The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-07-08

Faith fingers still-and h ,pe is nigh,
Wen ever look to Heaven.
which was followed by eloquent prayer by the Rev.
DR. Ferris ut the conclusion of whica the report
Commute, on Compositions Of the first depart ment,
by Mr. John II. Bartlett, setting forth that
Il compositions which had been submitted for their
eNtn instion, with very few exceptions, dstin-
guished for of dcon and opriety of
tinent; that IN many instances they marked by
business Of thought and veliness fancy; while
all 'llu trated degree of ability and cultivation that
gave abundant promise of higher attsinments here
after The committee, after alluding in compliment
ty terms to the abilities and athfllness Of the ac-
compshed teachers in this departm to the
a Gentle Word" and also to the author of prose
essay on light the two gold medals subjected to their
disposal.
''11IE SELL OF GENTLE WORD"
Twas night. and the cool and perfumed breeze,
Breath'd soft mid the bows of the waving trees
Or low to the Wild wood flowers it sigh'd
While the tiny buds to its tones replied
But 1t n the gay music Of fairy -glee,
Ia The clear, calm midnight merriy,
And n thousand sla nciDg beings Of air,
Like couutl. S. gems held their revels there,
1t fled f ON the woods and the flowers away,
And stole to silent loom, where lay
dying girl
Look'd out from their tears the dark ming skaa,
Where single star in its glory sh, ne
Like a naughty heart bereft and lone.
Round the marble brow waved the clustring hair
and the tiny y hand, were ,M csspd in prayr
Was sad as the wall of the widow'd bird.
Oh, sweet is the spell that the zephyr filings,
AS it sweeps DER the wild harp's si,ycry strings
And soft is the murmur'd minstrelsy
Of the flashing waves on the summer sea;
And the rain drops breathe, as they the earth
gladstone chorus Of joy and mrth
The bue-t ellis ring ever in tones of gee,
And pleasant sound hath the humm ng bee
And though strangely Fad is the spirits sigh,
When the crimson cs uds leave the ev' ming sky
Yet when sun beams burst on the sleeping flowers,
With yiops Of streamets and fragrant bowers,
With flush of joy on their petals bright,
They ope with chorus of Wild delight;
The gem that CLEANS the velvet vest,
That shelters each Numbering w'ret's breast.
And has Whispered all night of it's home on high
Where its sisters dwell in the beaming sky,
Takes sweeter tone when the dawning day
Bids it leave the earth on its heaven ward way,
The dancing brook murmurs joyous tale
OF the leaty wood and the messy vale;
And have ye not heard when the shades of night
Hung dark DER the earth and the stars bright,
soft, sweet tone, like the violets song,
Or the lay of the waves as they glide along,
But no it is sweeter than they, by far
Ills the spirit strain Of some wandring star
But softer han music of star sea.
Than dew-drops murmnr. or hum of the bee,
Than the tale of the brook, the song of the BRIL-
Is the mystic spell Of a gentle word
1t fails on the heart rs the sum ner shower
On the fading leaves Of the tilrsting flower;
Like beam of Hope. with its cheering ray,
II ligltens the gloom of life's dreary way;
And when the darkness of death draws near,
And the spirit shrinks with nameless fear,
1t tells the soul of n radiant sh
Where sorrow and signing known more.
But am alone;-no loved one is nigh,
To bend kindly DER me and pray ere die
| hear the clear song of the Joyous BIRD,
But listen in vain for &c tile word"
Then an aged man. with bis locks of snow,
Press ID earnest kiss her fever'd brow;
She had knelt with him oft at the hour of prayer,
In her childhoods home, when the world teemd fair
And u thousand flowers on her path were she'd; =
But now. when they all we're faded and de I'D,
And her heart was sad. and her soul most drcar,
A nd death hover'd DER her he only was near
Ivy child ~ he said though DER thee may wee,
Fear net for the angels vigil shall keep
BY thy lowly grave, and a requiem sing
+ or the bud that died in its bossoming
Won, ctarf hat tsk ID; brio hi
Would tell thee tale of Gods merciful love;
For e'en as il glows through the darkness of night,
Thy spirit hall beam in the land of light.
Thy mother, my dear one, awaits thee on high
She would welcome her child to her home in the sky
"My Mother !" she murmur'd--a sweet smile play'd
Round the tiny mouth while the cool breeze stray'd
mid the clustering curl on that low pale brow
And breath on the cheek Of stainless snow;
But the dark closed-the maiden stirred
Her spirit had pass'd with that gentle word
Miss Margaret A. Burwell is the of the fair
thoress of the above successful prize poem Miss
Ellen s. Young of the essay entitled Z" Light which,
together with much other interesting matter
with the proceedings, is unavodabiy crowded out of
eur columns. Prose ays, entitled The Spirit of n
terprise,' The Pilgrim Of the Cross and of the
World and Peculiar Taent' likewise alluded
to by the committee III very tatterng terms The
port Of the committee composition If the second
partment was next read by the Rev. Mr. Thompson,
in which they remarked that several Of the compost
tons examined by them would compare avorably with
those of classes II the standing ia the first cole
in the country, and referred as an instance, to u
poem entitled The Spirit Of Beauty OF which the
committed remark that they cannot adequately ex-
press their admiration of this chaste thoughtful and
finished production. Upon independent grounds they
would cheeifully have awarded to their unknown en-.
chaDtrefs, not only medal but crown Of gold. 1t
was with extreme reluctance that thiy came to the
conclusion that TO give the pr &c to poem, which
lad competitor, would be of injustice to the
many excel, mt prose writers who have not been f-
vorod ~ the muses.. The author Of TIL Spirit of Beau
tyr must ther fore content herself with this early ex-
porence Of the poets fate to win golden opinions
without receiving the substantial cold ITSELF + be
in in .xvifl I, ia
ton OF the committee was then read and favor
sion made to Others entitled" LIES Guiding Starr
The Power and Glory of the Creator OIspaye the
WORKS OF Cretuon," Music" The Music of tue
Stars The Hearts Desrcn The Pilgrm Father
"a Soft Answer Turneth away WRATH ms being cha
racterzed by vigor Of thought delicacy of senti.
ment, or purity Of style, or by all these combined
The piece however. which maturity of thought, sim
picty and beauty of STYLE felicity Of illustration and
expression. and delcaey and elevation of sent me 1T,
in the judgment Of the committee entitled the
medal was Thoughts at Mothers Grave" (by Miss
Anna NJ. Cauldweil) In the third department the
medal was awarded to Miss Mary C. Cutter, for beau
tfu compcsition in prose entitled - meeting of
Flowers" The mmit in their report observe I'll ,t
had hcy more than one prize to bostow. they would
gladly have shown their appreciation of the pieces
utltd me village Pastor y the Chairs Of our DEPART
feeton,p "the FAIRY Lesson" and several others Of
distinguished mort
JosiPu McKEoN. Esq, County Superintendent of
Conner Schools then read the report Of the co nmit-
zee on meth mates, awarding the principal gold me-
" iodewics; In doing which 1t stated that Miss 8
hunnHn W. Johnston, Emma h. Briggs, Seiena MAY
COCK. Hehiitt q. Percy aud Harriet r. Foot had
Hcu,"y uislnPukhed themselves as msthema tic al
scnoars' 80 nuch so that the committee had expert
enctd considerable embarrassment in awarding the
medal.
The gold medal for the beet con position in tho
Frtnch language. WIS awarded by the committed 10
Mis- taioin, w. Hubbcl. Tn name OF Misses C. ar.
Inc f. clean aud MarlaIct w Raw w,r, also
alluded to IN vry complimentary terms By tho com.
4 y ittteon French
In pepmansLp, tho gold me lsl awarded to sriss
CoIrtiie K,elsr Premiums Vtre likewise awarded f,i
the Leaf drawings nnn paintings.
~ II