The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1844-09-11
From he Philadelphia Messenger.
The Man of Ashland.

There is written down in some volume oil
legendary lore. superstition, 1t once sublime
and beautiful, strange superstition that
would teach US TO believe that the great and
the good Of this earth are guided, watched
ever. aud beloved from very childhood. by
sgusrdian spirit, q holy angel. who first fill
ths young heart with ambition, and then
teaches the unframed foots,sp the ways oil
glory and honor, the paths Of triumph and
fame.
Such guardian spirit, 4 mighty being rob-
ed in majesty, and clad in power, have
imagine looking forth from the mystery Of i'll
invisible being, upon this rude and homely
scene.
In asmall and narrow room. with low
ceiling and confined walls, some dozen young
men. whose rusty attire and swarthy features
disclosed by the light Of the solitary rush.
light. mlrk the hardy backwoodsmen Of the
West. are seated on rough hewn benche.
listening to the stammering orator 10 theil
midst.
Gaze we'll upon that young orator, friend
Of mine. for by faith, the guardian angel
looks upon him with intense interest and
sn1ietyl Gaze upon him-a tall stripping,
with lean and somewhat bsny figure, with
face BY no means handsome, marked by a
prominent nose, a wide mouth, and high
check bones, while his forehead so bold, so
high. so full and towering in outline, gives
soul to the expression Of that large grey
sye-saze well upon him. and observe his
coarse attire, the garments Of homespun,
their ungainly shape and rustic fashion, and
ssyou gaze, treasure each tri6ing detail of
his appearance in your memory.
The boy essays to speak. His voice is in
distinct, yet there is depth and volume in its
sound. He extends his hand-ihe gesture
10 rude and awkward. 1t is but rustic au-
disnes, and yet there would be orator colors
TO the forehead with modest difidence. The
boy proceeds; his words como stammering
and slow, yet he seems to gain confidence.
A few moro awkward gestures, and the grey
eye brightens, the voice rolls out holder L. full
Ter. The boy orator forgets time, place, poverty
and diffidence. His soul warns in him, and
his hearers, rustic a. they are, lean over the
rough benches, their eyes and ears fixed in
hreathless interest. They utter no word,
they do not even whisper. Still the grey
eye brightens, still the boy-orator warns in
his theme, and now he stands before you,
raised to his full height, the ungainliness Of
his figure forgotten in the grandeur Of his
look, the coarse homespun Of his garments
forgotten in the majesty Of the soul speaking
from his unclouded brow. And then, in deep
toned words, he opens to his rustic hearers
the rich treasures OF his heart; he filings
around him the gifts of his prodigal fancy
be awes them into breathless silence; he
urees the involuntary shout of surprise and
admiration from their lips; he chains them
With his burst Of trembling feeling; he brings
the warm throb to their hearts, the heavy
tear to their eyes. He stands confessed the
germ of mighty man he, the poor boy
the homespun-clad backwoodsman, the or
phan, the stranger! The smile on the dewy
lips ofths virgin, when first she yields them
TO her lovers kiss, is sweet; the smile Of the
widow. when the peal Of fame sounding
honor 10 her first born, telling ofthe difficult
~ overcome, the triumph won, rings in her
ears, is lovely; andlovely is the smile wreath
ing the lips Of Gods own angels when the JOY
Of the repentant sinner comes up TO heaven
but sweeter than all this, is the smile OF thai
guardian angel, as, invisible to mortal eye
he looks forth upon the first triumph OF tn:
Orphan Boy 10 the rough log cabin in the
West. The father of the boy, and tn.
mother, sleep under the green sod, in fa
away land. and yet the son, the rough-clac
orphan son, has discovered the existence o.
the mighty power within him-has made hi:
footsteps ring on the iron threshold o.
the lofty temple eonsecrated TO fame. Th.
guardian angel gazes from the shadow tha
suwraps its existence upon another scene.
In wide and lofty hall, spanned by Z
magnificent ceiling, enriched with the TIL
umphs Of architecture, with the morning sur
shining through colossal windows, a strange
throng Of men are gathered, sitting In solemn
deliberation on the fate and destiny of then
L.. L. f~orr,
the green Savannah and the ice-capped
mountain, from the ocean-shore Of the East
and the rolling prairie of the West, these
men have hastened as the chosen Representa-
tiyes Of free and mighty people. The mat
ter in council is Of fearful moment-War OF
Peace, Here are men whose cry is ever
Peace though the decks of our vessels are
desecrated BY the footsteps Of British out
rage, though our flag is flung dishonored in
enc dust BY British hands, though our bor-
des are startled by tho roar Of the British
Lion, though our national fame ID loaded
with scorn, our rights trodden to the earth,
our liberties violated, the religion Of our re-
publican faith blasphemed, all in the name
of the British. crying God and ST. George to
the rescue, still the cry Of these men with
sidslong looks and lowering brows is-Peace,
Peace, at every risk and all hazards-Peace
Others there are. with honest hearts, ard
Arm hands. who dread war. They rise on
tnat representative floor and depict the
sslIs OF continental war-the town la i'd in
ashes. the field desolated. the valley made a
waste, national commerce DESTROYED, the wide
land crowded BY bodies of the dead, the
great Heaven foreEe, blacksned By the smoke
ofthe fight.
All is doubt, disunion. and disu,ay. Doubt.
while the armament Of Britain throueel the
seas; disunion, while the red-coa, armies are
in our very borders; dismay. while the first
roar of the blood stained Lion, whose proud
threats felt,he taions of our Eagle in tn. year
's3, dismay. while the first roar of the British
Lion thunders in our ears. Now, guardian
angel, look we'll to your charge!
While all il doubt, disunion. and dismay,
q Legislator. fresh from the ranks OF the
people, arises in his place. and speaks his
word of counsel. Tall, sinewy. and gaun'
in form, his manner displays the man of sdu-
e,iion-bui. gaze upon his face. Can you
ssI the meauing Of that full grey eye! Can