Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-06-11
ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE
iron THE ALEXANDRIA oAsETrE.J
SKETCHES.

SKETCHES.
NV theme is mournful, the unwilling pen
Is 10th to do it's duty; for the ills,
The miseries and woes Of human lite,
And all the thousand dire calamities
That blend their strife with our few sunny spots,
yrwould fain not tell: bot rather contemplate
In each new light and varied attitude,
The pleasures, joys and destiny Of man.
The cheerful farmer With his smiling babes,
His frugal helpmste and his clearly cottage,
His small domain we'll ordered and secure;
Enjoys with greater zest the sweets OF me-
Than those who pride themselves on being g,euf,
Or are the naughty inmates Of palace.
HIS summer arbor Yields sweeter shade,"
Than ..kiuslv canopies'' can ever give;
H;s winter fireside il scene OF g'ee,
Aud Peace and Plenty crown his festive board.
The good man, who, with calm complacent eye,
Aloof from worldly strife and anxious care.
With nousht to mar his peace. or cen to break
The smooth and tranquil surface OF his rest;
But all conducting to his happiness
Floats gently down the stream OF lie; perhaps
INK nown and unobserved. II envy more
Than him the world doth cali conqueror'
Than him whose name is on nations tongue
Or him ~ho sways nations des'ihies.
Ia chilJhood's happy days, when innocencs
And native ioyousuess prompt oil our acts
In Youths CAV hours, while the buoyant spirits
Break forth in exultation aud delight,
And loves benigDant power exerts itself,
And fills with extacy the youthful mind.-
Then are we happy, then can truly say
That in this neither world some good remains.
But an! how dark, how g'oomy the reverse!
The sadden'd prospect opens up to view
And shows enough to make an angel weep!
Who can behold without tearfu, eye
The dire array Of misery aud pain,
OF want and wretchetlncss, OF horrors black
And bitter disappointment, which with sure
And steady step pursue their V'ctm-mah!
Who has not often seen the chilling hand
OF cold and cheerless poverty, laid on
same haple,s mother, who with constant care
Strives hard from morn ill night to Danish want,
Aud famine from her orphan babes to drive!
Who has not often seen the letters strong
Which want imposed OH genius-ho", alas!
With eiant grasp it held its victim down
And doom'd in woe his life TO pine awayl
When laTring on through dangers rugged
path, :,
And braying storms and whirlwInds Of the world,
To meet some wished for. object. cherished long:
When toiling, il" struggling with the storms Of
fate"
And counting moments years for that we seek,
Aud in that object centering happlness:--
A md then. when raising to our thirsty lips
The CUP Of happiness we long have sought,
tn have II dashed f0rever!-Then IT is
That bitter disappointment stabs the heart.
And leaves its dagger fostering in the wound.
To see the midnight murderer steal forth,
And strike at sleeping innocence or age,
Nav shock our nature-vet not him hate
Nnre deadly than hate Ingratitude.
II is the curse Of man-the l"isond sting
More deadly than the a,lder's-unnatural
And base-our natures shame--our. nature
curse!
Millions there are who bow their servile necks.
And from a tyrant's hand receive the yoke;
Who hug their CALLING chains close to their
breasts,
While vet of tyrants' rod they feel the smart.
Millions in Slavery's dread bonds do live,
And lee, that death alone mnst make them Tree.
But why thus contemplate the ills OF lie,
And suffer dark forebodings to encroach
Upon the prospects Of the futuref for
There is world beyond this scene Of woe,
| Where, only, man shall perfect pleasure know.
NORvAL.