The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-05-26

bona fde ghost. who would venture to
make question: Hiram Sleeper was
wide awake-Hiram was o truth.telling
man. Even Noah, the Oldest and most
faithful Of the slaves who had passed in
to the possession OF the presen, inheri.
tor Of Forbes Hill threw his wife and
Adam, the gardener, into fits of horror,
by whispering, that "Iass night wen de
hosses make sich he noise, he saw wine
by de stable door, de brack dsbbie he
self, and he hab great big eyes like mas
sa CurneI. So tall, taller nor popla
tree, Cor Ofmitym aa9 a.g s1j IN
Hamilton Forbes never entirely sur.
rendered his belief to tho general i'm.
preston Of his uncle's demise, not :hat
he had any ground to believe that he
still existed; on the contrary, the evi.
dence, without being positive, inclined
the other way, but he clung to the con.
viction with that vague tenacity which
the heart inspires in matters not wholly
hopeless. Of the ghost story he was
ignorant. The few intimate acquain.
tances he possessed, were not likely to
communicate such absurdities, had they
even been made acquainted with them,
and his habilual reserve shut out from
him the impertinent gossippings Of the
many. have said shat he was reserv.
ed. To superficial observers, and to
the world in general, indeed, he appear.
ed reserved, nay, even naughty and sa.
tnrnine; but they understood him not.
They mistook for the hard and unamia
BILE quality ofreserve, a quality far no.
bier and lovelier in its nature, the serene
and unobtrusive dignity which springs
from native purity Of mind. or re.
firing manner he certainly was, but it
was manner which arose directly from
the sensitive structure OF nature fray
ed by early sorrow; and what appear
ed in him sombre or unsocial, was but
the reflex Of those habi,udes which ev.
er cling to the deep and solitary stu.
dent. With much Of the genyieness OF
his mothers disposition, he shared
something Of his fathers pride, bat tha,
quality of, only, which rendered 10 him
baseness, in thought or action, impossi.
BILE. Although his patrimony had de.
scenaed to him shorn Of its former
broad proportions, he found it all suffi.
cient for his wants. He was one Of
the few whose wisdom grows with their
years, for as he had but few desires, he
had wheiewithal to be affluent. He
was unambitious Of public distinction.
Contented with being useful in his own
retired sphere, he believed with Horace,
that one may live, usefully to himself
and others without once attracting the
popular attention.. Popularity, he know,
was often "obtained without merit, and
lost without cause.'' He loved his
country with q patriots ardor; and, III
necessary. would sacrifice all in her
defence, but he Travelled not for civic
honors, for he saw how many were
clamorous TO press into the national
service for q $1,000 reconsideration"
Had he talents, there were manifold
ways Of applying them usefuIIy without
ostentation. II Is true that no man
''lighteth candle and putteth it under
a bushel," but that ls no reason why he
should thrust it under the general nose.
In all public crises, merit, however it
may have been ontecedently eclipsed,
will shine out with native lustre, and
will oftenest be called to lead the mul.
titude, who have been the most accus.
toned to survey it at distance.
Neither selfish nor disc onriaons, he took
less thought Of appearing happy, than
of really being So. He was beloved
by the few who had had the best op.
portunity Of understanding him; aud
ia his favor was recorded that truest
evidence Of intrinsic excellence, the al.
fectionate regard Of his own household.
Exempted from oil ;unmanly vassalage
to the caprices Of society, he enjoyed
that rarest Of Injuries, the privilege Of
spending his time in his own way
$50 long now,p would lie sometimes
say to himself, $50 long az I continue
to be no mans rival for the prizes so
generally coveted by the world, SO long
shall thus Be tranquil, 70 long be hap
py!" 'W ai9p' sila s
Alas! for human calculation; alas
for thee, Supplemented Hamilton.
Did you fancy that such treasure a.
Ella Talbot could BE- gained without
rivalf Beware! There is q rent in the