Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-07-18
From the Literary ( Providence } Cadet.

From the Literary { Propidenee) Cadet.
"Beneath mountains brow tie most remote
And inaccessible by ShepherdStrod,
In deep cave, dug by no mortal hands
A hermit lived-a melanchoyman,
who was the wonder of our wandering swans:
Austere and lonely-cruel to himself
Did they report him-the cold earth his bed,
Water his drink, his food the Shepherds aims.
| went to see him, and my heart was touch'd
With re verence and with pity, Mild he spake,
And entering on discourse, such stories told
AS made me oft revisit his sad CELL"
GHoME's DOUGLAS.
On the declivity of hill which overlooks
the pelucid waters of the Seekink River, in a
rude cell, resides Hermit, whose history is as
inexplicable as his affecting account of himself
| is mysterious, His name is Robert; but 10
what country he belongs, or what are the In
ducements which have led him to lead the soll-
tary life Of hermit, no one knows, and the tact
puts conjecture at hazard Certain il is, how
ever. that he is not native of New England;
and that he is not by. education or by principle
attached 10 our habits or our institutions, the
whole course of his life, since he has been with
us, has abundantly proven.
tits now about eighteen years since he first
visited US, and took up his abode in thick
pine grove, which threw its luxurious foliage
over the brow of Arnold's Hill, and from that
Iay to this, he has carefully avoided answering
any questions, which might lead to discovery
Of his histopy-or crafty the curiosity OF the
inquirer.
/ Months, years and days pass by him unnoti-
ced and unregarded;a nd ii Is only on extraordi-
nary occasions, that be energies from Tie con-
fines of his solitary hermitage. In the Spring
he sometimes occupies himself in 'laborious
emp,oymen,s-such as attending gardens for the
neighborhood; but so regardless is he OF the
things of this world, that he cares not whether
his iabors are rewarded or not, by those who
receive the benefits of them.
Unused to the Injuries or extravagancics OF
life. he contents himself with the simplest food,
and such as the boun;ful hand Of nature sup
plies. The meats or Incorporate liquids OF
social life, are unknown TO him.
"But from the mountains grassy side
guiltless fest he brings;
A scrip with herbs and fruits supplied,
And water from the springs"
| In summer, he cultivates small lot Of land,
which he is kindly allowed to possess, by the
Hon. NJ Burgess, the owner OF the estate on
which the hermitage is located, but he rarely
allows the plants 10 arrive at maturity, before
he plucks them from The earth, and throws them
10 The cattle that feed around his lonely man
sion. What should induce him thus to destroy
what he has often been at great labor to culti-
vate, he assigns no reason, nor can any one form
reasonable conjecture. His cell is decorated
with various shells and bones, and is scarcely
capable Of accommodating himself alone, and
the furniture with which il is supplied, consists
Of stool, an oaken bench, on which he repos-
es, and two or three pieces Of broken DELPHI
ware. 1t is as gloomy as darkness and solitude
can make it, and appears to De admirably fit.
TED for misanthrcpe and recluse.
In winter he seldom energies from his solita-
nv mansion, but silently and patiently waits for
time 10 introduce the yernal Spring, and to
bring about that joyful season, when once more
he can rove around the adjacent woodlands and
meads. The rays of the sun never enter the
portals OF his domici, & at midday it assumes
all the darkness Of midnight. Content with his
situation, and at peace with all, he quietly looks
forward for the arrival Of that day, when he
shall bid "the waking world good night" and
find in countries unexplored, that happiness
which life has denied him.
His cell is surrounded by thick set hedge,
wrought Of wild briars and hemlock, and dis
plays much ingenuity and taste. 1t is in most
romantic situation; some distance from any hui
man habitation, and not often annoyed by the
gaze Of the curious, or the mischievous visits
of the boys, for they all love poor RoBERr. 1t
is we'll worth the trouble of those who are fond
of the cufious, and are pleased with noticing
the eccentricites of frail mortality to visit the
abode of .Ro6ert the Hermit"