The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-12-20

composed. She observed, however, the
greatest reserve in regard TO her writings, and
II was only by accident that her mother, in dis
covering little hoard other literary treasures,
found that she had learned to write, and
at that tender age had already become an au-
thor. The following lines were written at the
age Of nine years. We question whether the
annals of literary composition can show any
thing produced at that age, equal to them in
merit, in propriety and beauty ofihought, YER
sification and command of language.
HOME
would fy from the city, would fly from its care,
To my own native plants and fowrets so fair.
To the cool grassy shade and the rivulet bright
Which reflects the pale moon in its bosom Of light
Again would | view the old cottage dear, '
Where sported babe, without sorrow or fear;
would leave this greet city, so brilliant and gay,
For peep at my home on this fair summer day.
have friends whom love, and would leave with regret
But the love Of my home, oh! It's tenderer yet,
There a sister reposes unconscious in death,
Twas there she first drew and there yielded her breath
father love is away from me now,
Oh could but print sweet kiss on his brow, III i
Or smooth the gray locks TO my fond heart dear,
How quickly would vanish each trace OF a tear.
Attentive listen to pleasures gay call,
But my own happy home-it is dearer than all,
same prematurity as her intellectual. She is
described to us as one of the most conscen-
tious, right-minded and atlectionate of human
beings, overlooking with the kindest and most
generous sympathies
A shade of melancholy, however, always
seemed to rest upon her mind, as if present
iment Of her early fate was continually pre-
sent. Her bodily and nervous organization
were extremely delicate. A strain Of fine
music produced upon her the most remarka-
bic effect; il made her to tremble and weep,
and sometimes seemed almost to stop the cir
culation in her veins. She died of the con-
sumption, early, and as it seemed, fully rpen-
ed, both in her moral and intellectual nature,
for the next stage of our being, that world Of
subtler essences, larger knowledge and deeper
emotions.
The following is the last thing she wrote. 1t
is addressed to her mother, and seems to have
been composed in the prospect Of approach
ing dissolution :.
Oh mother, would the power mine
To wake the strain thou lovst to hear,
And breathe each trembling new born thought
Within thy fondy listening ear,
As when in days Of health and glee,
My hopes and fances wandered free.
But mother, now shade hath passed
Athwart my brightest visions here
cloud OF darkest gloom hath wrapt
The remnant Of my brief career
No song, no echo can win,
The sparkling fount hath dried within.
The torch of earthly hope burns dim,
And fancy spreads her wings more,
And OH how vain and trivial seem
The pleasure that priced before; ~.
My soul, with trembling steps and slow,
Is struggling through doubt and strife
Oh, may it prove as time rolls on,
The pathway to eternal life
Then, when my and fears are DER,
III sing thee, ay in "days Of yore.'
l said tina, hope had passed from earth,
Twas bot to fold her wings in Heaven,
To whisper Of the souls new birth,
or sinners saved and sins forgiven;
When mine are washed in tears away,
Then shall my spirit swell my lay.
When God shall guide my soul above,
BY the soft chords Of Heavenly love-
When the vain cares of earth depart,
And tuneful voices swell my heart
Then shall each word each note raise,
Burst forth in pealing HYMNS of praise,
And all not offered at his shrine,
Dear mother / will place on thine
Saratoga Springs, November 1885,