Wisconsin herald, and Grant County advertiser. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1844-1845, 1844-12-07

Tor disagree with the present tone OF
their mind and feelings. That the
sweetest lay of love and Joy is hateful
to the misanthrope; that the most plain
Tive song of sorrow CRATES on the ear
|of the glad heart; that a legend Of con-
Istancy unto death, is nonsense to the
and the purest hymn of
devotion, folly to the atheist and the
worldhng.'' ve;.i,s
He now resolved to make the des-
pirate venture; he had compiled a coll
lection Of his favorite productions, and
now awaited the, to him all-important
decision. Anxiety SO fevered his mind,
that sleep departed from him; he left
his food untouched; he needed moth
ing except such voices as spoke of his
literary efforts. Sometimes he antici-
pated triumph, and dwelt on glory
until his soul was intoxicated; again the
fear of failure paralized bis spirit
Naught on earth seemed of value to
him except the pending award. AT
length it came. The review was pub
|lished. The little clique, which styles
itself the world, stood waiting the man.
date, ready to applaud or to condemn,
as the mighty magician should direct.
Well, the fiat came! He was proclaim
ed GREAT!! The World received the
opinion with clapping Of hands, and
his name went out on the four winds.
And now came the voice of Fame to
him. 1t came alas! like an upbraided
spirit, reproaching him with idolatry,
and time and griels perverted. His
wife, whose anxiety for his success had
been only less than his own. sat pale
and fearful by his pillow, watching his
feyered slumbers with apaper contain
ing the important critique in her un-
steady hand. He moaned in his rest
less slumbers, and muttered incoherent
words, mingled with snatches Of his
own composition. At length he awoke
and raised his head, but let it fall back
heavily on the pillow with deep groan.
9 Ralph! dear Ralph! said his sorrow
full wife; you have triamphcd. Shall
l read this very Mandatory critique9'-
sOh, Emily! he murmured, 'these
things are all vanity. What is poetic
fame to me in this hour? 1t cannot
give me health or ease; it cannot re-
deem my soul; it will soon be lost to
me as the murmur of the waves on a
lovely strand to the seward voyager.
They cannot soothe me on the broad
ocean Of eternity. Oh! Emily! | have
idolized that which was given me as
a blessing,and employed that which was
Jehovah's to my own glory, not to His
Not to his, Emily! forgot to render
unto God the things that arc Gods
l sought only the approval of mankind.
l perverted the richest gift Of heaven,
and madeit, by my own folly, a fire to
consume my vitals. III had used it
according to the will of the blessed do
nor, should have made it blessing
to my fellow creatures, and an honor
unto God; while He who overrules all
events would have given me length of
life, honor and happiness. But, now,
! must diel Yes, dearest! l have made
you widow, broken.hearted friend
less woman, alone in the cold. cold,
world! have sacrificed to phantom
my own life, and your dearer happi-
ness. And the voice of this fame will
die away, for there is nought eternal
but God, and that which partaking of
his purity, is assimilated to Him.
However, wit and talent may triumph
for a season. the good is omnipotent--
it will overcome. Justice will scatter
the laurel of impiety, and gather the
most humble blooms Of virtue unto ev-
erlasting life. Lay aside the paper,
dearest; dry your eyes, and read to me
the words of eternal life. He has been
almost forgotten, but now would turn
unto Him with my whole heart; posi-
bly, be may regard and show mercy"
And so the poet died, with the laurel
for which he had bartered life yet green
upon his brow. And men sought to
console his widow by speaking to her
of the splendor and glory Of the orb |
that had set /; bnt she felt how INSULT |
Gent was his fame to compensate for
his life. And how much holier, how
more valuable is the holy |
peace Of the humblest Christian than
the brightest literary gem, especially |
to the dying. And how much dearer
to the mourner is the memory OF the