The Rodney telegraph. (Rodney, Miss.) 1838-1840, 1839-05-04

very tnauy mohtuSss - auaHtdOsO ""S s"o
Disguise, that we should have passed on
without the performance Of those delicate
attentions which the peculiar circumstances
Of the case demanded, had not "Leila''sun-
fortunately left the hand of the beautiful
youth gioveless, in which he held his hat
while masing upon the rifted trunk of that
giant tree, which had been the sport and
victim Of Jove's thunder bolt. But for this
latter circumstance, the disguise would have
been complete. Irepeat then, that Leila"
is an old associate, and am rejoiced once
more TO meet her, though she. does come in
a questionable shape. Yet, | will speak to
her-call her s.Lelia," - or -, or by
any other name which will be recognized as
her own. either by inheritance or assump-
ton. And conjure her by all that she
holds sacred, to give an explanation to some
Of the passages occurring in the pathetic
appeal of the ci-devant aLeila" for her re-
creant lover, who SO very OPPORTUNITY ,suf-
fered himselfto be surprised in fit of alb
straction, while seated on the trunk Of that
mammoth tree, upon which the lightning of
heaven had with SO little ceremony poured
out the walls of its wrath.
ale had his hat in one hand, seated on
the trunk of a fallen tree, the man, or the
haiti His CHR rested on the o.her. 1t
had once been the "mighty monarch of
the forest, and though Wondering in its ru-
ins, had look of grandeur still. Some flu
rious storm had swept over the spot on
which stood. Some whirlwind had burst
its roots asunder-shattered its trunk to
atoms, and left the body in ruins, where it
once stood firm and fast" Now, wish to
be informed whether the chin, the hand, or
the tree, is here alluded to as the "monarch
OF the Forest" for, according to the phraseo-
!ogy Of the sentence, we are lef- to coniec-
ture to which this poetic description proper
ly belongs-though we confess there is
small analogy between the hand or chin to
the Object here represented. Again: if the
body were in ruins, and the trunk shattered
to atoms by this wide hurricane, how could
| it occupy the same place, where it "once
stood firm and fast?" We ask for informa-
ton, and hope "LelA" wall favor us with
satisfactory explanation. The scenery de-
scribed before her interview with this hero
Of the "rifted oak" is drawn with graphic
hand-but how "Leila" can tell us about
the valley that reposed so quietly on her
left, and far away out Of sight, is mystery
requiring solution. The presumption is,
that the valley had been favoritc resort
that flowers sprung up on every hand, and
perfumed the air with their fragrance-that
the whole valley was carpeted with the
green luxuriant grass, common to the coun-
try, and afforded delightful retreat of a
warm summers day, when rhe visions OF
poetry were floating in the clouds or sport
ing in the sun-beams-and where all was
peace, quiet, and solitude. Be this as it
may, we think the authoress has opened the
door for criticism, and should be called upon
for explanation or precedent. The philo-
sophical remarks upon the dead log, so often
referred to, are well worthy the serious con-
temptation, and the calm and dispassionate
investigation of the moralst and the christ
ian. The striking analogy between rot
ten tree and the immortal mind of man, is
truly sublime conception-particularly,
when it is rccollected that the log was once
an acorn, sprouted, became tree, was hail
ed the "monarch Of the forest,n and finally
ldefed the lightning Of heaven, was now
riven by thunderbolt from the armory Of
Jove, especially forged, and sent forth for
the accomplishment of this destiny, and to
terrify the presumption Of those who were
inclined to doubt his power. The tree could
neither breathe nor feel, And yet could live
and die-consequently, was an appropriate
emblem of the soul Of man winging its flight
to heaven, while the body was left to minge
. with its parent dust. In 'sLeila" the editor
Of the Advocate has an able and talented
correspondent-his paper will be sought, fal
and near--and the love-sick swain and the
coy damsel will find hope and consolation
10y and peace, while pcrusing the brigh
emanations of this poet and philosopher up
on whom the genius Of inspiration has lei
fall his mantle. KARA.