The Wheeling repository — Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.], 1807-06-18 00:00:00, page 3

and dignity has been done to
him? The small still voice of reflection
repeats “there is nothing done for him;”
but it is stifled, for the present, with a
pi omise of great things to be done here
after.
Mordecai, though by discovering the
plot of the two chamberlains he had
saved the king’s life, nevertheless sat
for a long time unnoticed at the palace
gate. 1 hat he was thus neglected is by
no means singular; nor is it matter of
surpiise, that the vainglorious, design
lng, :md malicious Human was exalted
over him. Similar examples might he
adduced even in our own country. How
often do we see among ourselves, the
cunning, designing, worthless knai’e
pampered with honourable and lucrative
offices, though his country has never re
cei\ cd the slightest service at his handsj
hi 1st the war-worn veteran, whose
strength and substance have been ex
hausted ui the service of the state, is
overlooked, neglected, and unnoticed.
His coarse attire,sun-burnt countenance,
and homely dwelling, proclaim aloud,
to tlie disgrace of the countrv, “ there
is nothing done for him.”
Societies of individuals are not more
just, nor more generous, hven those
who associate together in the bonds of
Christian union, are unmindful that the
“ labourer is worthy of his hire.” Their
spiritual Pastor is too often shame
Juiiy neglected. Though his time
and his talents have been faithfully
and zealously devoted to their best in
terests ; though his nights have been
consumed in qualify mg himself to give
them instructions, and his days in pre
paring tor them salutary advice and ad
monition ; though he has evaded no la
boui, which their ser\ ice or welfare im
posed upon him ; though he has com
plained of no exertions which thev have
lequired of him ; yet his latter end ap
pi oaciies, and he is found destitute and
helpLss. He has spent his life for o
tb. is, and not for himself. His rusty,
thicadhare coat; his tagged, perhaps
half-naked children ; his shabby and de
solate mansion, declare, alas ! too une
quivocally, that u there is nothing done
for him.”
He who, influenced by the sentiments
of pure bene volence, consults not his
own abilities to spare, but the wants and
necessities of his It How men, is soon
taught, that whatever he may do for o
th< rs, at a perio:l of calamity and mis
fortune, “ tit ere will be nothing done for
There should be engraved on the
teart of man, a tablet of all the transac*
tions of his life, in characters as indeli
ble as^the “ book of records of the chro
nicles ’ of king Ahasuerus. This tablet
he should frequently examine, not only
on the night when he could not sleep,”
but on every night of his life. When
he retires from the bustle of business,
whether to his closet, his bed chamber,
°i the haunts of solitude, he should
cause his memorv to bring this tablet
and “ read before him.” If he finds it
recorded, that he has received any
kindness, benevolence, or affection, he
should, in the spirit of the interrogatory
oi the Persian monarch, inquire what
“ Honour and dignity” he should do to
his benelactor. Nor should a mere in
quiry suffice. II, like the minister of
Ahasuerus, his conscience should an
swer, u there is nothing done for him,”
he should immediately think how to re
ward him. lie should, without delay,
ascertain within himself « what should
be done to the man whom his heart de
lighteth to honour,” and should perform
with promptitude, whatever he deter
mined upon, so that none could point to
his lriend and benefactor, and reproach
fully exclaim, “ there is nothinc- done
for him.” K
varie ty.
From the Port Folio.
Mr. Oldschooi,,
1 he following lines are from the pen
ol Piaster J. H. Payne whom proba
bly you have heard of, and of whose
poetical promise the stanzas enclosed
are no unfavourable specimen. Consi
dered as the production of a lad of
fouiteen years, they certainly exhibit a
glow of fiction, and a view of enthusiasm
truly wonderful, and w hich intheir ma
turity may do honour to the poetical
character of his country. I am sure you
v ill he of that opinion on glancing at
the 2d and 3d stanzas in which the ten
derness of elegy is peculiarly exhibited.
1 he whole is in my opinion far beyond
the common flight of the versifier; ad
dressing itself to the heart in the simple
vein of unaffected sorrow.
New-York, May 10, 1807.
Epitaph on Dkrmody.
Oh stranger, if rhou hast a sigh,
A pitying sigh for others’ woes,
I hen linger yet a moment nigh—
for sacred ashes here repose/
Oh / didst thou know what relinks alien.
Iu this dark, cold, sepulchral bed;
Mayhap, thou’dst sit, like me, and weep,
The wtld ey d Bard of Erin dead. "
And thou would’st bathe the flowerlthai
T.ll ev ry flower that bloom’d before,
Should, bending, kiss the sacred grave.
Should bow, & weep, & bloom no more \
Ah / could he touch his harp of song,
His sweet ton’d, warbling, much lov’d
lyre,
Whose notes as he would oft prolong.
Would kindle all his soul to fire ! 6
Ah 1 could he touch—perchance the
Would wake a kindred glow in thee,
And even thou a sigh might's* deign,
lo irenzied, luckless HermodvJ
But now, nil hush’d his tuneful lay
And dimin’d the light’ning of his eyes,
And wrapt his lifeless form in clay,
In this cold grave the poet lies /
Here*oft at ev’ning’s hallow’d tide,
S,ire *eaci infant boy;
\V ho loves to listen by his side,
And hears his tale all mute with joy.
And often shall the village youth,
h rom childish pastimes steal, alone,
r°dturfWirh flowersthis Srass-greeti
And twine with wreaths this mossy stone
And the lone traveller, wand’ring near,
c ™an.v an hour, by wo beguil’d,
bhall mourn, with many a silent tear
The poet, u wonderful and wild.” ’
Sioux Indians.
Lieut. Pike, who went up the Mis
sissippi, by order of government, to ex
plore the country, mentions in hjs journ
al, from which extracts have been pub
lished, that on die border of lake Pepin
the party were shewn a point of rocks*
“ from which a Sioux woman had pre
cipitated herself, and was dashed to pie
ces on the stones below. Her friends
had refused her the husband of her
choice, and intended to marry her to one
whom she despised. She sung her
death song, ascended the hill, and
before her friends came up with her
took the lover’s leap, and ended her
distress and life together.”
The same Journal gives the following
account ol the mode in which the Sioux
Indians fortify themselves .
“ Opposite to Hoot river they passed
prairie la Crosse, (so called from a game