The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-08-21


The home ofPhilip hrmytage was ono in
which tho world may sec that pocsy can hal.
low daily life, and that the glorious light Of
genius is not incompatible with the subducd
delicious glow ofthc domestic fire side. A
man ottacnt is ike n beacon set on hill, cN-
posed to every wind Of heaven, and 10 the
gaZc ofiununcrablc eyes, eagerly Watching
lest its light should be cXtinguished. If it
futter or wave for moment, like any othe,
common fire, mp rises the cry ola hundred
voices, and Il hundred hands are lifted to
quenCh the unworthy beacon. God help The
man Of gcnius! he walks through road thui
is full ofGnares, more, and deeper for HIM
than for men of less exalted minds 0nd less
sensitive natures; and all these set mp re
joicing shout if he only stumble. Yet it i"
not impossible to tread the path in safety
many strive thus to walk, and all honor to
those whose lives, prove that men muygiory
at once in n lofty intellect and blamcIess
aud pure heart. Such an hue approaches,
to that ideal or humanity-which all shall!
we trust one day altain-whcn mind and
matter shall no longer strive together, and
SO become "a little lower than til c uugels.'
Philip Armytagc lived this life, rs near as
Il man can do on oarlh. lie brought the trea
urcs of lis lofty intellect TO brighten his
home; he did not reinquish his profession,
but ne adorned it with the rCiinemcnts Ola
oiGcJ mind. lie had none Of the yagnrieS
Of the uoct: he did not consider that genus
,,,,st ,trrr..,r;ly he eccentric, aud 10 one
,,.o,,iI i,yr t,oirrht that the clear headed,
.ou.iLln man. yyhosc courteous and winning
manners were the ornament ofthe iutcucci'N
al society which he collected around him
nj; ,ycII nr,irrcd homo mr. tl,c mouth, oficc,.
inr,to L,,sl,nL who read and faIkcd cI,ccr-
G,lI,, -, lis ,,iin Lrr;,r tho Ionr ,y;rIcr a.
,cnir,,z ,,os tI,c s,n5a birb souIcI noc+
,,,,.o. I,;,I;,n, ;,,ar;m9,in,, rrodn Lie WI,
ines ,vorsifnred Inv some. and wondered m
h,. oInrrs
'yyIcn ,Lo law, ,Iooe,,t eun,r,or do,.,
,..,,,o .,..", ul;ii, MI s,,II, ,n,r. ,.,I
,,;,,,,. ,Tt%n iou ,,'d nod .,,,,,,. r. time
10 n homo On. In,yn in Tho rouutry. ,Ic samo
,,.l,or, .,r,l.,'. ,,n,rnti,l cLildbonL IaI Ina,,
.,,,, ,,,L ,,.I;.I ,,.,g ,,o,, Irti Lnlf dosrl,fr
in ,l,n ,bsrrcc o.:i,. present oy,I,cr, Ed,a,l,,d
DrrnJroth VLn Lonnv wifi, OF pbilin Arm
t.,o troJ with Lnr Ili.l,onl Ia, her side. rll
;hoso C,ro5t yy.li,s where the lc,cly Blind
,-;rI L,I onro v.1rdrraJ and tI,c contrast
n5,.l, ror i.r,,sihla Lorrier sill Tia wac
- the yo,,,,,e n,i. nm onrhontcd drea7u of
s,ri, deem i0v Tint thcir hearts ,renhIcd mn.
der fine Lur,Lpr. like flowers heavy with
,,,,,rb Ioyy To,,nr ,i,.h with minds riftod
to hpbuId and enjoy. ia the fan. nil Tint Wn.
heau;jC,l. and hcarts Tint seemed rs ono in
close and loving union.
What had ,hcy more TO desire? Sometimes
y Jirht shadow of l;,nr would fit over thcm-
n sort OF yaruc doubt that us night comes al
fer day. so rrjorcycr follows happiness. But
,hcu love chased the dim phanto,a away will,
It's nnrel wines
HhDd been n Iono scason' of drourl,t.so that
the very or,ss was marched in the meadows,
the birds became almost mute. and fed 10 tl,n
dnrnrst sl,rrs of Ihc WIS, (nrcst, YER, .,,,e-
fll now was the tljrt; wood. whose ycr!auf
recesses formed the ONLY relief from the in.