Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1846-04-23

poetrp.
Cbe OLD Mdn's GounStl.
ify ". Bryant.


Among "ur hills and valleys, have known
Mise aud grave men, who whils lhru dilig"hI
hands
Tended or gathered in the fruits nf rarih
Were r.y.rrni lsarn.rs in ih. sulrmu srhnol
Of Nature Not ~ vain Ia them were srni
Srrd-tme aud harvest, ar the telnal shower
That dnrkrncd the brown ilh, "r snow lha
beat
On the white winter hills. Ench brought iu
inrn
SOME truih some lesson on The life of man,
Or recognition of The Eternal mind
Who vrils hts glurt with the elements.
One such knew long since, white haired
Piihy of speech, and merry when he would ;
A genial opihimlsi, who daily drew
From what lr saw his quaint noraliies.
Kiudl, hn held con muniun, though 50 old,
Win mo n dreaming boy aud taught mr
much
Tint books tell not, aud shall nr'cr forget
The sun oi Nav was bright in middle heaven,
Aud siecprd the sprouiIne forests The green hill
And emerald wheat hrds, IN his yellow light
pom the apple Tree, where rosy buds
Siond clustered, ready 10 bursi fufih in bloom,
The Robin waracd Firth his full clear note
For hours, aud wenrird not Within the wood,
Whose young aud hall transparent leaves scare"
cast
A shade. gay circles of anrmones
Dancrd "n their stalks the sl'ad bush white
.. with flowers,
Frightened The glens; the new lravrd buiiernul
Aud qu,, srue poplar To the rovb'g b,ssze
Gave ~ balsanlic fragrance. Ia the fields
! .aw Tue pulses of The gentle wIrd
On III. young grass. Ny heart was touched
with Joy
At 50 mnch beauty, flushing every hour
Into fuller beauty, but my friend,
The thouphifiil ancient, standing NJ my side,
Gazrd IN ii mildly sad asked him why?
"W.ll mny st thou juin in gladnoss, l'e piled.
"Wtb The glad earth, her sPtIng'ng plants and
flowers,
And this soii wind, the herald nr the green,
I.uxuriant summer. Thou ART young like them,
And "rl may'st lhou rejoice. But while ih"
or seasons fills aud knts Thy spreading frame,
II wiih.rs mine, aud ihins my hnlr, aud d'm'
These eyes, whoso fading light shall soon be-
qurnchrd
In utter darkness. lIcarest thou that bird p
listened. and from midst the depths Of
woods,
Heard The low signal or The grouse. thai wear.
Th. sable ruiz around his mulilcd neck
And plrn.ani by the Delaware II" beat
'Garnst hs barred sides his sprckled wings, aud
made
A sound like distant thunder slow the strokes
A. first, then ia.t aud faster, ill at length
The, pas srd into u muimur aud were still.
"Therr anst ihou, said my iri' MI, "a fitting
type
or human life. 'Tis an old truth, | know,
N
Shw pass our days in chlldh"od, ever, day. ..
Seems like century; rapidly they glide
la manho"d, and ~ hi- drcl,nr they fly
Till DAYS aud seasons hli before the mind
A. hIi the snow fakes IN n winter storm,
seen rather Than distinguished. An +! | seem
A.ifI .at within u hr plrss bark,
Is, swiftly running waters hurried on
To sbyot some mighty cliff Along the banks
Gro,y after grove. rock after irownlns rock,
liar. sands aud pleasant homesteads howery
nooks
Aud isles aud whirpanIs in the stream, appear
Each after each, but the devoted skif
Dur. by 80 swim, thai heir images
Dwell moi upon The mind, or only dwell
IN dim r"niusion : faster yet sweep
B, other banks aud The great gull is near.
Wisely, NJ, son, while vet thy DAYS are long,
Aud this lar change Of ,ensous passes slow,
Gather aud treasure up the good they Weld
Al rhnt they teach Of virtue, of pure thoughts
And klnd atlrctIous, rc>rronc" iur ia, God
Aud for thy bfrthr'n: 50 when thou shall
come
Into these barren years thnt feet away
Before their fruits are ripe, thou may st not
mind uninrnishcd and wihered heart.
Luns since that white haired ancient slept