New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-09-23
NEW-YoRK TRIBUNE.
FOR The sew.York Tribune.
THE cApTTvEs TALE.

THE CAHJlh L = Ak
A PRISON was my dwelling,
And months and years rolled by,
And still within that prison
], hapless man. did lie;
And all that time had not seen
The face OF sea or sky
Not seen the sea-not seen the sky
Not gazed upon the moon;
Nor the quiet stars at midnight,
Nor the gorgeous sun at noon.
Yet had longed with eanestness.
Beyond all human thought,
To gaze on Nature, that TO me
Had ever pleasure brought;
And which, in happy, bygone days,
sedulous!y sought.
The pattering shower-the sweeping blast
The billow ioaiiing free;
The daisy peeping through the grass
The leaf upon the tree:
The strearnIet trickling through the moss
All. ali were dear TO me.
the forest gray-the mountain high
The torrents laundering fall:
The governed rock-the beetling cliff,
And all things great or small,
Awful or gay, sublime or fair,
loved IL lore them all.
The stars, like spirits, haunted me;
The moon-Oh need ! Try
To tell the strength Of feelings
That lived where Hope did dic2
And some men could, with carelessness,
Der streams, through meadows pass
Oh, God would have leaped 10 see
The smallest blade Of grass;
A weed-a weed-a Doisome weed,
When other men descry,
With eyes avert and head aside.
They hurry quickly by;
1t would bring rapture 70 my heart,
And moisture to my eye.
One night-it was Winters night
Cold, piercing, was the ar,
And Frost, that subtle spirit
That entereth every where,
Had found my loathsorne prison out
And bided with me there.
That night held a levee:
NY thoughts did come and go
Each bitterer than another
= Came quick--departed slow,
And truly that night was 10 me
A night Of sleepless woe.
Yet never was there woe so deep
That may not iightened be,
And God, that loveth all He makes,
Did plying look on me.
The darkest day that ever lowered
MAY brighten ere the eve,
And some light colors mingle
With the darkest web we weave
/ thought not thus upon that time
sat in sullen grief
felt fear ielt-a doubt
That God eouid give relief
/ thought upon my chidhood's home,
Where had wandered free.
| rubbed my cyes-I starred wild
gasped. -. What did sect
AS IN living man Star
Was looking down on me
l flung myself upon my knees
! bowed my head Ia prayer
Then upward turned my fearful eyes $50.
The Start was not there
Gone, like momentary smile
Upon the brow Of Care.
Gone, md so soon 49,. You think wcpt
Cause lost as soon rs won.
No. in nv heart OF hearts felt
Its mission had been done.
IL reused the Man within me-
Ii reconstructed hope
1t made me pant for Freedom
1t made me strong to cope
With every Zoe. 1t gave the ltH
My prison bars to ope.
And had dreams-such happy dreams
Unchequered by a care;
And all things bright in Heaven and Earth
In my dreams mingled were
Flowers and.stars and birds and trees
Were mixed promiscuous there,
And Childhoods merry, fittul laugh
Was ringing III my ear;
And the light tread OF youthful feet
Came nearer and more near.
felt the grasp of kindred hands,
summed me IN the light
OF loving looks All round me was
An Eden Of delight
Kind voices whispered near me.
And kind words, kindly meant.
Thrilling the ear, came like the sound
OF some sweet instrument.
Like the fall of leaping waters
Like the gushing OF spring
Oh, what in Nature can compare
With Friends kind welcoming
The Human Voice what instrument
So sweetly sounded yet,
When in the key of Kindness
Its every note is set
My home -. | saw my home again
Where |, in boyhood, played
And the streamlets may windings
Through sunshine and through shade.
And heard its ripping waters,
Which pleasant murmur made.
The play. ground aud its inmates all
And he who made our laws,
And told us where we should 60 seek
For blackberies and haws;
A partial legislator, he,
To remember had cause
All--all, I saw-thc hawthorn tree.
The birds nests III the caves
heard again the wooine Winds
Soft whisper TO the leaves
Invoke 49,. / gazed -, only saw
Deep darkness all around;
only heard the echoes
Of the bells discordant sound
Istretched my hands-they struck the walls
That eompassed me around.
Yet none Of all these many things
My Happiness did mar,
only kpew--l only felt
ihad seen my guiding star
A rent was in my prison:
knew il not before
The heart that thrpbhed for Freedom
Had no need Of knowing more,
He that hath Hope, hath every thing,
He will progress and progress.
For Hope is but the prologue
To the Drama OF Success
lis Heavenly messenger to Man.
Whose mission is to bless.
Ineed not tell you how strove
To make that rem: more wide;