New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1849-07-03
LEILA GREY BALLAD.

The maple bushes o er the stream
And through toe Onel Of the church,
see the May moons yellow beam
On here upon this moss green wall
Another year another Nay,
saw this same sweet moonlight fan
On me and Leila Grey
Cold ley her isnguid hand IN mine
Pale pale her face beside me shone'
Sweet Leila Grey, az am thine
Say say that thou art All mine own
She smiled-she sighed Behold she SAD
where from the church tower Oar KY thiO"n'
The shadow Of the cross lies spread
BY yon sepulchral stone
"There ere the May moon comes again
The hand that presses thine VIII ne
Before the reaper cuts the grain,
The death mist viii OerclOud my eye
But Oh dear While do not weep
For am weary, weary here
And fan beneath yOu cross WOulQ -leef-
Before another year
But when another May returns
And through tne Ofiel Of the church
The golden moonlight dmiy buns,
And lights the tssscls Of the birch
When yonder maple by the tower,
Stands bushing ike virgin bride
ON come. dear Willie, At this hour
And seat thee by my side
Sweet Leila 7 obey thy call
The Msy-noo lights the tasseed bnch,
And ! upon the moss grown wal,
Am sitting the gray old church
The shadow Of the cross Is thrown,
Where CLEANS marble tablet now
Twas al the came twelve months agone-
But, Leila, where art thou
Whatever Mrs. Mayo wrote is fragrant with the
goodness Of her heart and radiant with the baP
tism Of her spirit Her soul was open and keeny
alive to the beautiful and grand in Nature, aud
what her eve so readily drank in, she had rare
powers to describe. Here IS picture that came
into her mind, as she was making the passage Of
Long-lslani Sound written ct p
think never witnessed a more beautiful sunset
than that which shone over the waters IN this Novem
her eve stood long while at the stern Of the boat
watching the strangely curdlcd hues that hickered
along the burrows that cast up as We went Tor Ay
were 10 me new and full Of beauty brilliant rose
color brindled over the rich green, and serpenune
stresls of gold trcked aldag the edges Of the snow
white foam the clouds above were gorgeous as II their
wont on an Autumn eve, and the red sun, az though
unwilling to withdraw the glories Of his presence lin
cered along the western sky and cast his rosy smile
upon the white dwellings which rose up behind the
evergreens of the island and sOops and other small
craft were gliding gently up the harbor, the wild geese
sported the shore and everything In heaven and
on earth and upon the sea, assumed hucs and forms
and attitudes OF exquisite loyeliness and grandeur
But her private writings bear the strongest ties
timony to the superior qualities OF her mind, the
variety aud richness OF It's culture, and the excel
lences Of her character. Her biographer has done
wisely to let these speak They open the windows
OF her being, and we see the very throbbngs Of
her heart and gaze into the clear fountains OF her
spirit We feel that we in the presence OF a
true and noble woman. We perceive that what
ever she means before her fellow beings, she
means the same before God. Born and educated
in the country, the birth place and alma mater OF
true men and women, she had no faith IN shams.
A free, generous, ardent soul, she could wear no
letters The following passage from private
letter, written at nineteen, 10 a cherished friend.
exhibits the texture and tone OF her mind
IL had rather be num- shut out from the sympa-
thies of the world than 10 mngle with my fellow be
ngs and not have my heart tree TO utter lite affections
1t is sweet to speak what one feels and to kno"
that another feels IL too know you approve
of A spirit ike this | am confident | shall Away
maintain 1t among those who understand me Tor ]
was born In the country in the shadow OF the wings
of Liberty where there no walls 70 smut IN the
buoyant heart tyrant like Fashion, TO put gilded
letters upon unressiing slaves no servile bowng OF
the knee TO Ceremony no particular measure Tor the
humility OF bow no prescribed information oil the
voice nothing ietered in the heart, nothing regula
ted IN the manners Here all is tree and among
the all
Her letters are drawn with beautiful grace and
ease. and are alive with sentiments and pathos
that are high eulogy on the mind and heart from
which they came. Those on the death OF her
u
raj debility are vigorous aud touchngly beautiful
How ardent the Infection for that brother TO edu-
cate whom at the most expensive institution IN
the land, she toiled with her pen for five years
How keen the affection that had taken from her
one so gifted aud loved yet how serene her soul
in the season of trial She was a true Christian
woman. Her religion was no sickly sentimental
ty. 1t did not crsmP and dwarf her nature. 1t
was the health and joy Of her being, and charm
and a goodness TO those around her.
This volume is got up in a style that reflects
much credit on the publisher is accompanied by
a finely engraved portrait, and is mos, important
addition to the interesting and refining reading OF
the country 1t will shed an influence around the
ceAter-table and from the family library, healthtu
as the fragrance of flowers and gladsome as the
songs OF birds J. l. s.