The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-10-05
MISC ELL A N E O U S.
From the London Monthly Review.
, PoeticaI Works of Thomas Pril

MANY volumes have been filled with the rec
ords of lives that were not half so worthy of com
incarceration as that of Thomas Pringle and ma
nv writers have assumed for their volumes some
promising and dgnhed title, such as profess to
communicate all that ought to be known concern
ing the lives of distinguished persons, which have
not been half so well executed as the present ef-
fort, which is modesy called Sketch We
have been so deeply moved by the ject before US,
and by the manner in which it is treated that we
are resolved to afford TO our regders such view
as ought to induce many to crafty and improve
themselves by complete and frequent perusal of
the whole.
Poor Prngles history is one indeed which in
singular degree exhibits the combination of lit
erary talents and humanity and the influence
which the former Of these excelIences may be
made to exert over the interests of civilization,
and the glory of great nation. At the same time
seldom has there occurred more beautiful in
stance of literature and moral purity lending to
each other reciprocal charms, or Of the extent to
which a humble individuals labors may reach
when directed by high principles, and constantly
towards the attainment of great and benifcent
ends.
The subject of the present sketch was born on
the 9Th of January, 1889, and was the third child
of numerous family. His ancestors were res
pectable farmers the Scottish Border and to
all who are in the least acquainted with the class
so designated 1t is unnecessary to say more for
the purpose OF conveying a very high idea of in
elHgence and moral worth While but few
months old he was so unfortunate as to meet with
an accident that disocaed the hip-joint of his
right limb and from the fact being concealed by
the nurse for length of time the injury was new
er reduced. He grew up, however, resolute as
well as rejecting boy as Mr.. Richie says the
useless limb which he destined to drag labo-
riousy about for the rest of his life serving as
check and a memeno and often when his youth
ful glee was at its highest, sending his thoughts
back to himself Even when but boy his piety
was remarkable, his cid nurse saying, that she fire.
quently found him, at that period of his years. on
his knees engaged in fervent prayer.
In spite of the serious and permanent damage
done to his limb, he became so accustomed to his
crutches as 10 rival the activity of those who had
no such defect to overcome, loving adventure and
pursuing it with no ordinary success. To such
boy, however, the loss of an excellent mother
when he was only six years of age, must have
been peculiar calamity. Yet he ever retained
be gathered from the following lines in poem
called the "Autumna Excursion" which we
| copy.
"And when that gentles human friend
No more her anxious eye could bend
On me, by young affection prest
| More close to her maternal breast,
| / deem'd she still beheld afar
My sorrows from peaceful star;
| In slumber heard her family speak,
And felt her kiss upon my cheek"
Pringle's earliest and favorite amusement saws
the Memoir, were gardening, fishing, and working
with mechanical tools. " In the last mentioned
employment he exhibited considerable dexterity
and the same natural turn which enabled him to
construct fshng-rod out of crutch found exer-
else, in afteryoars, in supplying his lonely African
hut with at least substitutes for the convenienceS
of civilized life. Books however, were his grand
resource-fary tales, ghost stories, narratives of
adventure and vcissitude but especially of battles.
" o that | had book full of battles!" cried he
and his old nurse, delighted that she could crafty
the taste of her darling and at the same time in
sinuate divinity, FASTENED to put into his hendS
Bunyan's Holy War"
When about fourteen years of age, he was sent
to the Grammar School of Keso, and three years
later to the University of Edinburgh A boy off
his own age, now the Rev. Robert Story, minis
ter of Rosneath on the Clyde, was his FELLOWSHIP
dent and LOGGER while at College; where in spite
of the temptations Of great and gay city, they
regularly performed those rel yous services which
they had been accustomed to see observed at
tanning tHC uuLy allelHHtSl95 ana OH luG
Sabbath opening no book that was not of a relig-
ious character.
Among the membranes of the first evening
we spent together" says Mr. Story, it may de-
serve notice that, on comparing our atlainments
in literature, he mentioned with peculiar delight,
Parks " Travels" and Campbells Pleasures of
Hope" quoting that fine passage in the latter
which ends with the line,
"And Freedom shrieked when Kosciusko fell"
1t must have seemed very unlikely, at that time,
that a young man suffering from incurable lame
ness should become traveller but the congen-
al enthusiasm which the adventures of the Afr-
can traveller awakened in his mind, peculiarly as
sisted him in laying the foundations of new col
ony in the wiIds Of Southern Africa; while, in
his admiration of Campbell's verse, may be traced
the terminating love of freedom and adherence
of oppression which became the ruling passion
and determining motive Of his future life.
My first impressions of his mind and heart"
continues this same friend, "were deepened by
every opportunity had during long friendship
and confidential intercourse | had with him. His
warmth ofadecton, his righteousness and integ-
rity were at the very commencement of our fell
lowship as truly revealed to me in his sayings