The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1844-03-08
From the Home Journal and Citizen Soldier.
THEN MANOR THE HERMITAGE.
BY GEORGE uPPARD, ESQ.


far over head arched the azure dome of
the Heavens, and far, far around sweeps
the gorgeous prospect Of wood and field,
uprising hill and green meadow. the
wood clothed with rainbow hnes, the hills
all dusky brown. while the long grass of
the meadows glitter with the first frost Of
autumn.
Oar way has lain along Wonder green
meadow, our footsteps crjsping the tall
grass at every stcp-come. let Us rest our.
selves on Wonder stump If giant oak,
let us look forth upon the sky from the
interval between the shrubs vet green
with summer, and the chestnut tree heavy
with iruit, it, long limbs sweeping across
our vision while the broad healthy leaves
culver To and fro to the impulse of the
momenlary breeze.
llark Afootslep
.'A buld and determined roolstcp, yet
an ancient man emnrges into view, and
stands before the interval of shrubbery
and chestnut tree, betw cen our view and
. the red dawn Of the uprising sun.
One hand resting on a welI-used cane,
while the other IFS the white hat, half
dafkened by Grape from his brow, hc
stands silent and immovcable, right
between our eyes and the uprising sun.
Tall, Straight and erect as the red hunt.
er "i the Forest IN figure, with the port Of
natures own moulded kings, the quiet
majesty of command in every gesture Of
his limbs, he gazes to the sky, and the
blush of dawn falls softly over his noble
. face. the lofty massive brow with the
snowwhilc hair, rising in masses around
its thoughtful outline, the keen piercing
eye, shadowcd hv the grey hrows the
determined nose, the firm mouth with
compressed lips, the high check bones,
The bold prominent chest, and the furrow-
ed wrinkles of his viSage--.lll are Grim.
soned by the uprising sun.
This is a strange old man, and he
walks abroad at an early hour. Who is
y ihe stranger =
Look again-he dill gnzcs on the
Heavens, dye mark his eye Dye mark
how it diates, nushes andy my
soul-i burns Mighty thoughts cross
the Old Mans soul at this hour, swelling
memories fill his aged hearl-eighty
years are upon him with all their story
and experience of the worlds ways ant
wrongs, yet the ancient stranger hail
blood, warm blood in his veins, and hi
soul is yet young, fresh as the swayin.
leaf of the aulumnal chestnut tree.
Tell us |. what are the mighty thoughts
that cross his brain! Are they thoughts
sof God i! Calm dreams of good old age
'looking back TO well.spcn, years Mighr
reveries Of former glories; the seem
where the million applaud, while th
laurel falls freshly on the brow Of III
Conqueror, or the crowded temple wher
the old FireGod Eloquence slrs men
hearts to high purposes aud glorlou
!. deeds, or the chair of office, shaken t
---rand fro Ivy the rocking Of the popula
earthquake, or does he dream Of the quie
solitude of the eternal grove.
Who is the stranger standing calml
and cree. between us and the uprisin
sun. with the red blush of the daw
falling over his wrinkled face and SNOW
hair?
Not farmer in all this neighhorin
land. but has seen him thus travrr>in
~ ~. ., .o,t. arlv dawn, wrap in nb,orl
lug thh'GaE. '"h,a pIouqh-hoy urging II
sleek horses along the llrrow Ia II
caImne>s of purple twilight. hu, has IooI
ed over hls shoulder and hehrd the Ia
stranger, slrdIng slowly ON along tt
verge 81 y0nder hedge, his calm face N
turaed To the sky, while his eyes dia
cd and flashed with silent ye, NIGH
thought
Who is the stranger !
Ut is the happy Sabbath morn and pa
sing through the wicket-gale, built on Il
old stone wall, we enter the rustic gray
yard and stand before the country churc
rising grey and massive in the clear SIX
with the old doors and window-sills e;
en- by decay, clumps Of green moss on Il
roof, The swallows twi,lering round Il
ancient sleeple, with the sunshine gliI
mering over The cracked bell and rust
vane.
We enter, we seat ourselves on 4
steps ofthe altar, for the church is crow
ed; we listen to The wards Of the az
preacher, whose message is Of life a
peace 10 the minds Of men. from I
Lord Jesus, the Crucilied, the Arisen a
The Mcdialorial.
l1ark murmur, buzzing sou
runs through the church. The nreacl