Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-08-08

THE RIVULET..


iu sppsarsncs is ths Upited States Liters
Gazette, about four years since, and was at 4
time, very generally copied into the columns
rhenswspspers Of the day. Il ~ from the p
Of Bryant, and would le honor TO the most gi
ed and celebrated poets Of the day. We alws
read il with satisfaction. and believing that o
readers will end in lis perusal, rich treat, '
how proceed to lay it before them.
This little vill that from the springs
OF yonder grove, its current bvings,
Pluys on tie slope awhile, and then
Goes prai i,ipg into groves again,
CIT to its warbling waters drew
3iy little ieet when life wac new.
When woods in early green were drest,
And from the chambers Of the west,
'rle warmer breezes travelling out,
Brcaihed the new scent Of flowers about
Ny ruspt step. from home would Stray,
Upsn IFS grassy side TO play;
70 crop the violet on its briin,
And lIten 10 the throstle'. hymn,
With blooming cheek aud open brow,
A, Young aud gay. sweet rill, as thou.
k,A when the days Of DO, hood came, ID.
Aud have grown in lore with fsne,
DAILY sought Thy banks. and tried
NV first rude numbers by thy side.
Words cannot tell how glad and gay
Fhe scenes Of life before me lay.
High visions then, and lofty schemes
Glorious and brigh. as fairy dreams,
And daring hopes, that now to speak
Would bring the blood into my check,
e,ssed DER me; and wrote on high
6ame deemed should never die.
Years change thee not. Upnn yon hill.
Tht tall old naples. verdant shri,
Yet tell 10 proud and grand decay,
How swift the years have passed away,
Since first, n child ana half afrait.
Z wandered IN the forest 81 ade.
But thou, gay, merry rivnlet,
Dost dimpie, play, and prattle yet;
Aud sporting with the sands that pave
The windngs Of thy silver wave,
And dancing to thy own wild chime,
Thou laughest at the lapse Of time.
The same sweet sounds are in my eur
My early childhood loved TO hear;
As pure thy limpid waters run,
As bright they sparkle to the sun;
As fresh the herb. that crowd to drink
The moisture oftty oozy brink;
The violet there, in soft May dew,
Comes up, as modest and as blue;
As green, amid thy currents stress;
Floats the scarce rooted water cress;
And the brown ground bird, in thy glen,
Sill chirps as mcrrily as then.
Thou changest not-but am changed,
Since first thy pleasant banks ranged;
And the grave stranger come TO see
The plav- place of his infancy,
IIa. scarce single trace OF him
Who .ported once upon thy briIn,
The vision. of his youth ARE past
Too bright, too beautiful 10 last.
I've tried the world-it wears no more
The coloring of romance 1t wore.
Yet well has nature kept the truth
She promised TO my earliest youth;
The radiant beauty, shed abroad
On all the glorious works OF God,
shows irssh!y, to my sobsred eye,
Rs~h charm il wore in days gone BY,
A few brief years shall pass away,
And 1, all trembling, weak, and grey,
Bow ed to the earth which waits 10 fold
My ashes 10 the embracing mould
Nf fhsply the dark will offate
Indulge my life so long date,)
HIay come for the last lime to look
u ion ny chillho obs favoritc brook.
Then dinily on NY eve shall CLEAN
Vhe sparkle Of thy dancing stream;
AlL family on my car shall fall
Try pra'.liiig currents merry cnl;
Yet shalt tfpou flow as glad and bright
As when thou metst my infant sight.
AnJ shall .leep--aud OH thy side,
A. ages after ages glide,
Children their early sports shall try,
And pass to hoary age aud die.
But thou. unchanged from year to year,
Eaiiy shalt play and glitter here,
Amid young ilowers and tender grass
Thy endless Infancy shall pass;
AMI, singing Gown thy narrow slen,
Shall mock Ne fading race OF men,