the other. She had received me as +I knew she would, and though by the confession there was a great weight +removed from my breast, the anguish was not less intense. One thing, +however, among the hurried occurrences of that hour, I did not lose sight +of, and that was pride. She did not suspect at the time how much of my +heart, not to say existence, was bound up in her, or how greatly both were +affected by her answer. + +The closing scene of the interview is the one which I most love to +remember. We were standing at the door, her hand in mine, a mournful smile +on her lips, and a tear in her eye. That bright, gentle face was pale with +sorrow, and pity, and pain, and above all with fear. I gazed on it a +moment, but in that moment the picture was graven indelibly on my memory. +The 'good night' was spoken; and that is the last time I ever saw my +cousin Jane. + +The next morning I sat down at an inn by the way-side, several miles +distant from home, and sent back a few lines of farewell: + +'My only beloved! You must pardon me for this note. The adieu of last +evening was only for the night; I wish to say good bye this morning, for a +longer time. Your answer to my suit was not unexpected; in fact, I knew it +would be as it was; and it was only a fatality, a blind impulse, that +drove me to make that disclosure. I fear that it has given you pain, and I +beg you to forgive my thoughtlessness. And in turn, you may rest assured +that I forgive you for all the anguish and sickness of spirit that I have +suffered on your account. There is nothing to be forgiven; I know that you +would not cause unhappiness to any one, and it has been my own folly and +madness. But I promise not to lay it up in my heart against you. I promise +that in future years, wherever my lot may be cast, you shall be in my +memory, only my pure, sweet, innocent cousin. And so, blessings be on your +head! I go forth a vagabond and a wanderer on the face of the earth. It is +probable that you will never hear from me again; and I pray you to forget +our last interview, that your thoughts may be only peace. I would live in +your remembrance as I was when we first met. And do not think, because +long years of silence and wide lands and many mountains divide us, that +your cousin has forgotten you. Your image lives in his heart and can never +die!' + + + + +STANZAS WRITTEN IN INDISPOSITION. + +BY THE LATE WILLIS GAYLORD CLARK. + + + I. + + The Spring is fair, when early flowers + Unfold them to the golden sun; + When, singing to the gladsome hours, + Blue streams through vernal meadows run; + When from the woods and from the sky + The birds their joyous anthems pour; + And Ocean, filled with melody, + Sends his glad billows to the shore. + + + II. + + The Spring is sweet: its balmy breath + Is rapture to the wearied breast, + When vines with roses fondly wreathe, + Fann'd by soft breezes from the West; + When, opening by the cottage eave, + The earliest buds invite the bee; + And brooks their icy bondage leave, + To dance in music toward the sea. + + + III. + + The Spring is gay: but to my heart + The glorious hues she used to wear, + As sunset clouds in gloom depart, + Have vanish'd in the empty air: + They move not now my spirit's wing, + As in the stainless days of yore: + The happy dreams they used to bring + Have pass'd--and they will come no more. + + + IV. + + Not that those dreams have lost their sway-- + Not that my heart hath lost its chords; + Still with affection tuned, they play, + And leap at friendship's kindly words; + But 'tis that to my languid eye + A _newness_ from life's scene hath flown, + Which once upon the open sky, + And o'er the teeming earth, was thrown. + + + V. + + Yes! there IS _something_, which no more + In Nature's gorgeous round I find; + Something that charm'd in days of yore, + And filled with Sabbath peace my mind; + Which added lustre to the flower, + And verdure to the field and tree, + And wings to every sunny hour, + While roseate health remained with me! + + + VI. + + But Time's stern wave hath roll'd along, + And now on Manhood's waste I stand, + And mourn young Fancy's faded throng + Of radiant hopes and visions bland; + Yet, kindling o'er my onward way, + The light of love divine I see, + And hear a voice which seems to say: + 'Pilgrim! in Heaven there's rest for thee!' + +_May, 1832._ + + + + +DISGUISED DERIVATIVE WORDS IN ENGLISH. + +BY A NEW CONTRIBUTOR. + + +Derivative words in English, as in other languages, are usually formed on +regular principles. Some few of them, however, especially those derived +from foreign languages, and coming into extensive use, are so corrupted or +disguised, as greatly to obscure the derivation. + +The following are examples: + +1. CHURCH and KIRK: (Anglo-Sax. _circ_ and _cyric_, Germ. _kirche_, old +Germ. _chirihha_, Gr. [Greek: kyriakon], as if _the Lord's house_, derived +from [Greek: kyrios], _the Lord_, and this from [Greek: kyros], _power_, +_authority_;) a Christian temple. + +2. CLOWN: (Lat. _colonus_, from the root _col_, to cultivate;) a rustic. +Compare Germ. _Koeln_ from Lat. _Colonia Agrippina_; also Lat. _patronus_ +from _pater_. + +3. DROPSY: (Fr. _hydropisie_, Portug. and Span. _hidropesia_, Ital. +_idropisia_, Lat. _hydrops_ and _hydropisis_, Gr. [Greek: hydrops], +derived from [Greek: hydor], water;) a corruption of _hydropsy_, an +unnatural collection of water in the body. + +4. PARCHMENT: (Fr. _parchemin_, Portug. _pergaminho_, Span. _pergamino_, +Ital. _pergamena_; also Germ. and Dutch _pergament_; Lat. _pergamena_, +scil. _charta_, Gr. [Greek: Pergamene], scil. [Greek: Charte], from +_Pergamus_, a city of Asia Minor;) skin prepared for writing. + +5. PERIWIG and PERUKE: (Fr. _perruque_, Span. _peluca_, Ital. _parruca_; +also Germ. _perrucke_, Dutch _parruik_, Swed. _peruk_, Dan. _perryk_, Tr. +_percabhaic_, Gael. _pior-bhuic_; from Lat. _pilus_;) an artificial cap of +hair. + +6. PRIEST: (Anglo-Sax. _priost_, _preost_, Germ. and Dutch _priester_, +Iceland _prestr_, Dan. and Swed. _praest_; also old Fr. _prestre_, Fr. +_pretre_, Portug. _presbytero_, Span. _presbitero_, Ital. _prete_, Latin +_presbyter_, Gr. [Greek: presbyteros], comparative of [Greek: presbys], +old;) one who officiates in sacred offices. + +7. RICKETS: (Fr. _rachitis_, Portug. _rachitis_, Span. _raquitis_, Lat. +_rachitis_, Gr. [Greek: rhachitis], from [Greek: rhachis], the back or +spine;) a disease of children. + +8. SCIATICA: (Fr. _sciatique_, Portug. _sciatica_, _ciatica_, Span. +_ciatica_, Ital. _sciatica_, Lat. _ischias_, gen. _adis_, Gr. [Greek: +ischias], gen. [Greek: ados], from [Greek: ischion], the hip;) the +hip-gout. + +9. SUCH: (Anglo-Sax. _swilc_, Meso-Goth. _swaleiks_, old Germ. _solih_, +Germ. _solcher_; composed of _swa_ or _so_, the ancient modal case of the +demonstrative pronoun, and the ancient form of Eng. _like_;) a +demonstrative adjective of quality, denoting _of that kind_ or _sort_. + +10. WHICH: (Anglo-Sax. _hulic_, _hwylc_, _hwilc_, _hwelc_, Meso-Goth. +_hweleiks_, or _hwileiks_, old Germ. _huelih_, Germ. _welcher_; composed +of _hwe_ or _hwin_, the ancient modal case of the interrogative pronoun, +and the ancient form of Eng. _like_;) properly an interrogative adjective +of quality, denoting _of what kind_ or _sort_? but in use an interrogative +partitive adjective. + +11. WIG: a mutilation of the word _periwig_; see _periwig_ above. + + + + +NEW-ENGLAND'S SABBATH BELLS. + + + I. + + How sweet upon the morning air, the chime of Sabbath-bells, + As full and clear upon the ear the solemn music swells! + From many a church in sunny vale, and on the green hill side, + The jewels of New-England's crown, her glory and her pride. + + + II. + + The busy hum of busy men, this morn forgets to wake, + In quiet deep the hushed winds sleep, as fearful they shall break + The holy silence which o'erspreads all nature like a spell, + With which in music sweet accords the Sabbath-morning bell. + + + III. + + Those Sabbath-bells--they call us not to piles of mossy stone, + Temples of yore, with age now hoar, and ivy overgrown, + Through whose stained windows softly creeps a dim religious light, + Seeming as it were sanctified unto the Christian's sight. + + + IV. + + Nor do they tell of royal courts, in which to worship GOD, + Where nobles gay in bright array bend to their monarch's nod; + No costly paintings please the eye, nor trappings rich and rare, + To draw the humble Christian's heart from sacred praise and prayer. + + + V. + + But to the simple, hallowed fane, we turn our willing feet, + Where, rank unknown, the free alone in humble worship meet; + While 'Holiness unto the LORD' upon the walls we read, + No other ornament than this, no other record need. + +_New-Haven, May 10, 1844._ A. + + + + +A PASSAGE + +FROM A LEGEND OF THE SUBJUGATION OF SPAIN. + +BY THE AUTHOR OF THE SKETCH-BOOK. + + +While the veteran Taric was making his wide circuit through the land, an +expedition under Magued the renegado proceeded against the city of +Cordova. The inhabitants of that ancient place had beheld the great army +of Don Roderick spreading like an inundation over the plain of the +Guadalquiver, and had felt confident that it must sweep the infidel +invaders from the land. What then was their dismay, when scattered +fugitives, wild with horror and affright, brought them tidings of the +entire overthrow of that mighty host, and the disappearance of the king? +In the midst of their consternation, the Gothic noble, Pelistes, arrived +at their gates, haggard with fatigue of body and anguish of mind, and +leading a remnant of his devoted cavaliers, who had survived the dreadful +battle of the Guadalete. The people of Cordova knew the valiant and +steadfast spirit of Pelistes, and rallied round him as a last hope. +'Roderick is fallen,' cried they, 'and we have neither king nor captain: +be unto us as a sovereign; take command of our city, and protect us in +this hour of peril!' + +The heart of Pelistes was free from ambition, and was too much broken by +grief to be flattered by the offer of command; but he felt above +everything for the woes of his country, and was ready to assume any +desperate service in her cause. 'Your city,' said he, 'is surrounded by +walls and towers, and may yet check the progress of the foe. Promise to +stand by me to the last, and I will undertake your defence.' The +inhabitants all promised implicit obedience and devoted zeal: for what +will not the inhabitants of a wealthy city promise and profess in a moment +of alarm? The instant, however, that they heard of the approach of the +Moslem troops, the wealthier citizens packed up their effects and fled to +the mountains, or to the distant city of Toledo. Even the monks collected +the riches of their convents and churches, and fled. Pelistes, though he +saw himself thus deserted by those who had the greatest interest in the +safety of the city, yet determined not to abandon its defence. He had +still his faithful though scanty band of cavaliers, and a number of +fugitives of the army; in all amounting to about four hundred men. He +stationed guards, therefore, at the gates and in the towers, and made +every preparation for a desperate resistance. + +In the mean time, the army of Moslems and apostate Christians advanced, +under the command of the Greek renegado, Magued, and guided by the traitor +Julian. While they were yet at some distance from the city, their scouts +brought to them a shepherd, whom they had surprised on the banks of the +Guadalquiver. The trembling hind was an inhabitant of Cordova, and +revealed to them the state of the place, and the weakness of its garrison. + +'And the walls and gates,' said Magued, 'are they strong and well +guarded?' + +'The walls are high, and of wondrous strength,' replied the shepherd; 'and +soldiers hold watch at the gates by day and night. But there is one place +where the city may be secretly entered. In a part of the wall, not far +from the bridge, the battlements are broken, and there is a breach at some +height from the ground. Hard by stands a fig tree, by the aid of which the +wall may easily be scaled.' + +Having received this information, Magued halted with his army, and sent +forward several renegado Christians, partizans of Count Julian, who +entered Cordova as if flying before the enemy. On a dark and tempestuous +night, the Moslems approached to the end of the bridge which crosses the +Guadalquiver, and remained in ambush. Magued took a small party of chosen +men, and, guided by the shepherd, forded the stream, and groped silently +along the wall to the place where stood the fig tree. The traitors, who +had fraudulently entered the city, were ready on the wall to render +assistance. Magued ordered his followers to make use of the long folds of +their turbans instead of cords, and succeeded without difficulty in +clambering into the breach. + +Drawing their scimitars, they now hastened to the gate which opened toward +the bridge; the guards, suspecting no assault from within, were taken by +surprise, and easily overpowered; the gate was thrown open, and the army +that had remained in ambush rushed over the bridge, and entered without +opposition. + +The alarm had by this time spread throughout the city; but already a +torrent of armed men was pouring through the streets. Pelistes sallied +forth with his cavaliers and such of the soldiery as he could collect, and +endeavored to repel the foe; but every effort was in vain. The Christians +were slowly driven from street to street, and square to square, disputing +every inch of ground; until, finding another body of the enemy approaching +to attack them in the rear, they took refuge in a convent, and succeeded +in throwing to and barring the ponderous doors. The Moors attempted to +force the gates, but were assailed with such showers of missiles from the +windows and battlements that they were obliged to retire. Pelistes +examined the convent, and found it admirably calculated for defence. It +was of great extent, with spacious courts and cloisters. The gates were +massive, and secured with bolts and bars; the walls were of great +thickness; the windows high and grated; there was a great tank or cistern +of water, and the friars, who had fled from the city, had left behind a +good supply of provisions. Here, then, Pelistes proposed to make a stand, +and to endeavor to hold out until succor should arrive from some other +city. His proposition was received with shouts by his loyal cavaliers; not +one of whom but was ready to lay down his life in the service of his +commander. + +For three long and anxious months did the good knight Pelistes and his +cavaliers defend their sacred asylum against the repeated assaults of the +infidels. The standard of the true faith was constantly displayed from the +loftiest tower, and a fire blazed there throughout the night, as signals +of distress to the surrounding country. The watchman from his turret kept +a wary look out over the land, hoping in every cloud of dust to descry the +glittering helms of Christian warriors. The country, however, was forlorn +and abandoned, or if perchance a human being was perceived, it was some +Arab horseman, careering the plain of the Guadalquiver as fearlessly as if +it were his native desert. + +By degrees the provisions of the convent were consumed, and the cavaliers +had to slay their horses, one by one, for food. They suffered the wasting +miseries of famine without a murmur, and always met their commander with a +smile. Pelistes, however, read their sufferings in their wan and emaciated +countenances, and felt more for them than for himself. He was grieved at +heart that such loyalty and valor should only lead to slavery or death, +and resolved to make one desperate attempt for their deliverance. +Assembling them one day in the court of the convent, he disclosed to them +his purpose. + +'Comrades and brothers in arms,' said he, 'it is needless to conceal +danger from brave men. Our case is desperate: our countrymen either know +not or heed not our situation, or have not the means to help us. There is +but one chance of escape; it is full of peril, and, as your leader, I +claim the right to brave it. To-morrow at break of day I will sally forth +and make for the city gates at the moment of their being opened; no one +will suspect a solitary horseman; I shall be taken for one of those +recreant Christians who have basely mingled with the enemy. If I succeed +in getting out of the city, I will hasten to Toledo for assistance. In all +events I shall be back in less than twenty days. Keep a vigilant look out +toward the nearest mountain. If you behold five lights blazing upon its +summit, be assured I am at hand with succor, and prepare yourselves to +sally forth upon the city as I attack the gates. Should I fail in +obtaining aid, I will return to die with you.' + +When he had finished, his warriors would fain have severally undertaken +the enterprise, and they remonstrated against his exposing himself to such +peril; but he was not to be shaken from his purpose. On the following +morning, ere the break of day, his horse was led forth, caparisoned, into +the court of the convent, and Pelistes appeared in complete armor. +Assembling his cavaliers in tie chapel, he prayed with them for some time +before the altar of the holy Virgin. Then rising, and standing in the +midst of them, 'God knows, my companions,' said he, 'whether we have any +longer a country; if not, better were we in our graves. Loyal and true +have ye been to me, and loyal have ye been to my son, even to the hour of +his death; and grieved am I that I have no other means of proving my love +for you, than by adventuring my worthless life for your deliverance. All I +ask of you before I go, is a solemn promise to defend yourselves to the +last like brave men and Christian cavaliers, and never to renounce your +faith, or throw yourselves on the mercy of the renegado Magued, or the +traitor Julian.' They all pledged their words, and took a solemn oath to +the same effect before the altar. + +Pelistes then embraced them one by one, and gave them his benediction, and +as he did so his heart yearned over them, for he felt towards them, not +merely as a companion in arms and as a commander, but as a father; and he +took leave of them as if he had been going to his death. The warriors, on +their part, crowded round him in silence, kissing his hands and the hem of +his surcoat, and many of the sternest shed tears. + +The gray of the dawning had just streaked the east, when Pelistes took +lance in hand, hung his shield about his neck, and, mounting his steed, +issued quietly forth from a postern of the convent. He paced slowly +through the vacant streets, and the tramp of his steed echoed afar in that +silent hour; but no one suspected a warrior, moving thus singly and +tranquilly in an armed city, to be an enemy. He arrived at the gate just +at the hour of opening; a foraging party was entering with cattle and with +beasts of burthen, and he passed unheeded through the throng. As soon as +he was out of sight of the soldiers who guarded the gate, he quickened his +pace, and at length, galloping at full speed, succeeded in gaining the +mountains. Here he paused, and alighted at a solitary farm-house to +breathe his panting steed; but had scarce put foot to ground when he heard +the distant sound of pursuit, and beheld a horseman spurring up the +mountain. + +Throwing himself again upon his steed, he abandoned the road and galloped +across the rugged heights. The deep dry channel of a torrent checked his +career, and his horse, stumbling upon the margin, rolled with his rider to +the bottom. Pelistes was sorely bruised by the fall, and his whole visage +was bathed in blood. His horse, too, was maimed and unable to stand, so +that there was no hope of escape. The enemy drew near, and proved to be no +other than Magued, the renegado general, who had perceived him as he +issued forth from the city, and had followed singly in pursuit. 'Well met, +senor alcayde!' exclaimed he, 'and overtaken in good time. Surrender +yourself my prisoner.' + +Pelistes made no other reply than by drawing his sword, bracing his +shield, and preparing for defence. Magued, though an apostate, and a +fierce warrior, possessed some sparks of knightly magnanimity. Seeing his +adversary dismounted, he disdained to take him at a disadvantage, but +alighting, tied his horse to a tree. + +The conflict that ensued was desperate and doubtful, for seldom had two +warriors met so well matched or of equal prowess. Their shields were +hacked to pieces, the ground was strewed with fragments of their armor, +and stained with their blood. They paused repeatedly to take breath; +regarding each other with wonder and admiration. Pelistes, however, had +been previously injured by his fall, and fought to great disadvantage. The +renegado perceived it, and sought not to slay him, but to take him alive. +Shifting his ground continually, he wearied his antagonist, who was +growing weaker and weaker from the loss of blood. At length Pelistes +seemed to summon up all his remaining strength to make a signal blow; it +was skilfully parried and he fell prostrate upon the ground. The renegado +ran up, and, putting his foot upon his sword, and the point of his +scimitar to his throat, called upon him to ask his life; but Pelistes lay +without sense, and as one dead. Magued then unlaced the helmet of his +vanquished enemy and seated himself on a rock beside him, to recover +breath. In this situation the warriors were found by certain Moorish +cavaliers, who marvelled much at the traces of that stern and bloody +combat. + +Finding there was yet life in the Christian knight, they laid him upon one +of their horses, and, aiding Magued to remount his steed, proceeded slowly +to the city. As the convoy passed by the convent, the cavaliers looked +forth and beheld their commander borne along bleeding and a captive. +Furious at the sight, they sallied forth to the rescue, but were repulsed +by a superior force, and driven back to the great portal of the church. +The enemy entered pell mell with them, fighting from aisle to aisle, from +altar to altar, and in the courts and cloisters of the convent. The +greater part of the cavaliers died bravely, sword in hand; the rest were +disabled with wounds and made prisoners. The convent, which was lately +their castle, was now made their prison, and in after-times, in +commemoration of this event, was consecrated by the name of St. George of +the Captives. + +The loyalty and the prowess of the good knight Pelistes had gained him the +reverence even of his enemies. He was for a long time disabled by his +wounds, during which he was kindly treated by the Arab chieftains, who +strove by every courteous means to cheer his sadness and make him forget +that he was a captive. When he was recovered from his wounds they gave him +a magnificent banquet to testify their admiration of his virtues. + +Pelistes appeared at the banquet clad in sable armor, and with a +countenance pale and dejected; for the ills of his country evermore preyed +upon his heart. Among the assembled guests was Count Julian, who held a +high command in the Moslem army, and was arrayed in garments of mingled +Christian and Morisco fashion. Pelistes had been a close and bosom friend +of Julian in former times, and had served with him in the wars in Africa; +but when the count advanced to accost him with his wonted amity, he turned +away in silence, and deigned not to notice him; neither during the whole +of the repast did he address to him ever a word, but treated him as one +unknown. + +When the banquet was nearly at a close, the discourse turned upon the +events of the war; and the Moslem chieftains, in great courtesy, dwelt +upon the merits of many of the Christian cavaliers who had fallen in +battle, and all extolled the valor of those who had recently perished in +the defence of the convent. Pelistes remained silent for a time, and +checked the grief which swelled within his bosom as he thought of his +devoted cavaliers. At length, lifting up his voice, 'Happy are the dead,' +said he, 'for they rest in peace, and are gone to receive the reward of +their piety and valor! I could mourn over the loss of my companions in +arms, but they have fallen with honor, and are spared the wretchedness I +feel in witnessing the thraldom of my country. I have seen my only son, +the pride and hope of my age, cut down at my side; I have beheld kindred +friends and followers falling one by one around me, and have become so +seasoned to those losses that I have ceased to weep. Yet there is one man +over whose loss I will never cease to grieve. He was the loved companion +of my youth, and the steadfast associate of my graver years. He was one of +the most loyal of Christian knights. As a friend he was loving and +sincere; as a warrior his achievements were above all praise. What has +become of him, alas! I know not. If fallen in battle, and I knew where his +bones were laid, whether bleaching on the plains of Xeres, or buried in +the waters of the Gaudalete, I would seek them out and enshrine them as +the relics of a sainted patriot. Or if, like many of his companions in +arms, he should be driven to wander in foreign lands, I would join him in +his hapless exile, and we would mourn together over the desolation of our +country!' + +Even the hearts of the Arab warriors were touched by the lament of the +good Pelistes, and they said: 'Who was this peerless friend, in whose +praise thou art so fervent?' + +'His name,' replied Pelistes, 'was Count Julian.' + +The Moslem warriors stared with surprise. 'Noble cavalier,' exclaimed +they, 'has grief disordered thy senses? Behold thy friend, living and +standing before thee, and yet thou dost not know him! This, this is Count +Julian!' + +Upon this, Pelistes turned his eyes upon the count, and regarded him for a +time, with a lofty and stern demeanor; and the countenance of Julian +darkened, and was troubled, and his eye sank beneath the regard of that +loyal and honorable cavalier. And Pelistes said, 'In the name of God, I +charge thee, man unknown! to answer. Dost thou presume to call thyself +Count Julian?' + +The count reddened with anger at these words. 'Pelistes,' said he, 'what +means this mockery? Thou knowest me well; thou knowest me for Count +Julian?' + +'I know thee for a base imposter!' cried Pelistes. 'Count Julian was a +noble Gothic knight; but thou appearest in mongrel Moorish garb. Count +Julian was a Christian, faithful and devout; but I behold in thee a +renegado and an infidel. Count Julian was ever loyal to his king, and +foremost in his country's cause: were he living, he would be the first to +put shield on neck and lance in rest, to clear the land of her invaders: +but thou art a hoary traitor! thy hands are stained with the royal blood +of the Goths, and thou hast betrayed thy country and thy God. Therefore, I +again repeat, man unknown! if thou sayest thou art Count Julian, thou +liest! My friend, alas! is dead; and thou art some fiend from hell, which +has taken possession of his body to dishonor his memory and render him an +abhorrence among men!' So saying, Pelistes turned his back upon the +traitor, and went forth from the banquet; leaving Count Julian overwhelmed +with confusion, and an object of scorn to all the Moslem cavaliers. + + + + +ON SEEING A LADY WEEP OVER A NOSEGAY. + + + Though plucked from off the parent stems, + The flow'rs forget to die, + When Beauty all their leaves begems + With tears from her sweet eye. + + There is a heart which throb'd to-day + To see thee weep alone. + And longed to wipe those drops away, + Or make that grief its own. + + PLUTARCH SHAW: 1844. + + + + +LITERARY NOTICES. + + + LITERARY REMAINS OF THE LATE WILLIS GAYLORD CLARKE. Parts Three and + Four. New-York: BURGESS, STRINGER AND COMPANY. + +The reception given to our notice of this serial work in our last number, +has emboldened us to refer to the issues which have since appeared, +containing a copious variety of matter which will be new to great numbers +of our readers. One of the best evidences of the _naturalness_ and ease of +our author's writings, is to be found in the ready appreciation of them by +all classes of readers. Whether the vein be a serious one, or the theme +turn upon the humorous or the burlesque, it is not too much, we think, to +say that the writer takes always with him the heart or the fancy of the +reader. Without however pausing to characterize productions which bid fair +to become very widely and favorably known, we shall venture, under favor +of the reader, to present a few more extracts, 'which it is hoped may +please.' The following illustration of a night-scene at the Kaatskill +Mountain-House, on the evening of the Fourth of July, we can aver to be a +faithful Daguerreotype sketch, for we saw it with the writer: + + 'Take my arm, and step forth with me from the piazza of the + Mountain-House. It is night. A few stars are peering from a dim + azure field of western sky; the high-soaring breeze, the breath of + heaven, makes a stilly music in the neighboring pines; the meek + crest of Dian rolls along the blue depths of ether, tinting with + silver lines the half dun, half fleecy clouds; they who are in the + parlors make 'considerable' noise; there is an individual at the + end of the portico discussing his quadruple julep, and another + devotedly sucking the end of a cane, as if it were full of + mother's milk; he hummeth also an air from _Il Pirata_, and + wonders, in the simplicity of his heart, 'why the devil that there + steam-boat from Albany doesn't begin to show its lights down on + the Hudson.' His companion of the glass, however, is intent on the + renewal thereof. Calling to him the chief 'help' of the place, he + says: 'Is that other antifogmatic ready?' + + 'No, Sir.' + + 'Well, now, person, what's the reason? What was my last + observation? Says I to you, says I, 'Make me a fourth of them + beverages;' and moreover, I added, 'Just you keep doing so; be + _constantly_ making them, till the order is countermanded.' Give + us another; go! vanish!--'disappear and appear!'' + + 'The obsequious servant went; and returning with the desired + draught, observed, probably for the thousandth time: 'There! + that's what I call the true currency; them's the _ginooyne_ + mint-drops; HA--_ha_--ha!'--these separate divisions of his + laughter coming out of his mouth at intervals of about half a + minute each. + + * * * * * + + 'There is a bench near the verge of the Platform, where, when you + sit at evening, the hollow-sounding air comes up from the vast + vale below, like the restless murmurs of the ocean. Anchor + yourself here for a while, reader, with me. It being the evening + of the national anniversary, a few patriotic individuals are + extremely busy in piling up a huge pyramid of dried pine branches, + barrels covered with tar, and kegs of spirits, to a height of some + fifteen or twenty feet--perhaps higher. A bonfire is premeditated. + You shall see anon, how the flames will rise. The preparations are + completed; the fire is applied. Hear how it crackles and hisses! + Slowly but spitefully it mounts from limb to limb, and from one + combustible to another, until the whole welkin is a-blaze, and + shaking as with thunder! It is a beautiful sight. The gush of + unwonted radiance rolls in effulgent surges adown the vale. How + the owl hoots with surprise at the interrupting light! Bird of + wisdom, it is the Fourth! and you may well add your voice to swell + the choral honors of the time. How the tall old pines, withered by + the biting scathe of Eld, rise to the view, afar and near; white + shafts, bottomed in darkness, and standing like the serried spears + of an innumerable army! The groups around the beacon are gathered + together, but are forced to enlarge the circle of their + acquaintance, by the growing intensity of the increasing blaze. + Some of them, being ladies, their white robes waving in the + mountain breeze, and the light shining full upon them, present, + you observe, a beautiful appearance. The pale pillars of the + portico flash fitfully into view, now seen and gone, like columns + of mist. The swarthy African who kindled the fire regards it with + perspiring face and grinning ivories; and lo! the man who hath + mastered the quintupled glass of metamorphosed _eau-de-vie_, + standing by the towering pile of flame, and, reaching his hand on + high, he smiteth therewith his sinister pap, with a most hollow + sound; the knell, as it were of his departing reason. In short, he + is making an oration! + + 'Listen to those voiceful currents of air, traversing the vast + profound below the Platform! What a mighty circumference do they + sweep! Over how many towns, and dwellings, and streams, and + incommunicable woods! Murmurs of the dark, sources and awakeners + of sublime imagination, swell from afar. You have thoughts of + eternity and power here, which shall haunt you evermore. But we + must be early stirrers in the morning. Let us to bed. + + * * * * * + + 'You can lie on your pillow at the Kaatskill House, and see the + god of day look upon you from behind the pinnacles of the White + Mountains in New Hampshire, hundreds of miles away. Noble + prospect! As the great orb heaves up in ineffable grandeur, he + seems rising from beneath you, and you fancy that you have + attained an elevation where may be seen _the motion of the world_. + No intervening land to limit the view, you seem suspended in + mid-air, without one obstacle to check the eye. The scene is + indescribable. The chequered and interminable vale, sprinkled with + groves, and lakes, and towns, and streams; the mountains afar off, + swelling tumultuously heavenward, like waves of the ocean, some + incarnadined with radiance, others purpled in shade; all these, to + use the language of an auctioneer's advertisement, 'are too + tedious to mention, but may be seen on the premises.' I know of + but one picture which will give the reader an idea of this + etherial spot. It was the view which the angel Michael was polite + enough, one summer morning, to point out to Adam, from the highest + hill of Paradise.' + +Many and many a young father will recognize, in the following, his own +emotions, as he looks in moments of thoughtfulness upon the little +'olive-branches' around him, in whom he lives over again his own earliest +years: + + 'To those who are disposed to glean philosophy from the mayhap + less noticeable objects of this busy world, there are few sights + more lovely than childhood. The little cherub who now sits at my + knee, and tries, with tiny effort, to clutch the quill with which + I am playing for you, good reader; whose capricious taste, varying + from ink-stand to paper, and from that to books, and every other + portable thing--all 'moveables that I could tell you of'--he has + in his little person those elements which constitute both the + freshness of our sublunary mortality, and that glorious + immortality which the mortal shall yet put on. Gazing upon his + fair young brow, his peach-like cheek, and the depths of those + violet eyes, I feel myself rejuvenated. That which bothered + Nicodemus, is no marvel to me. I feel that I have a new existence; + nor can I dispel the illusion. It is harder, indeed, to believe + that he will ever be what I am, than that I am otherwise than he + is now. I can not imagine that he will ever become a pilous adult, + with harvests for the razor on that downy chin. Will those golden + locks become the brown auburn? Will that forehead rise as a varied + and shade-changing record of pleasure or care? Will the classic + little lips, now colored as by the radiance of a ruby, ever be + fitfully bitten in the glow of literary composition!--and will + those sun-bright locks, which hang about his temples like the soft + lining of a summer cloud, become meshes where hurried fingers + shall thread themselves in play? By the mass, I can not tell. But + this I know. That which hath been, shall be: the lot of manhood, + if he live, will be upon him; the charm, the obstacle, the + triumphant fever; the glory, the success, the far-reaching + thoughts, + + 'That make them eagle wings + To pierce the unborn years.' + +The 'Ollapodiana' papers are concluded in the third number, and a portion +of the issue is devoted to the commencement of the 'Miscellaneous Prose +Papers' of the writer, which are both numerous and various, 'A Chapter on +Cats' records an amusing story, replete with incident, which turns upon +the deplorable consequences, in one sad instance at least, of cat-killing. +An illustrative although not satisfactory passage is subjoined: + + 'I am subject, in summer, to restlessness. Thick-coming fancies + mar my rest, and my ear is peculiarly sensitive to the least + inappropriate sound. One sultry evening in July, I returned home + later than usual, from an arbitration, wherein I lost a cause on + which I had counted certainly to win. I suspect I bored the + arbitrators with too long a plea, and too voluminous quotations of + precedents; for when I finished, two were asleep, and most of the + others yawning. They decided against my client, and I came home + mad with chagrin, and crept into bed, longing for speedy oblivion + in the arms of Sleep. + + 'But that calm sister of Death would not be won to my embrace. I + lay tossing for a long time in 'restless ecstacy,' until vexed and + overwearied nature at last sunk to repose. I could not have + slumbered over ten minutes, before I was awakened by the most + outrageous caterwauling that ever stung the human ear. I arose in + a fury, and looked out of the window. All was still. The cause for + outcry appeared to have ceased. Now and then there was a low + gutteral wail, between a suppressed grunt and a squeal; but it was + so faint that nothing could have lived 'twixt that and silence. + After a listening probation of a few minutes, I slunk back into my + sheets. + + 'I had scarcely dozed a quarter of an hour, when the obnoxious + vociferations arose again. They were fierce, ill-natured, and + shrill. I arose again, vexed beyond endurance. All was quiet in a + moment. I am not given to profanity; I deem it foolish and wicked; + but on this occasion, after stretching my body like a sheeted + ghost, half out of the window, and gazing into the shadows of the + garden to discover the object of my annoyance, I exclaimed in a + loud and spiteful voice, which expressed my concentrated hate: + + ----'_D--n that cat!_' + + ''Young gentleman,' said a passing guardian of the night, from the + street, 'you had better pop your head in and stop your noise. If + you don't, you will rue it; now mind-I-tell-ye.' + + ''Look here, old Charley,' said I, in return, 'don't be + impertinent. It is your business to preserve the peace, and to + obviate every evil that looks disgracious in the city's eye. You + guard the slumbers of her citizens; and if you expect a dollar + from me at Christmas, for the poetry in your next annual address, + you will perform what I now request, and what it is your solemn + and bounded duty to do. Spring your rattle; comprehend that vagrom + cat, and take her to the watch-house, I will appear as plaintiff + against the quadruped, before the mayor, in the morning. Her + character is bad--her habits are scandalous.' + + ''Oh, pshaw!' said the watchman, and went clattering up the + street, singing 'N'hav p-a-st dwelve o'glock, and a glowdee morn.' + + 'I reverted to my pillow, and fell into a train of conjectures + touching the grimalkin. Possibly it might be the darling old + friend of Miss Dillon. Then I thought of others--then I slept. + + 'I cannot declare to a second how long my fitful slumber lasted, + before I was startled from my bed by a yell, which proceeded + apparently from a cat in my room. I had just been dreaming of a + great mouser, with ears like a jackass, and claws, armed with long + 'pickers and stingers,' sitting on my bosom, and sucking away my + breath. I sprang at once into the middle of the room. I searched + every where--nothing was in the apartment. Then there rushed + toward the zenith one universal cat-shriek, which went echoing off + on the night-wind like the reverberation of a sharp thunder-peal. + + 'My blood was now _up_ for vengeance. One hungry and fiery wish to + destroy that diabolical caterwauler, took possession of my soul. + At that instant the clock struck one. It was the death knell of + the feline vocalist. I looked out of the window, and in the light + of a stray lot of moonshine, streaming through the tall chimneys + to the south-east, I saw Miss Dillon's romantic favorite, + alternately cooing and fighting with a large mouser of the + neighborhood, that I had seen for several afternoons previous, + walking leisurely along the garden wall, as if absorbed in deep + meditation, and forming some libertine resolve. In fine, they each + seemed saturate with the spirit of the Gnome king, Umbriel, in the + drama, when he + + ----'stalked abroad + Urging the wolf to tear the buffalo.' + + 'The death of one of these noisy belligerents being determined on, + I looked round my room for the tools of retribution. Not a + moveable thing, however, could I discover, save a new pitcher, + which had been sent home that very day, and to which my name and + address were appended on a bit of card. I clutched it with + desperate fury, and pouring into my bowl the water contained in + it, I poised it in my hand for the deadly heave. I had been a + member of a quoit club in the country, and the principles of a + clever throw were familiar to me. I resolved to make the vessel + describe what is called in philosophy a _parabolic curve_, so that + while it knocked out the brains of one combatant, it should + effectually admonish the survivor of the iniquity of his doings. I + approached the window--balanced the pitcher--and then drave it + home. Its reception was acknowledged by a loud, choking squall--a + faint yell of agony, and then a respectful silence. Satisfied that + my pitcher had been broken at the fountain of life, and that the + silent tabby would not soon tune her pipes again, I retired to + bed, and slept with the serenity and comfort of one who is + conscious of having performed a virtuous action. + + 'In the morning, the cat was found 'keeled up' on a bed of pinks, + with her head broken in, and her ancient and venerable whiskers + dabbled in blood. The shattered pitcher lay by her side. The + vessel had done its worst--so had my victim.' + +The story proper, upon the consecutive incidents of which we shall not +touch, closes with the annexed whimsical anecdote: + + 'An anonymous wag not long ago, placed an advertisement in each of + our city journals, signed by an eminent house on the Delaware + wharf, and stating that FIVE HUNDRED CATS were wanted immediately + by the firm. The said firm in the meantime knew nothing of the + matter. + + 'On visiting their counting-house the next morning, the partners + found the streets literally blocked up with enterprising + cat-sellers. Huge negroes were there, each with ten or fifteen + sage, grave tabbies tied together with a string. Old market-women + had brought thither whole families of the feline genus, from the + superannuated _Tom_, to the blind kitten. The air resounded with + the squallings of the quadrupedal multitude. New venders, with + their noisy property, were seen thronging to the place from every + avenue. + + ''What'll you _guv_ me for this 'ere lot?' said a tall shad-woman, + pressing up toward the counting-room. 'The newspapers says you + allows liberal prices. I axes a dollar a piece for the old 'uns, + and five levys for the kittens.' + + ''You have been fooled,' said the chief partner, who appeared with + a look of dismay at the door, and was obliged to speak as loud + amid the din as a sea-captain in a storm. 'I want no cats. I have + no use for them. I could not eat them. I couldn't sell them. I + never advertised for them.' + + 'A decided mendicant, a member of the great family of loafers, + with a red, _bulgy_ nose, and bloated cheeks, who had three cats + tied to a string in his hand, now mounted a cotton bale, and + producing a newspaper, spelt the advertisement through as audibly + as he could under the circumstances, demanding of the assembly as + he closed, 'if that there advertysement wasn't a true bill?' An + unanimous 'Sarting!' echoed through the crowd. Encouraged by the + electric response, the loafer proceeded to make a short speech. He + touched upon the rights of trade, the liberty of the press, the + importance of fair dealing, and the benefits of printing; and + concluded by advising his hearers to go the death for their + rights, and 'not to stand no humbug.' Such was the effect of his + eloquence, that the firm against which he wielded his oratorical + thunder found it necessary to compromise matters by treating the + entire concourse to a hogshead of wine. 'The company separated at + an early hour,' consoled for the loss of their bargains and the + emptiness of their pockets by the lightsomeness of their heads and + hearts.' + +Let us hope that our readers will find, in the entire work from which we +quote, ample reasons for the favor which it is receiving at the hands of +the public. + + + MENTAL HYGIENE: OR AN EXAMINATION OF THE INTELLECT AND PASSIONS. + Designed to illustrate their Influence on Health and the Duration of + Life. By WILLIAM SWEETSER, M. D. In one volume. pp. 270. New-York: J. + AND H. G. LANGLEY. + +This is a work destined, as we can easily foresee, to produce great good. +Its leading design, as its title implies, and as is stated indeed by the +author in his preface, is to elucidate the influence of intellect and +passion upon the health and endurance of the human organization; an +influence which has been but imperfectly understood and appreciated in its +character and importance, by mankind at large. The volume under notice is +divided into two parts. Under the first are considered the intellectual +operations in respect to their influence on the general functions of the +body; under the second is embraced a view of the moral feelings or +passions, in the relation which they also sustain to our physical nature. +Of these a concise definition is offered, with such classification as is +necessary to the leading design of the work. Their effects upon the +different functions of the animal economy are next noticed; and a +description is given of a few of the most important passions belonging to +each of the three great classes; namely, pleasurable, painful and mixed, +into which they are separated; their physical phenomena and individual +influence on the well-being of the human mechanism being closely examined. +A forcible exposition is also given of the evil consequences resulting +from an ill-regulated imagination (acting through the instrumentality of +the passions, morbidly excited by its licentious operation,) to the +firmness of the nervous system, and the integrity of the general health. +The volume is not addressed to any particular class of readers, and being +free from technical expressions, is rendered plain and comprehensive to +all. We commend this volume of Mr. SWEETSER cordially to our readers, +firmly impressed with the belief that the principles which it advances may +be rendered subservient both to the physical and moral welfare of our +countrymen. + + + LIFE IN THE NEW WORLD, BY SEATSFIELD: translated from the German by + GUSTAVUS C. HEBBE, LL. D., and JAMES MACKAY, M.A. New-York: J. + WINCHESTER, 'New World' Press. + +The fourth number of this very remarkable work has been published; and we +have had a fair opportunity of testing the merits of the mysterious +author. The circumstances must now be generally known, under which these +works appear before the public. It appears that MUNDT, a German scholar, +who is publishing a continuation of SCHLEGEL'S History of Literature, has +in his delineations of character given almost unbounded praise to an +American named SEATSFIELD. Among the various works attributed to him are +'Life in the New World,' 'Sea, Sketches,' 'South and North,' 'Virey,' the +'Legitimate,' and others, which are to be issued in rapid succession from +the press of WINCHESTER, 'the indefatigable,' as he may well be called; +for the rapidity with which he sends out to the world the literary +novelties of the day is a theme of public marvel. The German, in which +these volumes are written, is said by competent judges, to be very pure +and powerful: and indeed we may rest assured that if the case were +otherwise, a critic of such high reputation as MUNDT would never have +spoken of SEATSFIELD in such enthusiastic terms. The publisher, we +understand, obtained several of the works from the library of Columbia +College, through the politeness of Professor TELLKAMPT. + +The opinion, which some have expressed, that SEATSFIELD'S books are made +up of stolen selections from different American writers, is unfounded. We +cannot recognize in his style or thought familiar passages; and beside, +there does not appear to be any rational inducement for this species of +plagiarism. It is evident that the writings are indeed what they appear to +be, the genuine productions of an able man. The descriptions of natural +scenery are very graphic. 'The first trip on the Red River,' and the +description of the trappers, is one of the most animated sketches we have +ever read. Our mountains, rivers, cataracts, ocean-lakes, and forests, are +described with the most remarkable spirit and truth.' The translation, we +are informed by the best judges, is extremely faithful. + + + POETRY AND HISTORY OF WYOMING. By WILLIAM L. STONE, Esq. Second + edition, enlarged. New-York: MARK H. NEWMAN. + +This indefatigable laborer in the mine of Indian history continues to +throw off from time to time works upon that subject, which bear the marks +of great industry, patient research, and extensive information, and which +have deservedly given him a high literary reputation as an historical +writer. What has yet appeared we believe is only the beginning of a series +of works relating to Indian annals, which are to be completed as soon as +the author's health, and the duties of an arduous profession, will allow. +From a late honor conferred upon him by one of the remnants of the Six +Nations, in electing him one of their chiefs, by the name of +SA-GO-SEN-O-TA, it seems plain that they highly approve of his efforts to +preserve their history; and it may be considered as endorsing the accuracy +of his investigations. In this light, the honor conferred, though coming +from those whom civilization is crushing beneath its superior intelligence +and power, is valuable and important. The present book takes the poetical +share of its title from the fact that the author has prefixed CAMPBELL'S +celebrated poem, preceded by a sketch of his life, furnished by WASHINGTON +IRVING. 'Gertrude of Wyoming,' though beautiful, and seeming to be a +narrative of real incidents in a poetical dress, is nevertheless a +fiction, albeit founded upon an actual tragedy, whose horrors can hardly +be exaggerated by any pen. It has been the design of our author to record +the real history of the section of country which was stained by this +tragedy, and which for this reason, has a melancholy interest thrown over +its natural charms. + +The history of Wyoming does not commence, as many suppose, with the war of +the American revolution. Long before, the conflict of human passions in +the breast of savage and civilized man had discolored its soil with blood. +During this antecedent period, its aboriginal annals are replete with +incidents, which were greatly multiplied after the civil wars which +disturbed the repose of that secluded valley had begun to be waged between +the rival claimants to the territory from Connecticut and Pennsylvania, +and which for twelve or thirteen years prior to the revolutionary war +present a series of the most stirring events. The author, therefore, in +order to render the history complete, has taken it up before the first +known visit of the white men; of whom, among the earliest, were the +Moravian missionaries. To the honor of these men, be it recorded, that in +this instance, as in others, they plunged into the depths of the forest, +and labored among the savages with a christian zeal and enterprize which +have never been surpassed. The scenes of the revolution, embracing not +only the great massacre in July, 1778, with its frightful horrors, but +also a number of other bloody forays of the Indians upon the white men, +are moreover faithfully described. But after all, perhaps the most +interesting portion of the volume is formed of the narrative of the +services and sufferings of individuals and families. These latter records +are full of those wild and romantic incidents which are peculiar to border +warfare; where the steady courage and determined bravery of the European +appears in deadly conflict with the wiliness, cunning, and sleepless +vengeance of the savage. To say that all this is narrated by the author in +the spirit of accurate history, would be far below the meed of praise that +is due. He has executed this part of the book in a style of animated and +lively description, and with that flowing and finished diction, which can +only be attained when the mind of a writer is perfectly familiar with the +events, and when, by the force of imagination, he becomes himself as it +were an actor instead of a spectator of the scenes which he narrates. + +Additional interest is given to this spot, from the fact, which probably +is not generally known, except to the professed historian, that the +distinguished patriot TIMOTHY PICKERING took up his abode in the valley of +Wyoming, attracted no doubt by its unrivalled beauties, to which he was +first introduced during a military campaign, but which he afterward +contemplated, on the return of peace, with an eye capable of being charmed +by the picturesque in nature. The concluding chapter of the book is +devoted mainly to a spirited account of the abduction of that gentleman, +and his confinement in the wilderness by a gang of ruffians, who, after +trying in vain to bend his soldier-like mind to a compliance with their +violent designs, gave him an ungracious release, and allowed him to return +to his family. Among the papers in the appendix, now first introduced to +the public, will be found a deed of purchase, made from the Indians ninety +years ago, by the Connecticut Land Company, containing the names of some +six hundred of the most wealthy and distinguished people of that State. It +is important as a means of showing the valuation of land at that period, +and a proof that it was acquired by honest purchase. This edition has been +enlarged to the amount of more than one hundred pages of letter-press; an +addition found necessary by the discovery of increased materials by the +author since the publication of the first edition. + +In concluding this brief notice of a work written with decided talent, and +designed to fill an important niche in the early history of this country, +we are bound to thank the author, and to express the hope that he will be +able to finish the historical design which he has sketched, pertaining to +that interesting race, of whom it may be truly said, that 'the hour of +their destiny has already struck.' This volume shows us, that in our own +country may be found topics for literary effort, worthy of employing the +gifted pens of America, without going abroad in quest of subjects, in the +discussion of which we shall long be surpassed by foreigners, on account +of their superior facilities and larger sources of information. As a book +entirely American, we commend it to the reading public, confident that it +will be received with favor wherever it is read, and be considered a +valuable addition to the historical department of every gentleman's +library. + + + A NEW SPIRIT OF THE AGE. By R. H. HORNE. In one volume. New-York: + HARPER AND BROTHERS. + +The Mr. HORNE who stands sponsor for this 'child of many fathers' must not +be confounded with Mr. HARTWELL HORNE, who in a literary point of view is +quite another person. The author of the volume before us, however, with +the aid of sundry fellow _litterateurs_ 'of the secondary formation,' as +CARLYLE phrases it, has collected together quite a variety of materials, +the whole being intended to form a sort of sequel to HAZLITT'S 'Spirit of +the Age,' a brilliant work, to which the present bears slight resemblance. +We quite agree with a contemporary, that it manifests little or no +independence of judgment or originality of thought. 'It is the result of +the labor of many hands, and those not the most skilful or experienced. It +consequently wants that homogenousness of style which one would expect in +a professed imitation of so excellent a model. The highest degree of merit +that can be accorded to it is that of a collection of magazine articles of +second rate merit. It is likely to prove popular with the generality of +readers who do not trouble themselves to dip beneath the surface of +things; but we must caution those who would form a just estimate of the +characters and merits of the distinguished writers whose works are +analyzed in it, that its premises are not always correct nor its +deductions sound.' + + + + +EDITOR'S TABLE. + + +A DAY WITH THE GREAT SEATSFIELD.--The Boston Daily Advertiser recently +divulged, with a most curious air of bewilderment, the name of a new, and +as it seems hitherto unheard-of, ornament to American literature--the +illustrious SEATSFIELD. Illustrious, however, only upon the other side of +the water; for it appears that we Yankee cotton-raisers have somewhat else +to do than to busy our brains about any letters except letters of credit, +or any fame that is not reverberated from abroad. No one, of course, at +all conversant with modern German literature, not even the slightest +skimmer of their late periodical publications, or the most occasional +peruser of the _Allgemeine Zeitung_ or _Dresden Bluthundstaglich_, can +have failed to notice with patriotic pride the gradual but gigantic +progress of this new VOLTAIRE to the highest pinnacle of popular renown. +But, sooth to say, our western world is so overrun with pretenders; there +are so many young gentlemen annually spawned by Yale and Cambridge, who +affect to read German without being able to construe the advertisement of +a Leipsic bookseller; so numerous are the blue-spectacled nymphs who quote +JEAN PAUL betwixt their blanc-mange and oysters, without comprehending +even the outermost rind of its in-meaning; so utterly ignorant are our +so-called literati of any subject beyond the scope of a newspaper, that +the name of SEATSFIELD sounded as strangely in American ears as if he had +lately arrived from Herschel or Georgium Sidus in a balloon. It is true +that some two or three of our eminent scholars, a few travellers, men of +taste, who had wandered by the Rhine, were acquainted with his reputation, +and in some degree with his productions. EMERSON doubtless must have been +aware of his renown; Professor FELTON of course had read him as often as +he has HOMER; JONES, WILKINS, and F. SMITH had studied him with delight. +The 'Dial,' a journal of much repute, had even spoken openly, we are told, +of his success in Europe. Mr. W. E. CHANNING, the poet, had evidently but +perhaps unconsciously imitated his peculiar viscidity of style, and (if we +may use such an expression.) extreme flakiness of thought. But in spite of +these few exceptions to the general indifference, let it stand recorded, +that when the name of SEATSFIELD returned to his own shore, it was an +alien and unmeaning word. His own country, so deeply indebted to his +powerful pen, absolutely knew him not. The literati stared, and the Boston +Advertiser was struck aghast with wonder. What a comment upon the state of +letters in America! 'Literary Emporium,' forsooth! 'Western Athens!' +Medici of Manhattan! how grossly we Yankees do misapply titles! It was the +very 'Literary Emporium' itself that was most astounded at the +newly-discovered mine. SEATSFIELD'S name had overspread civilized Europe; +his productions had been dramatized at Munich and Bucharest; they had been +translated into Russian and Turkish; the Maltese mariner had learned to +solace himself with his 'Twilight Helmsman's Hymn,' and the merchants of +Syra and Beyrout adorned their mansions with his bust; yet Boston, +New-York, and Philadelphia had never heard his name! In the lack of more +minute information with regard to this remarkable man, perhaps the +following page or two from a traveller's journal may prove acceptable to +the public. The absolutely total obscurity of the subject in America, may +also, it is hoped, serve as an apology for the openness of detail and +apparent breach of etiquette in regard to private intercourse. + + * * * * * + +'It has been my fortune to spend a day in company with the man who of all +men has done the most to illustrate our manners and character; yet who, +strange to say, is less known than 'Professor' INGRAHAM. As it was then my +fortune to speak _with_ him; I now consider it my duty to speak _of_ him, +and to do what little I am able, to extend his name among his compatriots. + +'In the spring of the year previous to this, or to be exact, in April, +1843, I found myself at Berlin. My friend, Mr. CARLYLE, of London, had +given me a letter to THEODORE MUNDT, and I had learned soon after my +arrival that this distinguished man was in town. I had consequently looked +over my letters, after dinner, and had selected the one addressed to +MUNDT, and laid it under a little plaster bust of SCHILLER that stood just +over the stove, in the room where I dined. In the evening I walked into +the _Ermschlagg Buchzimmer_.[2] Several students were making annotations +from huge volumes, and many grave, pale gentlemen were turning over the +reviews and periodicals of the day. Among these I recognized an Englishman +whom I had fallen in with at Cologne but parted with at Heidelberg. He had +been in Berlin three days before me, and I was truly glad to meet with an +acquaintance even of so recent a date, to whom I could apply for +information or advice as to the best way of seeing the lions. While I was +whispering to him, a grim-visaged old Teuton looked up at us with a stern +frown, and my friend observed, 'We must retire into the _Sprechensaale_, +or conversation-room.' As soon as we had entered this adjoining apartment, +to the evident satisfaction of the aforesaid grim Teuton, I observed a +tall, thin man, of angular and wiry aspect, see-sawing his body in front +of the stove, toward which he had turned his back, as he stood in +apparently deep cogitation. 'You don't know who that is,' quoth my friend; +'there is _one_ of the lions, to begin with. I found out his name this +morning: that is THEODORE MUNDT.' Struck as I was with the stranger's +aspect, which appeared to me altogether American, I stared at him till he +suddenly raised his dark eyes, and fixed them on mine. To disembarrass +myself from my seeming rudeness as politely as possible, I bowed to his +gaze, and said inquiringly: 'I have the honor to address Mr. MUNDT?' + + [2] A new public library and reading-room in Berlin. + +''You have the _luck_,' he said, 'but the honor is _his_.' + +''Honors are even, then,' said I, as brusquely as I dared; and of all +animals a traveller is the most impudent. 'I have in my pocket,' I +continued, 'a letter for you from my friend CARLYLE.' At the name of +CARLYLE he raised his hands in surprise, then rubbed them with delight, +and began to eulogise his friend. + +'All this while I was fumbling in my pocket for my letter, when suddenly +it flashed over me that I had put it under the bust in the tavern. I grew +confused for a moment, and then as Mynheer MUNDT held out his hand for the +letter, I burst into a laugh, and confessed that I had left my letter at +home. MUNDT looked very serious, and quoted from Othello, 'That is a +fault;' and then from Macbeth, 'To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow.' +I thought there was a little affectation in this; perhaps it was merely +complimentary; but the immediate result of our imperfect acquaintance was, +that I made bold to introduce my friend to MUNDT, who invited us both to +his rooms to supper. On our way thither, as we passed the _Brunswik +Gasthaus_, where I lodged, I stepped in to procure my letter, and MUNDT +appeared rejoiced to hear directly from his 'very _fine_ friend' CARLYLE, +as he queerly styled him. + +'I should feel that I was venturing on forbidden ground were I to reveal +more of what passed between us that evening. There was some drawing of +corks and some puffing of Hamburg-made Cheroots, which MUNDT declared to +be genuine Oriental; there was a ham of Westphalia, and a bit of La +Gruyere. But with all this we have nothing to do. I fear that I have +already made my preface too long. Enough be it then to say, that MUNDT +first revealed to me on this occasion (I am ashamed to own it) the name +and talents of our countryman SEATSFIELD. How enthusiastic he was I will +not describe; but his enthusiasm could only be equalled by his surprise +that I was not familiar with his writings. + +'On the next day MUNDT gave me a letter to SEATSFIELD, directed to him at +Basle, in Switzerland, near which he owns a beautiful villa. I did not +find him at Basle, however, and I proceeded to Milan without delivering my +letter. On my return from Italy, I happened to learn that SEATSFIELD was +at Graffenburg in Silesia; and although it was forty leagues from my +purposed route I encountered the delay, out of mere curiosity of seeing so +distinguished a man. This time I was not disappointed. One day only I +spent at Graffenburg, but that day was sufficient to fill me with a truly +German (I wish I could say American) admiration of my countryman. +Graffenburg, it should be remarked, is the famous scene of Doctor +PRIESSNITZ'S wonderful hydropathic cures. Being there only for a single +day, I did not think it best to submit in all points to the cold water +treatment; neither did SEATSFIELD, for I noticed that he mixed two +table-spoonfuls of gin with every gill of cold water. SEATSFIELD is a man +of about middle-age, with a penetrating eye, and rather a good form, +though not unusually muscular. His face bears a remarkable resemblance to +the pictures of NUMA POMPILIUS; the benign smile of each is the same. His +chin is round and full, although partially concealed by a slight beard; +his nose, which is of a truly German outline, is marked by the 'dilated +nostril of genius;' and his whole aspect is that of a thorough man of the +world. I will continue my reminiscence by extracting verbatim a page or so +from my imperfect, though as far as it goes, authentic diary. I am +convinced however that his remarks will lose much from the want of his +pointed manner of enunciation. His English was faultless, and he spoke as +well as if he had never been out of America. Very few Americans indeed, +and no British-Islanders, talk so correct and chaste a dialect. + + +EXTRACT FROM MY JOURNAL. + + _Graffenburg, July 4_, 1844. + +'I was very fortunate, they tell me, to find SEATSFIELD in so +companionable a mood. He appeared in high spirits, and was exceedingly +conversible. The glorious return of our national anniversary had a visible +effect upon him. I presented my letter to him last evening, but he was +weary, and retired early. When I first met him in the Upper Bath-room +Walk, this morning, he congratulated me upon the brightness and brilliancy +of the day. 'You have much to be thankful for, Sir,' he observed; 'the day +is perfectly American. Just such a sun as this is now dawning upon +Broadway and the Battery. The sound of India-crackers and the pleasant +smell of lobsters is already perceptible to the senses of the awakening +Manhattanese.' + +'Boston, too, my native city,' I observed, 'is also alive to the holiday +influences. Boston Common I dare say is already white with tents, and the +fragrant commerce of the booths is just commencing on the Mall.' + +SEATSFIELD: 'Yes, Sir; but Boston and Philadelphia both fail in developing +the true character-stamp-work (_character-stampfen-werk_) of the day. To +see the Fourth of July in its glory, one should visit New-York. To my +senses, which are uncommonly acute, there is a peculiar smell about the +Fourth of July in New-York, which differs in toto from that of any other +holiday.' + +'In Boston we also have the perfume of lobsters and egg-pop blended with +that of orange-peel and pine-apple----' + +SEATSFIELD: 'That, Sir, is but a feeble rationale of the New-York savor. I +have often, in a jocose mood, amused myself with analyzing this odor. I +have resolved it into the following elements: lobsters, gunpowder, +trampled-grass, wheel-grease, and cigars. It is mainly to these +ingredients, grafted upon the other ordinary city smells, that I attribute +the Fourth of July smell.' + +'There is one that you have failed to detect; namely, a faint whiff of +barn-yards, owing I presume to the strong prevalence of farmers and other +rustics from the surrounding country.' SEATSFIELD smiled at this, and +acknowledged, in a laughing way, an occasional intimation of manure. +'Graffenburg,' I observed, 'is remarkably free from all strong odors; it +is a very clean village.' + +SEATSFIELD: 'That, Sir, is owing to the water: depend upon it, wherever +water prevails neatness will ensue. Temperance and cleanliness go hand in +hand. The ancients were a filthy race, and they were great wine-bibbers. +What a condition of personal and mental nastiness is divulged by HORACE in +his 'Iter ad Brundusium;' yet HORACE was a choice specimen of a Roman +gentleman.' + +'Have you had any poets among you here? or is the hydropathic system too +repugnant to their art?' + +SEATSFIELD: 'Our countryman, LONGFELLOW, was here not long since. I sat at +table with him frequently; but never introduced myself to him.' + +'Do you think highly of his powers?' + +SEATSFIELD: 'As a prolific generator of novel life-images, no; but as a +vivid delineator of the inner-thought principle, as an artistical +displayer of the higher subjective mood, he is of the very first class. I +honor LONGFELLOW.' + +'He is perhaps our smoothest versifier, next to HALLECK.' + +SEATSFIELD: 'Nay, he is the only one among us who can combine extreme +polish and the utmost facility of flow with deep-seated reflection.' +SEATSFIELD then quoted, with a sublime energy, from the celebrated 'Psalm +of Life:' + + ''Not enjoyment and not sorrow + Is our destined end or way, + But to act, that each to-morrow + Find us farther than to-day. + + 'In the world's broad field of battle, + In the bivouac of life, + Be not like dumb driven cattle, + Be a hero in the strife. + + 'Trust no Future, howe'er pleasant, + Let the dead Past, bury its dead; + Act, act in the glorious Present, + Heart within and GOD o'er head.'' + +'You give the poet a great advantage,' I said, 'in quoting his very finest +production, and picking out the choicest stanzas. Beside, his theme here +is one of so general a nature, and so familiar to philosophy, that it +would be hard for any one to moralize upon it in verse without +accidentally hitting upon some sublimity. The commonest intellect has +lofty and awful thoughts whenever it gives way to serious meditation upon +our mortality.' + +SEATSFIELD: 'That is partly true; but LONGFELLOW is not only great upon +that ground. His realm is very extensive. No man has the power (had he +only the will) of depicting the simplicity of every-day life and objects +with more grace or comprehensiveness. There are some touches in his +'Village Blacksmith' inexpressibly beautiful, and worthy of BURNS' +'Cotter's Saturday Night:' + + 'His hair is crisp and black and long, + His face is like the tan; + His brow is wet with honest sweat, + He earns whate'er he can,' etc. + +And then again: + + 'He goes on Sunday to the Church, + And sits among the boys; + He hears the parson pray and preach, + He hears his daughter's voice + Singing in the gallery, + And it makes his heart rejoice.' + +SEATSFIELD repeated these verses with much emotion; and I observed that a +tear stood upon his lids. I therefore turned the conversation upon +hydropathy, and introduced a quotation from PINDAR: [Greek: ariston men +hydor], _etc._ + +SEATSFIELD: 'PINDAR, Sir, has expressed a great truth; but I think that +PIERPONT has expressed it better. In his exquisite 'Ode on the Opening of +the Marlborough Temperance-House' how beautifully he says, after speaking +in regard to the virtues of cold water: + + 'Oh! had EVE'S hair + Been dressed in gin, + Would she have been + Reflected fair?' + +'And then, after describing the beauty of Eden, with its rills and +pellucid brooks bubbling through the fresh meads, he goes on: + + 'Are not pure springs + And chrystal wells + The very things + For our Hotels?' + +'That, Sir, is excellent, and the somewhat homely imagery only enhances in +my mind the truth of the sentiment. PIERPONT, Sir, is a very great man.' + +'As great as LONGFELLOW?' + +SEATSFIELD: 'No, Sir, perhaps not; there is a considerable difference of +calibre between them. I should say now that LONGFELLOW was a first-rate +artist with a second-rate imagination, and that PIERPONT was only a +second-rate artist with a first-rate fancy. There is no mistake in +PIERPONT.' + +I smiled at SEATSFIELD'S affectation of Americanisms, as if out of +compliment to myself, or in honor of the day; and I rejoined: 'There may +be no mistake in PIERPONT, but there is one or two in LONGFELLOW.' + +SEATSFIELD: 'Grammatical or prosodiacal?' + +'Neither; but in the beginning of his 'Psalm of Life,' he says: + + 'Tell me not in mournful numbers + Life is but an empty dream; + For the soul is dead that slumbers, + And things are not what they seem.' + +'Here he evidently meant things _are_ what they seem; for in the next +stanza he goes on to say: + + 'Life is real, life is earnest, + And the grave is not its goal; + 'Dust thou art, to dust returnest,' + Was not written of the soul.' + +Consequently, if life _is_ real and earnest, and the soul is incapable of +mortality, things _must be_ what they seem, and the soul _cannot_ be dead +that slumbers. And if the soul _is_ dead that slumbers, and things are +_not_ really what they seem to be, life _is_ indeed an empty dream.' +SEATSFIELD looked puzzled at this. + +SEATSFIELD: 'You are somewhat hypercritical. Great thoughts must not be +trimmed to the exact dialect of business-men. LONGFELLOW reveals important +truths; he utters what is pent within him from the impulse of utterance: +he tells us that 'Art is long and Time is fleeting;' now some arts are not +long, and time often drags heavily. It will not do to be too precise in +poetry.' + +'But is that sentiment original? Does not one of the ancients say, '_Ars +longa, vita brevis_?' and does not that come pretty near to LONGFELLOW'S +idea?' + +SEATSFIELD: 'Yes, Sir, but that is a little criticism which picks out +words. LONGFELLOW, or yourself, or any other man, would have arrived at +the same conclusion, even had the ancient author never written it.' + + * * * * * + +'We were here interrupted by a call to luncheon; and I take advantage of +the break in my journal, to bring this article to a close. More of the +SEATSFIELDIANA I reserve for another number, provided the public are not +already glutted.' + + +MAGAZINE WRITING.--We know not how we can better evince our appreciation +of the kind and flattering comments of a Southern correspondent, who will +at once recognize our allusion, than by citing the somewhat kindred +remarks of an old and favorite contributor, now passed away from earth. It +was a pleasing matter, he said, to sit down with the proper afflatus +stirring within him, to write an article for a Magazine. 'If the work has +a general prevalence; if its fame is rife on good men's tongues, the +inspiration is the stronger. One says to himself, how many friends of mine +will overlook these very lucubrations, perceive my initials, and recognize +my name? How many pleasing associations will thus be awakened, and +peradventure commendatory remarks expressed, concerning my powers? What a +_quid pro quo_ for wakeful nights, emendations of phrases, the choosing of +words, and toilsome revision! The other day,' he continues, 'while reading +the proof-sheet of my article in the last KNICKERBOCKER, I fell into a +train of reflection upon the large amount of care and labor which must be +entailed upon the publisher and editor of an original Magazine. Some one +has observed, that when we listen to an exquisite opera, or any elaborate +and intricate piece of music, we think not how vast were the pains and +attention bestowed upon every note and cadence; what efforts for +perfection in a solo, what panting for a warble, what travail for a trill! +Taken separately, and at rehearsals, in disjointed fragments of sound, how +different are they from that volume of sweet concords which is produced +when they are all breathed forth in order, to the accompaniment of flutes +and recorders, in one full gush of melody! This is just like a Magazine. +How many minds does it engage! Cherished thoughts and cherished feelings, +polished or sublimated, there find utterance, and demand that honor and +deference to which they are entitled. In his beautiful Introduction to the +Harleian Miscellany, JOHNSON sets forth the necessity and benefit of +similar writings, with reasons as conclusive as the language in which they +are expressed is chaste and strong. In a country like ours, where the vast +population move by common impulse; think promptly, are enlightened with +ease, and turn to the best account that knowledge which is received with +the greatest facility; are inspired with sacred and patriotic feelings +from the bar, the senate, the pulpit, and the press; it is important and +just that the readiest methods and means of instructive moral amusement +should be the most esteemed and the best supported. I confess I never look +into a Magazine, that I do not liken it to a large and pure reservoir of +refreshing waters; derived from many streams, and prankt around its +borders with the flowers and garniture of poesy; possessing qualities +agreeable to every taste--the grave, the solid, the scientific, the light, +the gay. It is a map of the higher moods of life. It conveys a sustenance +with the relish of pleasure. All who favor it with their productions have +different tastes and faculties of mind. Each one endeavors to do the best +with his theme. He ornaments it in diction, or tasks his fancy, or +explores the secrets of science, or illustrates the events and scenes of +his country: he excites broad-mouthed laughter, by salutary jest and pun; +he expatiates in pathetic sentences, or murmurs in the mellow cadence of +song; or arouses interest by the embellishments wherewith history is +refined, and which shed a light over the dim annals of the past, making +them to smile, + + ----'even as the radiant glow, + Kindling rich woods, whereon the etherial bow + Sleeps lovingly awhile.' + +'Now what I thought beside, while looking over my proof, was this: that a +'circulating medium,' through which so many minds communicated their +thoughts, produced and clothed with befitting language in solitary labor; +smoothed, strengthened, or harmonized by revision, and rendered impressive +by those helps and researches of which every _readable_ writer must avail +himself; such a medium, I say, merits the esteem and respect of all. It +deserves not to be taken up for judgment, at a momentary glance, by the +undiscerning eye of careless inquiry. It should be read impartially, and +spoken of, in all worthy points, with praise; in faulty ones, with +tenderness. Our literature, I take it, is not yet a sufficiently flowery +pursuit, to enable any of its votaries to sow its walks with brambles. By +its influence, _the country_ is to be mentally illustrated; the clanking +shackles of transatlantic humbug are to be thrown off; and the +establishment of wholesome feelings, and reliance upon our own +intellectual resources, firmly effected. I love to see the general press +engaged now and then in cheering onward the laborers in the more +unfrequented and toilsome avenues of our literary vineyard. It sends a +GOD-speed to the bosoms of those whose travails are more for their country +than themselves; and who are content, in anonymous pride, to believe, that +it heralds that bright day of mental refinement which will ere long, among +the freest and noblest confederacy of nations on earth, irradiate the +utmost borders of that holy circumference, + + 'Our Native Land!' + + +A THRUST WITH A TWO-EDGED WEAPON.--We rather incline to the opinion that +the 'complainant below' is infringing the law which forbids the use of +concealed weapons; that are not the less to be guarded against, certainly, +when as in the present case they cut both ways. But our readers shall +judge: DEAR EDITOR: The country, strange as it may appear, has peculiar +and permanent inhabitants; neither dressing in skins, nor wearing their +own feathers, but habited after the glimpses of fashion which reach them +through their trees. As we have never yet met with a man who was so +fortunate as to have no relations, we take it for granted that all +city-zens, yourself among the rest, have country-cousins. Think of the +countless multitudes that turn their longing eyes in the direction of a +metropolis like this, yearning for a visit, and sending off by frequent +_Opportunities_, never by mail, those remarkable epistolary compounds of +hopes and wants which no other race of beings can compose in perfection: +'Hope JOHN is well, and BETSEY will come and see us next summer; and +want'--LAWSON and STEWART! what do they _not_ want? Every thing; from +twenty yards of silk down to a penny's-worth of tape. The letters run +somewhat in this guise, though less poetically: + + 'Cousin John, please to send down to-morrow, + At eight, by the Scarborough mail, + 'Claudine, or the Victim of Sorrow,' + Don Juan, two mops and a pail; + Six ounces of Bohea from TWINING'S, + A peg-top, a Parmesan cheese, + Some rose-colored sarcenet, for linings, + A stew-pan, and STEVENSON'S Glees; + A song ending 'Hey-noni-noni,' + A chair with a cover of chintz, + A mummy dug up by BELZONI, + A skein of white worsted from FLINT'S.' + +Half the things that are sent for, they might buy at their own doors. +Again and again we have known them put in commission and procure from an +oppressed relative the identical productions of a manufactory within a +mile of them. A singular virtue seems to abide in all that comes from the +sunny side of Broadway. + +'You perhaps may not know what an OPPORTUNITY is. In love affairs you have +undoubtedly experienced that it is every thing; but in rural affairs it is +more. It is the common-carrier of a village. So soon as an inhabitant has +expressed his intention of going to town, he becomes an Opportunity, and +like a Chinese, liable to pains and penalties for leaving his native +place. From every quarter pour in letters, bundles, and packages, which +are to be carried with care and delivered with despatch. No thanks for his +trouble, if they should reach their destination, and a general liability +for the uncertain value of their contents if they should chance to be +lost. So that an Opportunity's advent in town ought to be announced in +this way: 'Arrived, HIRAM DOOLITTLE, from Connecticut, with m'dze to +LEGION AND COMPANY.' The Opportunity not only transports, but acts as +General Agent. Commissions are given him for a return freight. Hats, +coats, dresses, are much wanted, which he is expected to select with +taste, and to purchase cheap. Even the labyrinth of houses does not +protect him from the Argus eyes of his consignees. They seek him out and +insist upon his turning himself into a United States' mail and a HARNDEN'S +express. It is not a week since we heard a consignee's friend's friend +request an Opportunity to carry home a loaf of sugar to his country +correspondent. + +'Perhaps, Friend KNICK., we are wounding your feelings all this time, +tender by reason of many cousins and commissions; but we can assure you +that we have an infinite respect for all relationship, and are rather +blessed than bored by the requisitions of our own rural branches. We +trust, however, that your rustic kith and kin do not come upon your house +in the spring, in shoals like the shad. Unhappy editor, if it be so; for +until the day predicted by ALPHONSE KARR, when connexions shall be cooked +and _cotelettes d'oncle a la Bechamel_ and _tetes de cousin en tortue_ +shall smoke lovingly upon the table, there is nothing for you but to +submit to your Fates, or to give up your house-keeping. But with country +cozens, those provincials who are not bone of your bone, and who +nevertheless at every visit to town call upon you with an eager look and +covetous smile, as if to say, 'Ask us to dinner, we once invited you to +tea,' there is but one method to pursue; the cut--the firm, unwavering, +direct cut. Do not pretend not to see them, or to look fixedly in another +direction, but give them the vacant, absent stare, as if you saw around +them, and through them, and the image before you excited neither attention +nor recollection. There are no terms to be kept with them. Their +Shibboleth is not yours. + +'In the 'Absentee,' a London fashionable lady, Mrs. DAZEVILLE, goes to +Ireland, and is hospitably received by Lady CLONBRONY, stays a month at +her country-house, and is as intimate with Lady CLONBRONY and her niece +Miss NUGENT, as possible; and yet when Lady CLONBRONY comes to London, +never takes the least notice of her. At length, meeting at the house of a +common friend, Mrs. DAZEVILLE cannot avoid recognizing her, but does it in +the least civil manner possible: 'Ah, Lady CLONBRONY! Did not know you +were in England! How long shall you stay in town? Hope before you leave +England you will give us a day.' Lady CLONBRONY is so astonished at this +ingratitude, that she remains silent; but Miss NUGENT answers quite +coolly, and with a smile: 'A day? certainly, to you who gave us a month.' +Miss EDGEWORTH evidently considers this a capital story; and we have no +doubt that many stupid people who have read it consider it an excellent +hit; but we can assure them that they know nothing of the woods and +fields. It is a great favor to make people in the country a visit. It +relieves them from the tiresome monotony of their rose-bushes and +chickens; and by the active exertions in planning breakfasts and dinners, +and making the one ride through the valley last for three afternoons, +infuses if possible a certain degree of mental activity into their lives, +which must be far from disagreeable to them. A cit too is in a certain +degree a lion. The oldest town-jokes are as new in the country as last +year's ribbons; and the neighbors gather together to view with delight a +face that they have not seen every Sunday for the last fifty-two weeks, +and are only too happy to engage the Novelty at a 'Tea.' But when they +come to town, what can you do with them? Who the devil wants to see them? +Your friends care little enough for you, still less for your agricultural +acquaintances. You cannot bring yourself to go to PEALE'S Museum, or to +see the talking-machine; and tickets at the opera are dear, unless you +stand up. As we said before, you must cut them, or + + 'If you are a little man, + Not big enough for that,' + +you must try to have them arrested as soon as they arrive, as disturbers +of domestic peace, and confined in the Tombs during the whole of their +intended stay. If the Legislature sat in New-York instead of in a _country +city_, they would pass some law similar to the South Carolina free-black +law, confining all rural visitors, or at least making those liable to an +indictment for false pretences, who claim acquaintance with the 'people of +the whirlpool.' + +'If it were only for once, one might ask all his _rats des champs_ to meet +one another at a Tea. This might be amusing, if the jest did not grow +painful by repetition. There is no reciprocity in your dealings with such +invitees. You will probably never again reach their Siberian settlement, +whereas they come to town three times a year! It is not fair. It is a base +cheat. How can they be so ungenerous and illiberal as to accuse you of +neglect and ingratitude for not cultivating them when in the city? They +might as well abuse you for not having a green-house! This doctrine of +ours is so clearly reasonable, that all people of any breeding admit its +truth, and act accordingly. You may stay a week at a country-seat, and +need make no acknowledgments of any kind to the owner thereof in his +town-house; whereas a dinner in the city is a debt of honor, which must be +paid. This is a well settled law. Not that your obligation is by any means +cancelled. It is not dead, but dormant. Next summer you will feel deep +gratitude for the kindness you received during the last; but no such +indebtedness is payable in urbanity. GEORGE SELWYN met in St. +James-street, London, a man whom he had known very well in Bath, and +passed steadily by him without a look of recognition. His acquaintance +followed him, and said: 'Sir, you knew me very well in Bath.' 'Well, Sir,' +replied SELWYN, 'in Bath I may possibly know you again.' Farewell. + + +ANOTHER 'PELLET' FROM JULIAN.--Not a word is necessary by way of +introduction to the ensuing passages from an epistle lately received from +our esteemed friend and correspondent JULIAN. Happy husband of a happy +wife and happier mother! Happy father! may his joy never be less: 'We are +in the country! When you write this way, say 'To the care of ---- ----, +Esq.', for we are designedly three miles from post-offices and newsboys. I +have given warning that if any of the latter come within my grounds with +his French things, I will souse him in the river, and hold him there till +he shall be thoroughly chilled into a dislike of these parts. You will +readily imagine why we are here. The excitements and distractions of city +life for the last few months were too much for us, and there are some +things that can only be enjoyed apart from the world. Here, we subside +gradually and gracefully from that high and tense delirium from which I at +least made my aerials, always coming back, however, to young JULIAN; who, +by the way, is another occasion for country life, as I have great faith in +first impressions, and I wish his to be bright and beautiful. Heaven +preserve him from all darker colors; from the doubts, the glooms, the +moral mistiness of your city atmosphere! Let no fog come between him and +the bright sky, till he has well discovered that there is a heaven beyond, +where there is neither cloud nor shadow, and up to which not one grain of +all this dust and filth of the earth's whirling shall ever reach. It is +quite enough that we are in sight and hearing of your great Babels; the +jarring of their daily strife and the smoke of their torments. A lively +and dashing river rolls between us, going off at a hand-gallop among rocky +islands, over which we see their spires pointing up like electric-rods to +avert the wrath that might otherwise descend upon them; and mingling with +the dash of waters, we hear now and then their petty alarms, their +steamers and fire-bells, and the dozen other occasions upon which they see +fit to make a great noise in the world; but the travelled sound has a +courtliness that is rather pleasant than otherwise; and as a key-note to +our mocking-birds, it is quite worthy of the sweet south that brings it +up. Whenever there is any sudden ebullition that cannot be pared down to +the common air, we are made aware of it by a cannonading that is doubtless +very considerable down there, but for any thing so ambitiously meant, it +sounds here very miserable; a wretched attempt at notoriety, of which the +most noticeable is the smoke of their powder. And so with all their +sky-flourishing and rocketing, which we look at as at a falling star; +pretty, no doubt, but not in our way. Every morning a railroad train +starts out, and approaching within a mile, disappears among the hills with +a slight buzzing and squibbing, like the fly on the window; and then after +it has gone, as we suppose, there is another squib, very smart and +snappish, and we hear nothing more of it till the train comes down, frets +a little again as it passes by, and goes on to discharge its contents in +the great city. To all these things we say, 'Pass on!' the world is +various, and must be amused; but for us, we respectfully withdraw. We have +had enough of the intense; we now welcome the trifling, appropriating +however as much of the serious as we care to admit in our still life. When +the Sabbath comes round, there are seven bells that reach us, each with +its separate voice; and these, with falling waters, and the morning +incense going up from the hill-sides, are as much of 'mass' as we care to +have in our worship. But we have a ready ear for all sweet sounds, and +need no glasses to appreciate the beautiful. Sunrise and sunset; the +grouping of clouds; the blue haze that now and then lies on the landscape, +all one with my cigar-smoke; and the storms and lightnings of the young +summer, so spitefully beautiful; all these, with whatever of glory there +may be in the still watches of the night, find their place in our +picture-gallery; but we leave them as GOD made them, and add no tint to +their coloring. + +'You are aware that the sun rises as per almanac. This is common; and so +common, so much an every-day affair, that he gets very little credit +therefor; and yet, that he will rise with great exactness, aside from all +human calculation, and go on traversing the sky with a wonderful +regularity that nothing can stop, is a very pleasant fact touching the +prospect of to-morrow; and so also, that every thing in nature will be +wrought with marvellous beauty and harmonies of sound; and oh! most +satisfactory of all, there will still be an air that properly inhaled +fills the _heart_ as well as the lungs. It is from a calm consideration of +this fact, that we have done with the _eagerness_ of pleasure. No daily +counting of hours to see that all have been properly brimmed; no grasping +at a dozen things at once; no draining of the very dregs, lest that may be +the last bottle, and we die to-morrow. But thankful as we are for +to-morrow, and especially grateful for to-day, we don't care for +noon-marks. We have kept no count lately, and for aught we know, Time may +have stopped, but probably not. He is doubtless somewhere about, but we +take no particular notice. Our watches have run down, and we care not to +wind them again. The hours, if there are any, are all golden, and we have +no occasion to note the passage one to the other; or if we start them, +just to see the motion, they run on diamonds of the purest water; but +mostly, whether it be morn, or mid-day, or the starry night, Sabbath or +week-day, it is all one--all beautiful. Does it rain? It is quite proper. +The earth needs it, no doubt, and it will look the more grateful therefor. +Does it shine? Why then the birds will sing, and if they will come a +little nearer, we will teach them that charming air from the last opera. +Does a new star come out in heaven, or an old one disappear? The one will +be an added glory, and the other not much missed; but they will little +concern our astronomy. Expect no more rhapsodies, my friend, unless it be +upon the wonderful ease with which every thing can be done without them. +That we find all things pleasant, is the extent of our poetry. It is +pleasant to wake; it is pleasant to sleep; it is pleasant to wake and +sleep again; pleasant to watch the opening lid, and pleasant the smile +that follows it; pleasant are kind words and tones, the touch of hands, +and the touch of lips; the breath of flowers and those that love them; +pleasant are the thousand infinitesimals, like the motes of the sun-beam, +not less bright because of their minuteness; and pleasant the thought that +sufficient as this heaven may be, there is another one above. And +doubtless it is pleasant to breathe as usual, and feel the heart send +round its currents with a touch of joy; but oh, pleasanter than all, to +have no sigh or throb, to remind you that that breath must one day stop, +and that warm blood turn cold. Oh! in the 'time' that is set apart 'for +all things,' may heaven look kindly on and count these trifling hours! + +'Shall we ever leave this charming retreat? Certainly not, while these +things last; but it is not impossible that we may return with the cold +weather. Meanwhile, I have made a chalk-mark about the grounds, and as yet +nothing with a bite or sting has passed over it. Mrs. JULIAN, as she now +insists upon being called, has become highly contemplative; and if I did +not know that she was never so happy before, I should think her sometimes +a little sad; she is so quiet, so demure, and so eternally bewitched with +that boy! Why Sir, she will sit for half a day over the fellow, amusing +herself and him with I know not what varieties and wonders of invention; +with lullabies and ditties and homoeopathies of language; and if he +condescend to sleep for a few moments, how divinely still must every thing +be! What infinite care is there in pinning the screen; what fortifications +are built round about him; and what a world of protection in every +movement! And then, when all is complete, she must still sit there, with +that strange upward look which she has acquired lately, seeming to reach +quite beyond the stars. She is a strange woman! Yesterday, having dined +rather late, I happened to forget myself for a few moments on the lounge; +and on waking, I found her kneeling before me, and looking up in my face +with an expression that to me is peculiarly embarrassing; not the quick, +joyous look, followed as quickly by the touch of lips; not that, but +something quite indescribable. Perhaps I am not as considerate as I ought +to be on such occasions, for doubtless she knows what she would be at, but +I confess I do not. Indeed, she is constantly bringing out new points and +flourishes, which to me are all vowels of the Hebrew; no doubt very sweet +and musical, and certainly very necessary to the sense of the reading, but +they are past all finding out. When she dazzles me with these brilliants, +I sometimes reply in the Tartar, and so we are quits. + +'Young JULIAN developes slowly. He has smiled once or twice, but in a +manner so precocious, that it would be alarming, if he were at all +delicate. Fortunately he is not. His utterance as yet is quite +unintelligible, though no doubt he has his meaning. To Mrs. JULIAN it is +all poetry. '_Poeta nascitur_' may be quite true, but if he rhymes, which +is quite possible to her ear, I am constrained to think that it is +entirely accidental. I hope, at least, that he is not so viciously gifted. +. . . HAVE I told you that she refuses a nurse, and that too pretty +sharply? Well, that is not all; I can hardly touch the boy myself. She is +so afraid I shall crush it! My raptures, she says, are not becoming; she +even says that I 'frighten the child!' But she is the strangest of women! +Last night, happening to wake some time in the small hours, I heard a +slight noise in the room, and emerging from a dream, in which I remembered +to have heard a good deal of crying and hushing, I listened intently for +some moments, but couldn't for my life guess what it could be. There was +nothing moving in the room, and the sound appeared to arise from some slow +and uniform movement, so that it couldn't be the wind on the shutters; and +if the mocking-birds had been sufficiently awake to swing, as they +sometimes do, they would certainly have dropped a word or two, for they +are great talkers. Now I often hear bells, fire-arms, and exclamations, +and very often hear my name called, and questions asked, to which I reply +in due form, all which I _know_ at the time to be imaginary; but this +sound, though it seemed to be familiar, I couldn't make out. I was so +drowsy, however, that I had half a mind to consider it a dream; but then +what if any thing should happen? I should be responsible. Rising, +therefore, very carefully, not to disturb Mrs. J., I discovered by the +shaded light on the table that she was quite sound asleep; but what was +wonderful, her right arm, outside the bed, was moving up and down with the +regularity of a pendulum! What the deuce was all that? Well, Sir, I bent +over breathlessly, and found she was pulling at a string! And what, O +EDITOR! who ought to know every thing, what do you think she was pulling? +Why, Sir, she was pulling at young JULIAN'S cradle. She was rocking the +baby in her sleep! Oh!' + + * * * * * + +Apropos of 'the baby': an agreeable correspondent, from whom we shall be +happy to hear 'frequently if not oftener,' intimates to us that our friend +JULIAN, when the 'lactiferous animalcule' whose advent into this breathing +world he lately described in such glowing terms, shall have reached a more +mature babyhood, may find occasion to 'change the paternal note;' and he +cites for us the following passage, from an essay by a sometime +contributor to the KNICKERBOCKER, 'in justification of his fears:' + + 'In my bachelor visitations to my married friends, I have often + chuckled over the bashfulness, contending with love, which + distinguishes the YOUNG FATHER. In the pride of his heart, + perhaps, when his little man has first given evidence of that + degree of mental exertion called 'taking notice,' he clasps the + crowing baby in his arms; he rests its lily feet upon his knees; + he endures with philosophic patience all the 'gouging,' and + pulling, and kicking, with which the young hero may testify his + triumph; and while the young mother stands by, her eyes beaming + with mingled love and pride, he becomes warmer in his romps; makes + faces, as the nerveless fingers of the little one seek, with more + earnestness, his eyes, or pull with a greater effort at his lips; + and amid screams of laughter, he chases the flying hours, until at + length a 'pale cast of thought' flits over the baby's face, like a + cloud in a summer sky. This is the signal for immediate + seriousness. The father grows grave--then frightened. He raises + him gently from his lap, and with a single exclamation of 'Take + him mother!' consigns the precious charge to her arms, and darting + a hasty glance at his 'pants' he walks in silence from the room. + Nor do we bachelors always escape with impunity. Anxious to win a + smile from some fond mother, more than one of us may have dared to + approach, with a kiss, the hallowed lips of her darling. But mark + the quick wing of vengeance! Darting from its lurking place in the + mouth, out flies the little doubled fist, and slams a + well-beslabbered biscuit into the face of the intruder. He + recoils, with his 'reeking honors fresh upon him,' and the little + squab coos in triumph at his failure.' + + +NATIONAL ACADEMY OF DESIGN.--The growing interest felt in relation to the +Fine Arts in this country, and the influence which the NATIONAL ACADEMY OF +DESIGN has had in producing that interest, make it imperative upon us to +notice the pictures which are annually sent to this exhibition. In passing +through the Academy with this object in view, we have been at some loss to +know where to begin. Finding however by chance at the end of the catalogue +an alphabetical arrangement of the exhibitors' names, we have adopted this +as the best method of laying the merits of the several pictures before our +readers. We therefore begin with: + +V. G. AUDUBON, A.--Mr. AUDUBON exhibits four pictures this season: of +these, No. 133, 'Grove of Palm-trees' in the Island of Cuba, we prefer. +This picture appears to be a faithful representation of the scene, and is +handled with a free and firm pencil. The trees are perhaps a little too +literally represented, to be agreeable to the eye, consisting as they do +of so many equally straight and unpicturesque lines. No. 237, 'Moon-light +Squall coming up,' is a pleasing representation of one of Nature's +poetical moments. The light is clear and silvery, and the water +transparent and truthful. The whole scene is interesting, and there is but +little to find fault with; although perhaps parts would admit of more +warmth of color. + +J. D. BLONDELL has six pictures, the majority portraits. No. 80, 'Portrait +of a Lady,' half-length, is a pleasing picture; warm in color and +carefully painted, and gives evidence of rising talent. The head is +perhaps slightly deficient in careful drawing; but few artists are +competent to paint a lady's portrait; and this gentleman should not feel +discouraged, though his work be found slightly deficient in that grace +which is so difficult of attainment. + +BODDINGTON, (London,) exhibits three landscapes, all in a style peculiarly +belonging to the English school. They possess great charms; facility of +execution, and delicacy of handling. + +BONFIELD.--No. 168 is perhaps the best of his productions. If it were not +for the pinky hue of the sky, this would indeed be a charming picture. + +F. BAYLE.--No. 25; 'Picture-Dealer.' A deep-toned, carefully-painted +picture, and evincing much promise in so young an artist. We are glad to +perceive that it is purchased by the American Art-Union. + +G. L. BROWN.--No. 400; 'View of the Tiber.' Too much of an imitation of +old pictures. In seeking this quality, the artist has lost sight of the +truth and freshness of nature. + +CHAPMAN, N. A.--Mr. CHAPMAN presents nine pictures this season, and all in +his usual brilliant style. No. 116, 'Peasant Girl of Albano,' is +exceedingly rich in color, and forcible in effect: a few cool tints about +the head-dress would give perhaps still greater value to the warm tones. +No. 189, 'Hebrew Women,' is this artist's gem of the year. Well composed, +pleasing in color, and carefully finished, it expresses the occurrence +with fidelity and truth. No. 204, 'Boy in Indian Costume,' is an +attractive picture; but No. 213, 'On the Fence,' is more to our liking. +The story is well told; the city beau is carefully and truly represented; +and the dogs are admirable. No. 263, portrait of Doctor ANDERSON, the +father of wood-engraving in this country, is capital. No. 266, 'Lazy +Fisherman,' is Laziness personified. No. 341, 'Sketch from Nature,' in +water-colors, is an exemplification of this gentleman's versatility of +talent. + +J. G. CLONNEY, A., has two pictures in the exhibition, Nos. 7 and 160. No. +7, 'The New-Year's Call,' is decidedly the best. The negro is well +painted. Mr. CLONNEY'S works generally evince great observation of nature +in this class of subjects. + +T. COLE, N. A.--Mr. COLE exhibits but one picture, and that comparatively +a small one. It possesses however many of the admirable characteristics of +his works, particularly his early ones. It would be difficult to find a +middle-ground and distance surpassing those of this picture. + +T. CRAWFORD, (Rome.)--Mr. CRAWFORD gives us two full-length statues, in +which the charm of the _marble_ is strongly apparent. Mr. CRAWFORD, we +grieve to say, is evidently too impatient in the finish of his works to +produce that correctness which is essential to a high effort of art. + +J. F. CROPSEY.--No. 68, 'View in Orange County,' is a careful +representation of nature, and has the appearance to our eyes of having +been painted on the spot; a practice very rarely to be found in young +artists. A continuance in this course will place this artist in a +prominent position as a landscape-painter. The sky is faulty in color, +being too purple to meet our views of nature; and there is a lack of +delicacy in the more receding portions of the work. But the fore-ground is +carefully painted, and full of truth. + +CUMMINGS, N. A.--Mr. CUMMINGS has but one picture. It possesses however +the careful finish, gentlemanly character, and general truthfulness, so +characteristic of this fine artist. + +T. CUMMINGS, JR., a young artist. No. 149, 'The Ball,' is his best work. +In thus attempting a subject of great difficulty of execution, he evinces +promise of future ability. The picture has many pleasing points, marked +however with some errors, which time and practice, let us hope, will +correct. + +C. CURTIS.--Mr. CURTIS has two pictures in the exhibition, and both of +merit. No. 196 is among the best heads in the collection. + +J. W. DODGE, A.--'Miniature Portraits.' Those of HENRY CLAY and Gen. +JACKSON are the most prominent. The likenesses are good, and the pictures +carefully finished; a merit in works of this character frequently +unattended to. There is, however, a want of dignity sometimes to be found +in Mr. DODGE'S portraits, which we could wish to see remedied: it would +give an elevation to his paintings which they at present lack. + +PAUL P. DUGGAN.--'John the Baptist' is a model in plaster, which displays +greater knowledge of anatomy than we are in the habit of finding in the +works of even older artists. In this respect it possesses great merit. We +understand it is his first effort in modelling. As such, it is truly a +work of the highest promise. + +DURAND, N. A.--Mr. DURAND has contributed largely to the present +exhibition, in every sense of the word. His most prominent production is +No. 36, 'The Solitary Oak.' For an exhibition-picture, perhaps it is not +so striking as some of his previous works; yet it will bear examination +better. Without any effort at warmth of color, it has that glow of +sunlight which it is so difficult to express. A veteran tree, standing +alone upon a gentle eminence, stretching forth its giant arms, that have +withstood the storms of centuries, is truly a noble subject for an artist +of Mr. DURAND'S reputation; and most truly has he depicted it. The +distance is beautiful, and the introduction of cattle seeking their +evening shelter gives an interest seldom to be found in works of this +class. Should we attempt to find a fault, it would be the want of a little +more warmth and clearness in the dark parts of the fore-ground. No. 134, +another charming landscape; true to nature, of a silvery tone, and most +exquisite sweetness of color and delicacy of touch. Nos. 181 and 258 are +two careful studies from nature, wherein special care has been given to +the trunks of trees, a feature in landscape-painting upon which sufficient +attention is rarely bestowed. No. 244, 'Emigrant Family,' is full of +interest. The travelling family are encamped under the shade of the trees, +and the kettle hung over the fire shows that they are evidently preparing +to refresh themselves for farther toil and journeying. The foliage of the +trees is elaborately executed; the distance is well preserved; and the +whole possesses great truth to nature; perhaps however, like all '_green_' +pictures, it is less attractive in an exhibition than works of a warmer +color. No. 163, 'Portrait of a Gentleman,' has great force, and shows the +artist's versatility of genius. + +F. W. EDMONDS, N. A.--No. 105, 'Beggar's Petition,' is a spirited and +faithful representation of the cold indifference to the wants of others, +displayed in the miser's disposition. The figures are of life-size, and +well drawn. The female supplicating in behalf of the distressed, is +graceful in attitude, and admirably contrasted with the hoarding miser. +No. 205, 'The Image Pedler,' is an effort of a higher order; for the +artist has attempted, and successfully too, to elevate the class of works +to which it belongs. In short, he has invested a humble subject with a +moral dignity, which we hope our younger artists, who paint in this +department, will not lose sight of. An independent farmer has his family +around him, apparently immediately after dinner, and a strolling pedler +appears among them, to dispose of his wares; and this gives interest to +the whole group. The grandmother drops her peeling-knife, and the mother +takes her infant from the cradle, to gaze at the sights in the pedler's +basket. The husband, who has been reading in the cool breeze of the +window, turns to participate in the sport; while the grandfather takes a +bust of WASHINGTON, places it on the table, and commences an earnest +elucidation of the character of the, 'Father of his Country' to the little +children around him. All the figures are intelligent, and the whole scene +conveys to the mind a _happy family_. In color, light and shade, and +composition, it is masterly; and we see in it that minuteness of detail +and careful finish are not incompatible with a broad and luminous effect. + +C. L. ELLIOTT has five portraits in the exhibition. His 'Full-length of +GOV. SEWARD' is a prominent one, although not his most agreeable picture. +No. 61 is we think the best, and is a well-managed portrait, both in +drawing and color. + +G. W. FLAGG, H.--No. 63, 'Half-length of a Lady,' has considerable merit. +It is rich and mellow in color, and better we think than many of Mr. +FLAGG'S recent works. No. 208, 'The Widow,' is a popular picture; pleasing +in expression, and possessing more refinement of character than is +observable in many of his other portraits. No. 102, 'Bianca Visconti,' we +do not admire. + +G. FREEMAN.--Miniature portraits, generally large, and highly finished. +This gentleman has lately arrived from Europe, and is we believe a popular +artist; yet we do not like his productions. + +J. FROTHINGHAM, N. A.--Nos. 32 and 35: portraits exhibiting Mr. +FROTHINGHAM'S usual bold and free style in this department of art; +remarkably fine likenesses; true in color, and of pleasing general effect. + +H. P. GRAY, N. A.--Mr. GRAY exhibits a number of his works this season. He +seems to us to sacrifice every thing to color; and his color is not such +as is generally seen in nature, but rather what he has seen in pictures. +This we think a mistake, and one which we must be permitted to hope he +will rectify. In the pictures which he formerly painted, a much closer +attention to nature is observable. Mr. GRAY has all the feeling of an +artist, with no ordinary talent; and we regret to find that he wanders +from the direct path. We were among the first, if not the very first, to +call public attention to his merits, and it is with reluctance that we +perform the duty involved in these animadversions. 'Comparisons,' DOGBERRY +tells us, 'are odorous;' we cannot help remarking, however, that Mr. +GRAY'S old fellow-student, HUNTINGTON, is (_longa intervallo_) in the +advance. We prefer, of our artist's present efforts, the picture of 'His +Wife.' It has a pleasing effect, and is more finished than usual, and more +natural in tone than his 'Magdalen.' + +J. T. HARRIS, A., has two pictures, and both portraits. No. 19 is the +best. It exhibits a broad, free touch, and correct drawing, and is withal +an excellent likeness. But we never look at Mr. HARRIS' works without +being impressed with the idea that they are not finished. They seem to us, +to borrow an artistical expression, as if they were in a capital state for +'glazing and toning up.' Otherwise, they are above the ordinary run of +portraits. + +G. P. A. HEALY, H.--Mr. HEALY is a resident of Paris, but an American. He +is a favorite at the French court, and has by this means a reputation to +which his works generally do not entitle him. We are bound in justice to +say of his present effort, however, that it is an exceedingly fine +picture. It is boldly and masterly executed; forcibly drawn, honestly +colored, and well expressed. There is too about it a freedom from all the +usual tricks of the profession, such as a red chair, velvet collar, and +fantastic back-ground, which we particularly recommend to the attention of +young artists. + +THOMAS HICKS, A., has eight pictures in the collection, but none, +excepting his portraits, which equal his former productions. No. 264, 'The +Mother's Grave,' is an oft-repeated subject, and should not be attempted +unless the artist is able to treat it with entire originality. There are +good points about it, but none sufficiently attractive to warrant +particular notice. + +INGHAM, N. A., as usual has a fine collection of female portraits, all +excellent for their careful drawing, lady-like expression, and high +finish. The drapery and accessories of Mr. INGHAM'S portraits are always +wonderfully exact to nature; and this greatly enhances the value of +portraits of this description; for aside from their merit as likenesses, +they will always be valuable as pictures. His male portrait, No. 113, of +T. S. CUMMINGS, Esq., is a most admirable likeness, as well as a +highly-wrought and masterly-painted picture. No. 239, 'Portrait of a +Lady,' with a fan in her hand, is our favorite among his female heads. +There is a sweetness and modesty in the expression, not only in the +countenance but in the whole figure, which makes it peculiarly attractive. + +H. INMAN, N. A.--No. 62, 'Portrait of the late Bishop MOORE, of Virginia,' +is the admiration of all who behold it. In color it surpasses any thing of +Mr. INMAN'S we have seen in many a day. Clear and luminous, with great +breadth of light, and a mild, pleasing expression. We of course mean this +to apply to the head. The hand and part of the drapery are not, in our +judgment, so well done. No. 104, 'Lady with a Mask,' we do not altogether +like; yet it is remarkable for being foreshortened in every part, and +possesses that singular charm of light and shadow, and accidental effect, +which are the characteristics of our artist's pencil. No. 314, a +Landscape, although small, is delicately handled, and 'touched in' with +great neatness and accuracy. In effect it is attractive, and in color +pleasing. The figure in the fore-ground equals in care and minuteness of +finish the manner of WOUVERMANS. + +N. JOCELYN.--No. 57, 'Portrait of Professor SILLIMAN,' a faithful +likeness, and carefully-painted portrait of a distinguished individual. +No. 2, 'Portrait of a Child,' is another finished picture by this artist; +clear and pearly in color and infantile in expression. + +ALFRED JONES.--No. 301, an engraving from MOUNT'S picture of 'Nooning,' +for the American Art-Union, is one of the largest line-engravings ever +published in this country, and a work of high order. This style of +engraving has heretofore received so little encouragement, that until the +Art-Union started it, no one except Mr. DURAND had ever before dared to +attempt it. This effort of Mr. JONES does him great credit. + +M. LIVINGSTONE, A., has several works in the exhibition, but we cannot +rank them among the higher class of landscapes. They lack the poetry of +landscape-painting; but as amateur productions, they are very good. + +E. D. MARCHANT, A.--All portraits, but none of high merit. Mr. MARCHANT is +a persevering artist, who paints good likenesses and pleasing pictures; +and so far, is doubtless popular with those who employ him. + +JOHN MEGAREY has two portraits, and those far surpassing his former works. +They are carefully painted, without an effort at any thing beyond the +subject before the artist. + +We shall resume and conclude our remarks upon the exhibition in our next +number. + + +GOSSIP WITH READERS AND CORRESPONDENTS.--We are about to enter upon the +TWENTY-FOURTH volume of the KNICKERBOCKER, for the advertisement of which, +please note the second and third pages of the cover of the present number. +We have nothing farther to add, than that 'what _has been_, is that which +_shall be_,' in our onward progress. This Magazine, much the oldest in the +United States, has been established, by the ever-unabated favor of the +public, upon a basis of unshaken permanence. Its subscription-list +fluctuates only in advance; it has the _affection_ of its readers, and all +concerned in its production and promulgation, to a degree wholly +unexampled; and it is designed not only to maintain, but continually to +enhance, its just claims upon the liberal patronage of American readers. +The arrangements for the next volume, if they do not 'preclude +competition,' will be found, it is confidently believed, to preclude any +thing like successful rivalry, on the part of any of our contemporaries. +On this point, however, we choose as heretofore to be judged by the +public. . . . WE gave in a recent issue two or three extracts from a +lecture on '_The Inner Life of Man_' delivered by Mr. CHARLES HOOVER, at +Newark, New-Jersey. This admirable performance has since been repeated to +a highly gratified audience in this city; and from it we derive the +following beautiful passage, which we commend to the heart of every lover +of his kind: 'It is a maxim of patriotism never to despair of the +republic. Let it be the motto of our philanthropy never to despair of our +sinning, sorrowing brother, till his last lingering look upon life has +been taken, and all avenues by which angels approach the stricken heart +are closed and silent forever. And in such a crisis, let no counsel be +taken of narrow, niggard sentiment. When in a sea-storm some human being +is seen in the distant surf, clinging to a plank, that is sometimes driven +nearer to the shore, and sometimes carried farther off; sometimes buried +in the surge, and then rising again, as if itself struggling like the +almost hopeless sufferer it supports, who looks sadly to the shore as he +rises from every wave, and battling with the billow, mingles his cry for +help with the wild, mournful scream of the sea-bird; nature in every bosom +on the shore is instinct with anxious pity for his fate, and darts her +sympathies to him over the laboring waters. The child drops his +play-things, and old age grasps its crutch and hurries to the spot; and +the hand that cannot fling a rope is lifted to heaven for help. What +though the sufferer be a stranger, a foreigner, an enemy even? Nature in +trouble, in consternation, shrieks '_He is a man!_' and every heart and +hand is prompt to the rescue.' 'To a high office and ministry, to a life +of beneficence, pity and love, each man should deem himself called by a +divine vocation, by the appointment of nature; and otherwise living, +should judge himself to be an abortion, a mistake, without signification +or use in a world like ours. And the beauty, the glory of such a life, is +not to be reckoned among ideal things heard out of heaven but never +encountered by the eye. This world has had its CHRIST, its FENELONS, its +HOWARDS, as well as its CALIGULAS and NEROS. Love hath been at times a +manifestation as well as a principle; and the train of its glory swept far +below the stars, and its brightness has fallen in mitigated and mellowed +rays from the faces of men. As the ambiguous stranger-star of Bethlehem +had its interpreting angel-song to the herdsmen of the plains, so loving +men in all ages have given glimpses and interpretations of the love of +GOD, and of the pity that is felt for the miserable and the guilty in the +palace and presence-chamber of JEHOVAH. What glory within the scope of +human imitation and attainment is comparable to that of the beneficent, +the sympathising lover of his race? What more elevated, pure, and +beautiful is possible among the achievements of an endless progression in +heaven itself? MILTON represents the profoundest emotions of joy and +wonder among the celestial hosts as occasioned by the first anticipative +disclosures of divine pity toward sinning man; and a greater than MILTON +assures us that the transport and festival of angelic joy occurs when Pity +lifts the penitent from his prostration and forgives his folly.' . . . +EMBELLISHMENT would seem to be the literary order of the day, in more ways +than one. It has come to be the mode to express the most simple thought in +the most magniloquent phrase. This propensity to lingual _Euphuism_ has +given rise to sundry illustrations, in embellished maxims, which are +particularly amusing. They are of the sort so finely satirized by +'OLLAPOD,' on one occasion, two or three examples of which we annex. The +common phrase of ''Tis an ill wind that blows nobody any good' was +transformed into 'That gale is truly diseased which puffeth benefactions +to nonentity;' 'Let well enough alone,' into 'Suffer a healthy sufficiency +to remain in solitude;' and 'What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the +gander,' into 'The culinary adornments which suffice for the female of the +race _Anser_, maybe relished also with the masculine adult of the same +species.' Some London wag, in a kindred spirit, has illustrated the +cockney song, 'If I had a donkey as vouldn't go, do you think I'd wallop +him?' etc., as follows: 'The herbaceous boon and the bland recommendation +to advance, are more operative on the ansinine quadruped than the stern +imprecation and the oaken cudgel: + + 'Had I an ass averse to speed, + I ne'er would strike him; no indeed! + I'd give him hay, and cry 'Proceed,' + And 'Go on EDWARD!'' + +The same species of satire is now and then visited upon the 'Troubadour +Songs,' which have become so afflictingly common of late years. Some of +these we have already given; and we find them on the increase in England. +We have before us, from the London press of TILT AND BOGUE, 'Sir +WHYSTLETON MUGGES, a Metrical Romaunte, in three Fyttes,' with copious +notes. A stanza or two will suffice as a specimen. The knightly hero, it +needs only to premise, has been jilted by his fair 'ladye-love,' who +retires to her boudoir, while the knight walks off in despair: + + 'Hys herte beat high and quycke; + Forth to his tygere he did call, + 'Bring me my palfrey from his stall, + For I moste cotte my stycke!' + + 'Ye stede was brought, ye knyghte jomped up, + He woulde not even stay to sup, + But swyft he rode away; + Still groanynge as he went along, + And vowing yet to come out stronge, + Upon some future day. + + 'Alack for poore Syr WHYSTLETON, + In love and warre so bold! + Ye Ladye BLANCHE hym browne hath done, + He is completely solde! + + 'Completely solde alack he is, + Alack and wel-a-day; + Mort DIEU! a bitterre fate is hys + Whose trewe love sayth him nay!' + +Thus endeth 'Fytte ye First.' We learn from the preface that the 'Rhime of +the Manne whose Mothre did not Know he was Out,' and 'Ye Lodgemente of +Maistre FERGISOUN,' are also in the editor's possession, but owing to the +imperfect state of the MSS., it is doubtful whether they will ever be +published. They have however been submitted to the inspection of 'The +PERCY Society!' . . . WE are well pleased to learn that Sir EDWARD LYTTON +BULWER, the distinguished author, is soon to visit the United States. That +he will be warmly welcomed and cordially received, we cannot doubt; but we +have good reason to believe that in the present instance at least our +admiration of true genius will be tempered by all proper self-respect. Mr. +BULWER has for many years entertained a desire to visit America. In one of +his letters to the late WILLIS GAYLORD CLARK, now lying before us, he +writes: 'I have long felt a peculiar admiration for your great and rising +country; and it gives me a pleasure far beyond that arising from a vulgar +notoriety, to think that I am not unknown to its inhabitants. Some time or +other I hope to visit you, and suffer my present prepossessions to be +confirmed by actual experience.' . . . WE have received and perused with +gratification the last report of the '_New-York Asylum for Deaf Mutes_.' +The institution is in the most flourishing condition, and its usefulness +greatly increased. We are sorry to perceive, by the following 'specimen of +composition' of a pupil in the eighth class, that the 'Orphic Sayings' of +Mr. A. BRONSON ALCOTT are taken as literary models by the deaf and dumb +students. The ensuing is certainly much better, internally, than anything +from the transcendental 'seer;' but the manner too nearly resembles his, +for both to be original. There is the same didactic condensation, the same +Orphic 'oneness,' which distinguishes all _Alcottism_ proper. It is +entitled 'Story of Hog:' + + 'I walked on the road. I stood near the water. I undressed my + feet. I went in the water. I stood under the bridge. I sat on the + log. I washed my feet with hands. I looked at large water came. I + ran in the water. I ran out the water. The large water floated + fast. I afraid. I wiped feet with stockings. I dressed my feet + with stockings and shoes. I went on the ground. I stood on the + ground. I seen at the hog ate grass. The hog seen at me. I went on + the ground. I ran. The hog heard. The hog looked at me. It ran and + jumped. The hog ran under the fence and got his head under the + fence and want to ran out the fence! I caught ears its hog. The + hog shout. I pulled the hog out the fence. I struck a hog with + hand. I rided on the hog ran and jumped fast. The hog ran fell on + near the water. I rided off a hog. I stood. I held one ear its + hog. The hog slept lies on near the water. I waited. I leaved. I + went from the hog. The hog awoke. It rose. It saw not me. It ran + and jumped. The hog went from the water. The hog went in the mud + and water. The hog wallowed in the mud and water became very + dirty. It slept. I went. I went into the house.' + + * * * * * + +THE EKKALAEOBION is the name given to an establishment opposite the +Washington Hotel, in Broadway, where the formation of chickens, _ab +initio_, is 'practised to a great extent.' And really, it is in some +respects an awful exhibition, to a reflecting mind. It is as it were a +visible exposition of the source of life. You see the pulse of existence +throbbing in the yet unformed mass, which assumes, day after day, the +image of its kind; until at length the little creature knocks for +admittance into this breathing world; steps forth from the shell in which +it had been so long 'cabined, cribbed, confined, bound in;' and straitway +walks abroad, 'regenerated, disenthralled,' and ready for its 'grub.' By +all means, reader, go and see this interesting and instructive exhibition. +It is provocative of much reflection, aside from the mere contemplation of +it as a matter of curiosity. . . . THE correspondent who sends us the +following, writes upon the envelope containing it: 'I have endeavored to +preserve the measure of the original, and at the same time to present a +literal translation.' It will be conceded, we think, that he has been +successful in his endeavor. Perhaps in some lines (as in '_Pertransivit +gladius_') the translation is a little _too_ literal: + + +STABAT MATER. + + I. I. + + Stabat mater dolorosa, Near the cross the Mother weeping + Juxta crucem lacrymosa, Stood, her watch in sorrow keeping + Dum pendebat filius: While was hanging there her SON: + Cujus animam gementem, Through her soul in anguish groaning, + Contristantem et dolentem, O most sad, HIS fate bemoaning, + Pertransivit gladius. Through and through that sword was run. + + II. II. + + O quam tristis et afflicta Oh how sad with woe oppressed, + Fuit illa benedicta, Was she then, the Mother blessed, + Mater unigeniti: Who the sole-begotten bore: + Quae moerebat, et dolebat, As she saw his pain and anguish, + Et tremebat, cum videbat She did tremble, she did languish, + Nati poenas inclyti. Weep her holy Son before. + + III. III. + + Quis est homo qui non fleret, Who is he his tears concealing, + Christi matrem si videret Could have seen such anguish stealing + In tanto supplicio? Through the Saviour-mother's breast? + Quis posset non contristari, Who his deepest groans could smother, + Piam matrem contemplari, Had he seen the holy Mother + Dolentem cum filio? By her Son with grief oppressed! + + IV. IV. + + Pro peccatis suae gentis Christ for Israel's transgression + Vidit Jesum in tormentis, Saw she suffer thus oppression, + Et flagellis subditum; Torment, and the cruel blow: + Vidit suum dulcem natum Saw Him desolate and dying; + Morientem, desolatum, Him she loved, beheld Him sighing + Dum emisit spiritum. Forth His soul in deepest woe. + + V. V. + + Eja mater, fons amoris, Source of love, thy grief, O Mother, + Me sentire vim doloris Grant with thee to share another-- + Fac, ut tecum lugeam. Grant that I with thee may weep: + Fac ut ardeat cor meum, May my heart with love be glowing, + In amando Christum Deum, All on Christ my God bestowing, + Ut sibi complaceam. In His favor ever keep. + + VI. VI. + + Saneta mater, istud agas, This, oh holy Mother! granting, + Crucifixi fige plagas In my heart the wounds implanting + Cordi meo valide: Of His cross, oh let me bear: + Tui nati vulnerati, Pangs with which thy Son when wounded + Jam dignati pro me pati, Deigned for me to be surrounded, + Poenas mecum divide. [] Grant, oh grant that I may share. + + VII. VII. + + Fac me vere tecum flere, Be my eyes with tears o'erflowing, + Crucifixo condolere, For the crucified bestowing, + Donec ego vixero: Till my eyes shall close in death: + Juxta crucem tecum stare, Ever by that cross be standing, + Te libenter sociare Willingly with thee demanding + In planctu desidero. But to share each mournful breath. + + VIII. VIII. + + Virgo virginum praeclara, Thou of virgins blest forever, + Mihi jam non sis amara Oh deny I pray thee never + Fac me tecum plangere; That I may lament with thee: + Fadut portem Christi mortem, Be my soul His death enduring, + Passionis ejus sortem, And His passion--thus securing + Et plagas recolere. Of His pains the memory. + + IX. XI. + + Fac me plagis vulnerari, With those blows may I be smitten, + Cruce hac inebriari, In my heart that cross be written, + Ob amorem filii: For thy Son's dear love alway: + Inflammatus et accensus Glowing, burning with affection, + Per te, virgo, sim defensus Grant me, Virgin! thy protection, + In die judicii. In the dreaded judgment-day. + + X. X. + + Fac me cruce custodiri, May that cross its aid extend me, + Morte Christi praemuniri, May the death of Christ defend me, + Confoveri gratia: With its saving grace surround; + Quando corpus morietur, And when life's last link is riven, + Fac ut animae donetur To my soul be glory given, + Paradisi gloria. That in Paradise is found. + +_St. Paul's College._ G. H. H. + + * * * * * + +'_A Story of Sorrow and Crime_' is an affecting monitory sketch, devoid of +that mawkishness which is sometimes the characteristic of kindred +performances. The writer's reflections upon the career of his hero, remind +us of that beautiful passage in one of BLAIR'S essays: 'Life is short: the +poor pittance of seventy years is worth being a villain for. What matters +it if your neighbor lies in a splendid tomb? Sleep you with innocence! +Look behind you through the track of time; a vast desert lies open in the +retrospect; through this desert have your fathers journeyed on, until +wearied with years and sorrows, they sunk from the walks of men. You must +leave them where they fell, and you are to go a little farther, where you +will find eternal rest. Whatever you may have to encounter between the +cradle and the grave, every moment is big with innumerable events, which +come not in slow succession, but bursting forcibly from a revolving and +unknown cause, fly over this orb with diversified influence.' . . . 'F. +P.'s '_Western Adventures_' have good _points_ about them, but if +published entire, would we think disappoint himself perhaps as much as his +readers. Here is an anecdote, however, which is worth 'jotting down' in +types: 'I met not long after in New-York a man who had just been induced +to rent the very hotel in Kentucky which was the scene of the reverses I +have been describing. Aware that I had at one time kept the establishment, +he was anxious to know my opinion of its pecuniary promise. 'I don't +expect to make much the first year,' said he; 'I shall be satisfied if I +'realize' all expenses. But do you think I shall clear myself the first +year?' 'I haven't the slightest doubt of it,' I replied; '_I cleared +myself_ before the first six months were up, and was d--d _glad_ to get +off so; and I rather guess that _you'll_ be too, in about half that time.' +And he was!' . . . Could there be a more affecting picture than that of a +fond mother learning for the first time from the tell-tale prattle of her +little ones that she is 'given over to darkness and the worm' by her +friends, who had disguised from her the fatal truth? Such is the scene +depicted in these pathetic lines: + + 'He speaketh now: 'Oh, mother dear!' + Murmurs the little child: + And there is trouble in his eyes, + Those large blue eyes so mild: + + 'Oh, mother dear! they say that soon, + When here I seek for thee + I shall not find thee--nor out there, + Under the old oak-tree; + + 'Nor up stairs in the nursery, + Nor any where, they say: + Where wilt thou go to, mother dear? + Oh, do not go away!' + + There was long silence, a deep hush, + And then the child's low sob: + _Her_ quivering eyelids close: one hand + Keeps down the heart's quick throb. + + And the lips move, though sound is none, + That inward voice is prayer. + And hark! 'THY will, O LORD, be done!' + And tears are trickling there-- + + Down that pale cheek, on that young head; + And round her neck he clings; + And child and mother murmur out + Unutterable things. + + _He_ half unconscious, _she_ deep-struck + With sudden, solemn truth, + That number'd are her days on earth-- + Her shroud prepared in youth: + + That all in life her heart holds dear + GOD calls her to resign: + She hears, feels, trembles--but looks up, + And sighs 'THY will be mine!'' + + * * * * * + +'I came down from Albany the other evening,' writes a correspondent, 'in +that floating palace, the KNICKERBOCKER steamer; I slept in your +KNICKERBOCKER state-room; arrived in town, I took after dinner a +KNICKERBOCKER omnibus, and rode up to the 'Westminster Abbey Bowling +Saloon,' named of KNICKERBOCKER; I called on you with my article for the +KNICKERBOCKER Magazine; and on my way down, enjoyed a delightful ablution +at the KNICKERBOCKER Bath; stepped into the KNICKERBOCKER Theatre, and +'laughed consumedly' over an amusing play; and finally, closed with a cup +of delicious tea, green and black, and anchovy-toast, at KNICKERBOCKER +Hall. Every thing, I was glad to see, was KNICKERBOCKER.' Very flattering; +yet we dare say our friend was not aware that this Magazine was the +_pioneer_ in the use of this popular name in Gotham, and that its example +has suggested, one after another, the namesakes to which he has alluded. +Such, howbeit, is the undeniable fact. . . . We remarked the example of +_catachresis_ to which 'L.' alludes, and laughed at it, we venture to say, +as heartily as himself. It was not quite so glaring however as the +confused images of a celebrated Irish advocate: 'I smell a rat; I see it +brewing in the storm; and I will crush it in the bud!' . . . We find +several things to admire in our Detroit friend's '_Tale of Border +Warfare_;' but he can't 'talk Indian'--that is very clear. The 'abrogynes' +are not in the habit of making interminable speeches: they leave that to +white members of Congress, who pump up a feeling in a day's speech 'for +Buncombe.' Do you remember what HALLECK says of RED-JACKET? + + 'The spell of eloquence is thine, that reaches + The heart, and makes the wisest head its sport; + And there's one rare, strange virtue in thy speeches, + The secret of their mastery--_they are short_.' + +Not one man in a thousand can talk or write the true 'Indian.' Our friend +SA-GO-SEN-O-TA, formerly known as Col. WILLIAM L. STONE, is one of the +best Indian writers in this country. His late letter 'To the Sachems, +Chiefs, and Warriors of the Seneca Indians,' acknowledging the honor they +had done him in electing him a chief, is a perfect thing in its kind. May +it be long before the 'MASTER OF BREATH' shall call him to 'the fair +hunting-grounds, through clouds bright as fleeces of gold, upon a ladder +as beautiful as the rainbow!' . . . Our entertaining '_Dartmoor Prisoner_' +has a pleasant story of a fellow-captive who on one occasion performed +that 'cautionary' experiment which is sometimes denominated 'putting your +foot in it.' The term is of legitimate origin, it should seem. According +to the _Asiatic Researches_, a very curious mode of trying the title to +land is practised in Hindostan. Two holes are dug in the disputed spot, in +each of which the lawyers on either side put one of their legs, and remain +there until one of them is tired, or complains of being stung by the +insects, in which case his client is defeated. In this country it is the +client and not the lawyer who 'puts his foot into it!' . . . We have +commenced in the present, and shall conclude in our next number, a +'_Legend of the Conquest of Spain_,' by WASHINGTON IRVING. We derive it +from the same source whence we received the 'Legend of Don RODERICK,' +lately published in these pages. We commend its graphic limnings and +stirring incidents to the admiration of our readers. . . . A FRIEND and +correspondent in a sister city dashes in with a rich brush, in one of his +familiar letters to us, a sketch of a boss-painter, who was renovating the +writer's house with sundry pots of paint; a conceited, half-informed prig, +who having grown rich, talks of 'going to Europe in the steam-boat,' and +has a huge fancy for seeing Italy. 'Yes,' said the house-and-sign RAPHAEL, +'I must see Rome and Athens; them Romans allers made a great impression on +me; the land of APELLES and XERXES; ah! that must be worth travelling +for.' 'Would you not rather run over England?' I asked; but the ass +_poohed_ at England, and on the strength of his daubing our house-blinds, +claimed an interest in the Fine Arts abroad: 'No, Sir, give me Italy--the +Loover and the Vattykin; them's the places for my money! Gods! how I +should like to rummage over them old-masters! They beat _us_ all +hollow--that's a fact. I'll give in to them. There never was such painters +before, nor never will be. I want to study 'em.' 'Yes,' I rejoined; +''twould interest you, doubtless; and after having studied the great +painters in Italy, you might return by way of Switzerland, and scrape +acquaintance with the _glaciers_.' The booby did not _take_, but only +stared and said: 'Oh, they're famous for glass-work there, be they?' This +lover of the Fine Arts had a counterpart in the man who having 'made as +much money as he wanted by tradin' in Boston,' went 'a-travelling abroad;' +and while in Florence, called on POWERS the sculptor, with a design to +'patronize' him a little. After looking at his 'Greek Slave,' his 'Eve,' +and other gems of art, he remarked that he 'thought they'd look a good +'eal better if they had some clothes on. I'm pretty well off,' he +continued, 'and ha'n't a chick nor child in the world; and I thought I'd +price a _statty_ or two. What's the damage, now, for that one you're +peckin' at?' 'It should be worth from four to five thousand dollars, I +think,' answered POWERS. 'What! five thousand dollars for _that 'are_! I +cal'lated to buy me a piece of _stattyary_ before I went home, but +_that's_ out of the question! _Hasn't stattyary riz lately?_ How's +paintin's here now?' . . . Just complaints are made by our city +contemporaries of the exorbitant rates of postage upon weekly periodicals. +Mr. WILLIS complains, in the '_New-Mirror_' weekly journal, that country +postmasters charge so much postage on that periodical by mail, that in +many cases it would make the work cost to its country subscribers something +like ten dollars a year! All postage in this country is at too high a +rate; and so long as it remains so, the law will continue to be evaded. +'Cheating UNCLE SAM' is not considered a very heinous offence. There is +nothing one robs with so little compunction as one's country. It is at the +very worst robbing only eighteen millions of people. . . . The lines sent +us in rejoinder to the stanzas of 'C. W. D.,' in a late issue, would not +be _original_ in our pages; nor could we hope to have many _new_ readers +for them, after they have appeared in, and of course been copied from, +that exceedingly pleasant and well-edited daily journal, the _Boston +Evening Transcript_. . . . HAUFFMAN, the German poet, was recently expelled +from the Prussian dominions, and all his works proscribed thenceforth. 'Served +him right;' for in one of his works appears the 'word following, to wit:' +'_Sleuerverweigerungsverfassungsmassigberechtig_!'--meaning a man who is +exempt by the constitution from the payment of taxes. 'Myscheeves thick' +must needs follow such terrific words. 'We have heard,' says a London +critic, in allusion to this jaw-breaker, 'of a gentleman, a member of the +_Marionettenschauspielhausengesellschaft_, who was said to be an excellent +performer on the '_Constantinopolitanischetudelsackpfeife_!'' . . . We owe +a word of apology to our friends the publishers, for the omission of +notices which we had prepared of their publications, and which are crowded +out by our title-page and index, that were forgotten until the last +moment. We shall 'bring up arrears' in our next. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Knickerbocker, or New-York Monthly +Magazine, June 1844, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE KNICKERBOCKER *** + +***** This file should be named 25475.txt or 25475.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/5/4/7/25475/ + +Produced by Barbara Tozier, Bill Tozier and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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