The Wheeling repository — Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.], 1808-02-11 00:00:00, page 1

WHEELING REPOSITORY.
(Vol. I.) Thursday, nth February, 1808. (No. 40.)
Id is C E L LANT,
To the Editor of the Wheeling Repository*
I am aware, Sir, that some of your Subscribers care
•nothing about poetry. Iiut for myself, I am much
better pleased to see a portion of the Repository occu
pied with poetry, than if the whole were filled with
prose. I am likewise better satisfied with your paper
upon the plan of devoting part of it to articles of a mis
cellaneous nature, than I would be if it contained no
thing but news and political matter* I like to find in a
periodical print, something that will amuse or edify my
self and others, as well as to be told the news of the day.
I can turn to articles of the former kind, and still peruse
them with satisfaction ; but the news, for the most part,
is soon out of date, and indeed much of it is contra
dicted before it grows old. Amongst the articles of a
Miscellaneous nature which I have read several times,
the one under the head of Hours of Leisure, in the Re
pository of the 10th December last, holds a distin
guished rank in my estimation. I have been expecting
every week since to see another of those essays*
The human mind, though possessed of active and
discriminating powers, is nevertheless often capricious.
It approves, or dislikes, at times, without having good
reasons tor doing so. b,ven when the mind is governed
by a strict regard to the rules of propriety, hardly any
one subject will be acceptable to all. Any one per
formance will have still fewer admirers. Nor is this
matter of surprise, when even the same person will be
come disgusted at an object which once delighted him.
There are some subjects, however, which, from their
Mature, never fail to obtain more attention than others
do. There is in almost ever^jbreast, something to
which a subject of this kind is congenial; something to
which it i9 grateful; something which he who writes
Upon such a subject, feels, perhaps, in no greater
degree than most of his readers.—Hence it is, that bi
goted zealots in any cause, are so well pleased with bit
ter, and frequently unmerited, sarcasms upon those who 1
dissent from them.
The following extract from The Choice, a poem by
Dr. Church, is upon a subject which is intelligible and
interesting to all, and which is perhaps felt by all.—
The publication of this extract, I am persuaded, will be
acceptable to your readers generally ; not excepting e
ven those who have an antipathy against metre. Per
mit me to add, that this extract is eminently entitled
to the consideration of the fair sex, as it describes the
character of one who would appear really beautiful in
the eyes of the writer, and others of a similar taste.
It may be necessary to premise, that the Doctor had
made u choice” of a variety of advantages and endow
ments ; of agreeable associates, and a charming spot
for his residence. Still, however, like many who have
fitted up mansions and acquired estates, (and like my
self too, Mr. Editor,) he seems to have aspired after
some other good; something superior to the others ;.
something capable of giving fc zesito them all.
Dick#
“l$*apt in the soft retreat, my anxious breast
Partt&eager still for something unpossess’d.
Whence springs this sudden hope, this warm desired
To what enjoyment would my soul aspire ?
’Tis Love extends my wishes and my care :
Eden was tasteless, till an Evi was there.
“Grant me* kind Heav’n, the nymph still form’d to
Impa$ff$t>nate as infants when at ease ; [please.
Fair as'-the opening rose; her person small;
Artless as parent Eve before her Fall;
Courteous as angels, unreserv’dly kind,
Of modest carriage and the chastest mind ;
Her temper sweet, her conversation keen;
Not wildly gay, but soberly serene ;
Not taIkath«u^ft»r apt to take offence;
With femaWrafcness joined to manly sense ;
Her dress an|rf£nguage elegantly plain ;
Not sluttish, forward, prodigal, or vain ;
Not proud of beauty, nor elate with praise;
Not fond to govern, but by choice obeys ;
True to my arms, in body and in soul.
As is the needle to th’attractive pole.—*
Caution opposed to charms like these were vain*
And man would glory in the silken chain.”
••••••##*
Her “ social soul should all my pangs allay.
Tune every nerve, and charm my griefs away*°