Wisconsin herald, and Grant County advertiser. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1844-1845, 1844-12-07
fFrom tho PAiiadslph;s Dollar NssOspep0.
The Old Door Nail,


handsome and manly proportloned per-
son was Ralph Roswell, with nothing
remarkable in his face except tender
ness, that would at times peep from the
blue de pth of his clear eyes, like pure
angel peeping from bis bath Of heaven.
He worshipped the beautiful, and found
no language adequate to the expression
of his alteration. He hada lovely wife
who, without strength of character,
possessed depth Of feeling which re.
fleets every pure and beautiful object
or idea, with the addition of a rainbow
halo of its own humid light. He loved
her to idolatry and she worshipped
wherever his name was written. Her
soul dweltin fair palace Of the FROST
work of romance, and he was the pre-
siding genius Of the enchantment. He
was not rich, nor did he covet riches;
yet there was longing Of the spirit
within him that deprived him Of peace
or rest. He had heard voice sweet
er than the song of love hymning to
the four winds Of heaven, the names
it delighted to honor. And, the winds
bore the melody, like pillows OF insensc
from sea to sea, from pole to pole. 1t
mingled with every spirit, and all who
felt it, bowed down and worshipped.
And his soul painted to write his own
name on the scroll with those dci6ed
ones, with a live coal taken from the
altar of the Muses.. He had climbed
the rugged rocky ascent to theirtem-
pie, and he had gathered rich Offer
ing of sweet flowers by crag and cleft,
as he assembled; he beheld the golden
altar, and the undying FIRE in its ada
mant censor, around which lay, in
deathless bloom, the garlands Of all
who mad been able to touch that thrill
ing fire. And there were flowers clus-
tcring there which were certainly in
ierior to those he had gathered; his,
therefore, could they but touch the
shrine, would become immortal, and
he should Di,, a name"
"But how could he approach the
altar ! Before it sat majestical per-
sonage, self-instituted and selfenthro-
ned; yet holding in its hand, the desti-
MES of genius. Partial he was, and
accessible to bribery, and influenced by
host of demons, who were clustered
on the right hand and the left. There
was Envy, coiled like serpent, hiss
ing out his vile aspersions; and Preju-
dice like a raven. sat perched upon his
shoulder; political party-spirit, like a
hideous Hydra, gave his vote; and the
fumes of fretful Immature frequently
blinded his eye to the fairest and puresl
offerings. He had power to breathe a
mildcw on the garland gathered with
so much toll along hopes rugged path
way: and far more numerous were the
wrcaths thus blighted at his feet, than
those which bloomed upon the eternal
shrine. And the hearts Of those
whose offerings were thus blighted,
were broken, and wretchedly discon-
solate, excepting a few, who were
gifted TO perceive that the SO much
NSauSQ JuuSS was utOisdis diiu tudt
there was a mightier than he-an an
gel, commissioned from on high, whose
Judgment alone was finally decisive
She carefully examined every wreath;
and some that lay high on the altar
she touched with infamy; and many
nat lay in the dust she lifted, shook
hom them every calumny and misrep-
fesentation, washed them in the foun.
tam of Truth, and hung them up on
high. But her award was tardily rem
aered, so that she often wrote the shi-
mag name Of those whose eyes
and ears were closen in death. But
Roswell needed not the unerring arbi-
Hae's; he thought only Of the award Of
ne mortal Critic. Fame! fame was
NE god he sought, the dream that haunt
g him both sleeping and waking
Tor this he toiled, for this he hoped,
20 thus alone he prayed; and he sent
o'ih every effort Of bis mind with
SscPes and fears, amounting to agony.
= one applauded, bis soul was deliri.
OI with delight; and if one spoke dis.
P4'aslngiy, the words were poisoned
1.Ows to his spirit. He did not con.
N3er the insigni6cence Of individual
sment; or that every one decides as