Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1844-08-09
MISCELLANEOUS.
From the Philadelphia Messenger.
THE MAN OF Nd.

There is written down in some volume Of legen-
dairy lore, superstition, at once sublime and beau
tiful, a strange superstition that would teach to
believe that the great and the good of this earth
are guided, watched over, and beloved from very
childhood, by guardian spirit holy angel who
first fills the young heart with ambition, and then
teaches the unframed footstep the ways of glory
and honor the paths of triumph and fame.
Such guardian spirit, mighty being robed in
majesty, and clad in power, have imagined, look
ing forth from the mystery Of its invisible being,
upon this rude and homely scene.
In small and narrow room, with low ceiling and
confined walls, some dozen young men, whose rus.
ty attire and swahy features, disclosed by the light
Of the solitary rushght, mark the hardy backwoods-
man oil the West, are seated on rough hewn be nch.
es listenln. to the stanmerng words of the orator
in their midst.
Gaze we'll upon that young orator, friend Of mine,
for by my faith, the guardian angel looks upon him
with interest and anxiety Guze upon him-a tall
STRIPPING, with a lean and somcwhIt bony figure,
with a face by no means handsome, marked by a
prominent nose, wide mouth, and high cheek
bones, while his forehead so bold, SO high, so full
and towering IN outline, gives soul to the expires
sion of that large grey ete-ga2e well upon him,
and observe his course attire the garments OF home
spun, their ungalnly shape and rustic fashion, and
as you gaze, treasure each rihlng detail of his APP
pelrance IN your memory.
The boy essays to speak. His voice is ndistinct
vet there is depth and volume in its sound. lie
extends his and-the gesture is rude and awkward
II is but rustic audience, and yet the would be
orator coors to the forehead with modest difdence
The boy proceeds his words come stammerng and
slow, yet he seems 10 gain confidence. a few more
words, few more awkward gestures, and the grey
eve brighens, the voice rolls holder and fuller. -
The boy-orator forgets time, place, poverty, and
diffidence. His soul warns in him, and his hear
ers, rustic they are, lean over the rough bench
es, their eyes and ears fixed in breathless 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 ungainllness of his fig
ure fnrgotton in the grandeur Of his look the coarse
homespun of his garments forgotten in the majesty
OF the soul speaking from his uncouded brow
And then, in deep toaed words, he opens to his
rustic hearers the rich treasures of his heart he
filings around him the gifts of his prodgal fancy
he awes them into bresrhess silence he urges the
involuntary shout of surprise and admiration from
Their lips; he chains them " ith his burst OF remb
ing feeling; he brings the warm throb to their
hearts, the heavy tear to their eyes. lie stands
confessed the germ of a mighty man The, the poor
boy, the homespun-clad backwoodsman, the orphan
and the stranger The smile on the dewy lips OF
the virgin, when first she yields them to her lovers
KISS, is sweet; the smile on the widow, when the
peal Of fame sounding honor to her first born tell
ing OF The dific lty overcome, the triumph won
rings in her ears, is lovely; and lovely is the smile
wreathng the lips Of Gods own angels when the
'oy Of the repentant sinner comes up to heaven