Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1840-06-05

Among our hills and vales, have known
Wise and grave inen, who, while their dlgeni hands
Tended or gathered ia the ffuts oi EARN,
We're reverent scholars In the solemn school
OF Nature. Not TO then, IN vain were sent
seed-time aud harvest, or the vernHl shower
Thai dnrkoned the brown iillh, or snow that beat
tDn the white winter hills. Each brought, ~ lurn,
Some truth some lesson an the LIE oi man,
Or recognition uf the Eternal Mind
Who Nils his gory with the elements.
One such knew long since, a whitehaired man,
pihy OF speech, ard mrrr, when he woniu
A gunnl optiInist, who dali. drew
Frt IN what he snw, his quaint morah'es;
kindi, he held eonlnanion, though ,,,,, 50 "la
With me n dreaming boy nnd lnileh' lnuch
That books tell not, and shall nr'~r forget.
The sun Of May was bright In middle heaven,
Aud stepped the sprouting forests, the green hills
And emerald wheat fields In hts yellow light.
Upon the apple tree, where rosy buds
stood clustered, ready Ia burst forth 10 bloom,
The robin warb.d urih his clear full note
For hours, and wrnried not. Within the woods
Whusc young aud hail sparent leaves scarce cast
A shade, gay circles of ansmones
Dshced on their stalks the shad-bush white will
flowers,
Frightened the glen.i the new leaved but,er.nut
And quivering poplar TO the rowing breeze
Cnve a balssinic fragrance. In .his field
| saw the pulses of the gentle wind
On the young grass. My heart was touched WIN Joy
Al 90 much beauty, flushing every hour
Into n fuller btanty hut my friend,
The thoughtful ancioni standing nj my slae,
GAzed on IL mildly sad hsked him why
Z" Wen may st thou join Ia gladncss," he rrphrd,
:" Win ,hs glad earth her spring pg plants and flowers,
A nd this soiI wind, The herald Oi the green
Lu,nrinnt summer. Thnu art young lke ihrIn.
md well may 81 thou rejoice. hui while the ight
or seasons nils and knis thy spreading hsme,
IL withcrs mine, aud ihns M, hair, and dins
These eyes whose fading light will soon be qnenched
In utter darkness. liraresi thou TIM. bird -
! listened, aud from midst the depth Of wood,
Heard The To- signal oi the grouse, that wears
A sable ruff around his notified neck
Partridge they cnll him by our northern streams,
Aud pheasant by the Delaware. lie bent
his barred sides his sIecklcu Mhlgs,
A sound like distant thunder slow the strokes
Al first, then fast aud r,sier, Till nj length
They passed into u mnrmur and were stiIl
=. There hns, thou" said my friend, ga dtiing type
~ human lie. 'ris an old truth, know,
But images like these will ireshrn truih.
slow pass our days IN chidhOnd every Gay
Socms like n century rapidly they glide
In manhood, aud in hfes decline they NY
Till DAYS and seasons llit before the mind
A. nit the snow-fakcs in n winter storm,
Seen rather than distinguished. All seem
As if sat within helpless bark,
Nv swiftly running waters hurried on
To shoot mighty clih. Along the hanks,
Grove afler grave, rock AFTER frowniDg rock,
flare ssus aud pleasant homestcads; nowcry nooks,
nd isles aud whirlJ ools in the stream, appear
Each after ench, but the devoted skin
Darts By swiftly That their limoges
Dwell not npon the mind. ar only dwell
IL dim confusion faster Yet sweep
BY other banks and the great guph Is near.
Wisely nv son, while yet thy da, are long,
Aud this fair change Of seasons pnrses slow,
Gather and treasure up the good they yield
Al that they teach of virtue, of pure thoughts
Aud kind Affection, reverence for thy God
nd for thy brethren; 80 when thou shalt come
Into these barren years that fleet away
Before their fruits are ripe, thou may st not BRING
A mind uniurnshed and a withered heart"
Long since that white-hnired ancient sleptbut still,
When the red fower-buds crowd the orchard bough,
And the ruIlrJ grouse IL drumming lar wllhin
The woods. his venerable form again
Ii st my side. his voice IL in my ear.