Fight on!-I cannot ask ye moreWhile one remains to bide the blow! VIII. What though ye bend at Mecca's shrine, Though call'd an Infidel; What though your God's no god of mine, For he who breaks a tyrant's rod, THE LAST COMMAND. BY ROBERT L. WADE. I. Bear me not to the silent tomb, With tears and unmanly grief, Nor let the cloud of shadowy gloom, Tinge your thoughts of the final doom Of a life so bright yet brief. II. I'll have no hymn nor funeral dirge Chaunted o'er my senseless form; Far fitter will be the roar of the surge, Lashing the rocks with its watery scourge, And the revelry wild of the storm. III. Nor yet shall the boom of the minute gun Let it rest, untold that my race is run, IV. The muffi'd drum must its clamor hold, One banner alone, when this form is cold, V. Seek out for me on the lone sea shore, FORTUNE AND THE DREAM. (Versified from the German.) BY MRS. E. J. EAMES. A Dream flitted by the cave, Where Fortune lay sleeping, And breast, I have laden And shape of a lover; All lowly he bent To kiss her white hand, And won her consent At the altar to stand. And when the morn broke, I vanish'd away, Than mine, replied dame fortune- I made him prosperous, and great, That from his sight I vanish'd, His contentment was banish'd. Alas, and alas! there is nought what it seems, PROSE AND VERSE. FROM AN AMATEUR'S PORTFOLIO. I. We are a paragraph-reading people. Americans will devour a newspaper article, but shudder at a volume! They will read a paragraph of six lines, but avoid one of a column. They judge of what they shall read, not so much by its value, as by its length. What reason does philosophy assign for this? We are always in a hurry-we exist chiefly on the go-a-head principle. Some rise with the sun, but trifle the morning away: others, at the first tingle of the dinner-bell, bounce down at the table, to swallow, not eat, their dinner, and in five minutes start away, not to business, but to sit by the tavern door and pick their teeth. If we cross a ferry, the instant the steamer approaches near to the wharf, some one, more go-a-head-tive than his fellows, leaps ashore at the peril of his life-not to achieve some master-stroke of policy-but to stand still and see the passengers land after him. Merchants build ships to cross the Atlantic one day faster than their neighbors-and some Captains, in the vain-glorious strife of making a passage an hour shorter than their rivals, beach their ships. The destruction of property, and the loss of life, have never entered into their calculations. The endeavor of Americans is to do things quickly, rather than well they are more desirous of applying the least possible period of time to any one action, than of using time advantageously. And all is done with the most serious face imaginable; for Americans seldom laugh, and even rarely smile; they have a sedate and thoughtful expression, as if they were busy with some important matter of their own, and had not one moment to spare a neighbor. If, therefore, it be true, as I assert it is, that we are a paragraph-reading people, then in paragraphs | should we teach, or amuse. If people will not read ponderous tomes, let us teach them in maxims, and short, sententious remarks. II. It is a fact, that the young, though ever on the double-quick-step, know not the value of time. Place before an inexperienced youth a box full of uncounted gold: he would judge, simply seeing it, that it contained a mine of wealth, which a lifetime could not exhaust. But, let him calculate a moment, and he may soon prove, that the apparent treasure makes but a small sum in figures; and that a reasonable amount squandered daily, will in a very few years leave the box empty. It is precisely so with time. The young "think all men mortal but themselves"-that time unmeasured is before them, and what they leave undone to-day, they will have leisure to do to-morrow. And what is their to-morrow? No matter when spoken, it is always the coming day: every day has its tomorrow, as well as its yesterday. But alas! these to-morrows so very quickly take their place among the yesterdays, that life, like the treasure, is wasted, ere they had scarcely thought that it was even diminishing. This is an epitome of thoughtless man-a simple truth, which every heart will acknowledge. Time well spent, like treasure well invested, bears a good interest-and its value daily increases. In after years, it affords a thousand comforts, and a troop of friends. III. In London, where they have a price for every thing, an autograph of Robert Burns commands five guineas-one of George the Third sells for three shillings! King George was born in a palace, and sat upon a throne: Robert Burns was born in a cottage, and held the plough. George was a king by birth-right: Robert was a king by nature. George, during his life, was sated with luxuries, and surrounded by flatterers: Burns often wanted the common necessaries of life, and, neglected by the world, died penniless. Death levels all artificial distinctions; and, in the hearts of posterity, man, if remembered at all, sinks or soars to his natural grade. IV. If I had made the old proverb quoted in the first stanza of the following verses, it might have been more grammatically expressed. My error, perhaps, is, that I have quoted it at all: however, we shall not argue about matters of taste. THE PEN AND SWORD. "One man may lead a horse to water, But twenty could not make him drink"- By those who wisely think. A single pen makes, from their scabbards, And strength, abiding in the sinews, Had we had no strength but physical, This world had been a wild, uncultured- Who spared us from his sacred light, This makes the wilds stretch forth like gardens→ The wanderings in the starry sphere; And through the forests drear. The blessed fount of mercy opes, O, ne'er again presume, proud nations, May conquer millions strong. The surges easily o'erthrow- O never, then, presume proud nations, Who remembers George the Third, or points to one good action that he ever performed? The The greatest blessings we enjoy, are not apprec name of Burns is heard at every hearth—it is fami- ated; because by long enjoyment, we too often cease liar as a household word—and his undying verse to regard them as blessings; we rather consider lives in every heart, amazing and delighting all. Burns, though a peasant, was as much superior to George the Third, as five guineas are to three shillings-yea, infinitely superior to that ratio. Would that the world had done him justice while them as matters of course. He that lives in luxurious ease, is sometimes looked up to by the hard-toiling poor with envy: yet, the rich have frequently more causes of unhappiness than the poor. The rich man, riding in his gaudy chariot, often envies the sweet content of the humble teamster, who, while walking a snadpace, whistles or talks to his horses as familiars. We look up by night to the uncounted stars that so beautifully adorn the Heavens, and gaze on them without an emotion. They shine every night, and we regard them not. We are accustomed to see them-we have seen them nightly from our infancy. How little do we think of the beautiful, the magnificent constellations that twinkle and glitter in wondrous sublimity! Unremembered generations gazed on them, as we do; yet there they shine, unchanged, undimmed! Suppose these multitudinous stars shone only once in every ten years--with what anxious delight would all the world look forward to the time of their appearance! Millions, who never thought of astronomy as a science, would eagerly watch the live-long night to gaze on the gorgeous display. But should that night be one of cloud or storm, and hide the stars, nations would lament the serious disappointment. inferences from what they either see or feel. Again, Cowper occasionally mingles severe satire with his most serious thoughts-Bryant never does. Cowper has more impulse, perhaps; Bryant more depth of thought. Cowper is pious-Bryant is religious; he adores nature in "the groves," that were "God's first temples." Bryant worships by no sectarian creed-is it so with Cowper? Bryant advocates the freedom of man-Cowper that of the slave only. Bryant casts a penetrating look into the past, and, with a far-seeing eye, explores the future; Cowper is busy with what he sees and feels-in a word, he is not a deep-thinking philosopher; Bryant is. Now, with what justice can it be said that Bryant resembles Cowper? They are alike, and yet most unlike. How, then, will the comparison hold, or what does it prove? The superficial may see an apparent resemblance; regard them closely, and it Does any one disbelieve what I have asserted? I vanishes. shall prove its truth. VII. This has been indeed a sultry day-almost too amuse myself with a jocose attempt in blank verse. An eclipse of the moon, visible from a particular location, does not happen very frequently; yet, hot to write or think seriously. I shall, therefore, when it does take place, millions gaze on it from the commencement to the end. Now to the point. How few regard the new moon with any extraordinary emotions? We may all look at it casually, and welcome its coming-but that is all-yet its appearance is so precisely like an eclipse of eleven digits of the moon's surface, that one, not knowing the fact, could scarcely tell which is which-unless from its position in the heavens-so very similar is the new moon in light and form. In very truth, it is an eclipse! VI. One of the direst sins of the day among literary critics, is comparison. For my part, I regard that critic who is eternally running to comparisons to prove his estimate of an author, as wanting both in thought and judgment-one, who might perhaps write finely, if he had any thing to say. I have just read a very feeble criticism, in which BRYANT is compared with CowPER. If, by this comparison, the critic expects that his reader will properly appreciate Bryant, it pre-supposes him familiar with the writings of Cowper-nay, more; that the reader holds him in the precise rank as the critic. This is sheer nonsense. If a cart-load of turnips cost two dollars, what is a wheelbarrow full of parsnips worth? The rule of three will not solve this grave question. What does it prove of Bryant, to say that he thinks or writes like Cowper? They are both great poets-a fondness for field and forest mark both--they have both an eye to see, and a heart to feel the beauties of nature: in a word, they are both descriptive poets. But, each has his own peculiar mode of expression-his own tune, which gives a distinctive structure to his verse. They do not see the same things, or seeing them, not alike: they do not draw the same SOLILOQUY ON A WARM DAY. The budding flowers, the springing grass, with all Or find a garden, where ice-cream is sold. Where art thou, Tonans? With thy thunder, come; Upturn the germs caloric, that make day THE APPEAL. Thou bid'st me cease my mournful strain; A frozen Isle the northern sea Or blossom opens with delight; And crowns with flame the mountain brow, Thou dost reproach my grief, my tears; Thou might'st have moulded every thought, TRURO. Thus it is, that, while within the last fifteen years, public attention has been chiefly engrossed by political and commercial revolutions, there have been movements in society of the greatest consequence, however they may have been lightly regarded in a national point of view. While the gale has filled the sails and been the chief object of attention, the unnoted current has been setting us forward on our voyage, and has actually done more to change our position, than the storm with which we have been contending. The great result of this silent progress, is summed up in two points-a more enlightened state of public opinion, and a higher standard of morals. Without going into the means by which these results have been attained, though they are often expressed in the cant terms of march of mind," the "spirit of the age," &c., we may advert to the temperance reform, as one fact, in evidence of our position. We know it is common to speak of the degeneracy of the times-but in reality, there is no such degeneracy. Let us test it as we may, we affirm that the moral and intellectual standard is higher in the country than at any former period; and it is sufficient to prove this, that public opinion, without the aid of laws, or government, or money, or the allied powers of political parties, has made, and is making, successful war upon the most deeply rooted vice in the world-the drinking of ardent spirits. What is the basis of this reform, if public opinion and public morals be not more elevated than before? Among the several streams which go to make up the great tide of advancement in civilization here, is the improvement in the means of education; and among those who have been foremost in this work, is the author of Peter Parley's Tales. The importance of his performances is the greater, that they were commenced some years since, before the people were waked up to the great effort now making to render common school education universal; before it was announced in the ringing tones, of one of the master-spirits of the age, to Europe, that the Schoolmaster was abroad; and while juvenile literature was yet regarded with contempt, and as beneath the attention of the philosopher and philanthropist; while Mother Goose still spread her wings over the nursery library, and it was supposed, that whatever was hatched for it, must have something of her cackle. SAMUEL GRISWOLD GOODRICH. Those events which attract most attention, are not always the most important. This is not only true of the phenomena of nature, but of those of society. The thunder-storm that sweeps over the land may be the theme of universal remark, while There are some persons, and those too among it is really less efficient in results, than the quiet graduates of colleges, who mourn over the change sunshine, which is stirring the elements of animal of books for youth—who lament the disgrace into and vegetable life, in a thousand forms, however which Mother Goose, Tom Thumb, and Jack the the process may be unseen and unregarded. The Giant Killer, have fallen. But this mental oblisuccess or defeat of a party in politics, though it shake the country to its foundations, often leaves less decisive traces after the lapse of a few years, than the invisible march of some moral or mental good old-fashioned guide to truth-common sense. reform. quity only shows, that there are persons, whose minds are so perverted by a false start in education, as never to have enjoyed the exercise of that The public generally appreciate the revolution to which we allude, and are ready to render to the Mr. Goodrich attempted reform here, as well as individual who has been its chief instrument, his in other respects. His works were very neatly due credit-a credit greatly enhanced by consider-printed, and illustrated in the best style which the ing, that Mr. Goodrich, by his juvenile works, not state of the arts afforded. In this, he had to enonly furnished facilities and aids to education; but, counter the habits and prejudices of the country, by introducing good books, he assisted in the ban- and of the book trade. The great point of comishment of bad ones, and, at the same time, con-petition in the market, had been that of price; for, tributed in a high degree to the great movement cheapness was the universal recommendation. towards universal education. The schoolmaster In spite of obstacles, however, these little works was doubtless induced to go abroad, by finding-obtained an extensive circulation, and at last triamong other things-the instruments for his work, umphed over all opposition. They became perfurnished to his hands. manently established in the country, and most of It may be a matter of some interest to our read-them have been reprinted in England, and distriers, to be made acquainted with the progress of buted over Europe. Some of them have acquired this reformation to which we allude. Mr. Good- a popularity altogether unparalleled. And Parrich was originally a bookseller, and from his posi-ley's Geography, now published in several lantion, his attention was directed to the defective guages, and disseminated throughout the five dicharacter of books for children and youth. The visions of the globe, is more widely circulated than works of this sort in circulation were, for the most any other book produced within the present or the part, reprints of English publications; and nearly last century. the whole of them were designed for amusement, The results of Mr. Goodrich's operations in this and consisted of antiquated and monstrous fic-field of enterprise, are great and important. In tions. It is not a little curious, that while fiction the first place, he has produced several excellent was thus dealt out in this department of juvenile books for education; and probably, at the present literature, truth and knowledge were generally moment, has more readers than any other living presented to children in the dry and repulsive form author. But this is not the only, nor perhaps the of technical compends and catechisms. greatest, beneficial consequence of his labors. He Mr. Goodrich, who had received no other than has made the discovery, and established a convica common school education, did not think of at-tion of the fact throughout the world, that truth tempting to furnish a remedy for the evil he noticed, by writing himself, but sought to infuse his views into others, and expended considerable sums of money in endeavoring to get up better books for education. In this effort, he was foiled, and therefore determined upon making the attempt himself. Accordingly, about sixteen years since, he visited Europe, and having examined the principal schools and seminaries in Great Britain, and on the Continent, he returned; and in 1829, produced his first work, which he entitled Peter Parley's Tales about America. may be made as attractive to youth as fiction. He has shown that truth, upon which nature and philosophy alike teach us that the young intellect should be fed and fostered, may be rendered as palatable as matters of mere fancy. While it has been discovered, that the stomach of the infant need not be soothed with toddy and paregoric, he has made it apparent that the mind and heart need not be stimulated by fiction. The value of this to the world at large, exceeds calculation; for, it operates far beyond the mere point of Mr. Goodrich's works. He has set an example which has been successfully followed by others;-he has made clear a great truth, and has opened a new and rich mine, into which others have entered, and are now working, with effect;he has redeemed the writing of children's books from the contempt in which it was once held :--and we now find some of the master-spirits of the age, putting their sickles in for the harvest. The reception of this was not particularly flattering at first; and such was the low estimate in which writing for children was then held, that the book was produced with as great privacy in respect to the author, as if disgrace attached to the enterprise. Mr. Goodrich, however, persevered, and wrote the Tales about Europe, Asia and Africa. At this period, books for children were got up in the cheapest possible form. The prevalent idea The great instruments by which Mr. Goodrich was, that this class of books were toys, upon which has done so much, is simplicity and naturalness of as little money as possible was to be expended. It style. He has written for children as we should engravings were introduced, they were of the talk to children. It would seem that this is an coarsest kind; and as to any thing like correctness easy task, and as if the discovery were too obvious of drawing, it was not thought of. The subjects to merit praise. But if easy and obvious, why did of the pictures, as well as the style in which they it remain so long unpractised? The truth is, that were executed, were as monstrous as the ideas in there were more difficulties in the way than may the books themselves. There were, of course, at first be supposed. All the established customs exceptions to all this, but such was the general and notions were, in the first place, to be overstate of facts. come and rejected;-a new path was to be marked VOL. VII-93 |