The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1839-12-11
From the Baltimore American

| WISrER.-The season Of short dsys and
long nights has now come upon US. when ev-
enings close in dark and misty, swallowing up
up tho afternoons. The sun as if exhausted with
ms summers service, quite glared out, comes
unwillingly, as it were. aud slants down oblioue
rays ieebly. or curtains himself altogether with
clouds and vapors. How dreary the face of
nature! The trees stand like poor spendthrifts
that have parted with their garments, and now
find that they most want them-or like poor
old patriarchs, deserted at their utmost need
The very birds have abandoned the naked
ughs-paraSites and fattsrers. they go TO
chirp in leaiy forests southard. The fields look
dssolate, and would no doubt be glad of deep
snow to hide their shabby coats of brown grass,
II Is sone-their gay vesture Of green they
fiaunt it no longer in holiday robes of flowers
and sweet smelling clover. As for the streams,
although We have not seen any lately except
Joness r alls girding the precincts Of Old Town,
yet we are very sure they have fororn look
and are IN daily expectation Of freeze. Like
gay bellies. they have sparkled and glittered out
their season. running fantastic courses and play
ing along as though springrme and summer
were to continue always. They are very hum
BILE now, poor things, and would fsn glide a.
nong the ssdge without observation.
But we have fondness for the winter. 1t
is an honest season. There is no hattery in a
Notth-wester. Old Boreas comes like a man
IN earnest. and lets you know at once what you
are to expect. Besides, there are associated
with winter the images Of the evening freside
and the family group. Domestic sympathies
blend now more warmly with the heart-sweet
household sympathies, the dearest Of human
affections Some people use close stoves in
their parlors aud drawing rooms. II 10 possible
that onemay enjoy ones self social. domes-
q. ha(a ala La h.v
misgivings. Who can talk of fireside with such
piece Of furniture in his mind or before his
eyes! The cheerful fire, sparkling. and blazing.
fair emblem Of home and quiet comfort-what
has that TO do with black radiator! lsa close
stove once mentioned in song or ballad! What
10 to become of the hearth-sacrcd 10 dear as
sociations and to classical "reminiscences Is
there any hearth to patent Mott, or an improv-
ed Olmstead? There some Of these inno-
vatons which have a semi-transparent door Of
isiDglass. as il to keep up appearances by show
ing glimpses Of f1ame-but il is all make be-
lieve-a mockery-an impudent pretence. But
worse than all this-we write il in sorrowful-
ness Of sprit-there arc houses which have
neither fire nor sacred hearth,-nsy not even
stoves-but are warmed by some bargarous con-
trivabce in the shape Of a furnace below, which
sends up barren heat through grated apert-
ures in the floor. Ii were no wonder II the
indignant Penates. with groans, should take
their everlasting departure from such inhos-
pitable sbrines. How can Christmas fires be
kindled in furnace with stone coal! Are
back logs to be banished forever!
We turn to other considerations. Winter 10
the season when people need newspapers. We
cannot dwell on this topic in verse until New
Years day. but il is plain enough 10 prose.
CowPER in his scene OF the evening fireside,
after he has given directions to
- Close the shutters, wheel the sofa round.'
takes good care to introduce the newspaper
that folio Of four pages" Who does not
wish to be informed Of the progress Of things
in this season Of great goings ont Politics and
patriotism fcrment most in winter-and in this
they are unlike small beer.--Twenty six Leg
islatures all hard at work-and one eougloner-
sted Congress What a stir mnst be looked
for in these hives Of lei leeislaiion-vhai expendit-
ures Of " most sweet breath"-whst eloquences
what idins IL will 60 bard If We ere not gov
erped enough. And to make this assurance
doubly sure, il is 10 be remembered tnat the
embodied and concentrated wisdom OF the 70.
public has nothing else to do 10 vIn's'. an
other business is dull aud il can shord TO lay
itself out and expatiats. Newspapers rise IN
value a, the mercury fslls--they are the only
eondvi,s winch do not freeze up in the eeldest
vea,h.y. Tbev are the abstract and brief
ebyon,e.c Of the time''-not 80 brief. either.
sor,e Of them. Battles Of loeomsehy. which
come of in legislative balls, are here iouse'