Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1850-09-07
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A TRIBUTE TO THE MEMORY OF
GENERAL TAYLOR.

I saw him but twice, the hero Of the
Mexican war, the chief man in power in
the United States, the late President Zach
ary Taylor; but enough 10 feel that l saw
in him
An honest man. the noblcsl wor, Of Cod"
The first time was beautiful evening, on
the green grounds around the White House.
The Potomac gistened in the setting sun, a
band Of music IN the grounds was playing
the "Star spangled Banner," aud a gay
crowd Of men and women, and children,
with nurses and negroes, were walking
about, enjoying the evening, the music, the
green grounds, and the view OF the noble
river, with the Washington Monument in
giant proportions rising on its banEs.-
/ President Taylor was among them, not as
the kings of Europe when they come down
among the people, surrounded by guards or
star-spangled attendants; no, but unattend-
cd, alone, plain in attire as the plainest Of
the citizens around him, the greatest part
Of them strangers TO him. Yet he seemed
to feel that he was among friends, and his
honest face, and his unassuming bearing,
his straightforward, friendly manner, the
firm and cordial pressure OF his hand, made
a friend even Of the stranger who was for
the fret time introduced to him. He stood
there serene, smiling TO the children who
were running about and tumbling in the
grass in unconstraincd liberty. lie spoke
Of the pleasure they gave him.
1t was truly republican scene--one OF
those we would lain see more often on
earth, h,-where all distance between men,
all difference of rank and fortune are done
away with, and life is again full of inno-
cence ard beauty in the lap of great ma
ture. May the slar-spangled banner float
wider and wider over such scenes, such
banqucls Of life
The next time | saw President Taylor it
was in one OF the splendid rooms Of his
mansion, and with him his beautiful daugh-
ter, the sister on the Graces, Mrs. Bliss
Political questions, to which he was called
TO attend, detained him for some time from
us. When he came, he was cordial and
simple in his manner, as before on the
b green grounds. Yet he seemed to me, not
quite well and if he was trying TO cast off
from his mind a cloud. And so he did, as
. a gallant man and true American gentle
man attending to ladies. He spoke TO us
OF the Indians, among whom he had been
much, and whom he knew well. And as
he spoke he frightened, and his speech
flowed on so pleasantly and 50 cheerfuly,
that, had we been egotists, we would have
forgotten how time flowed on, as we forgot
the storm which gathered without, and rat
tied at the windows.
1t was few days afterwards that | heard,
in the Senate, the low, thrilling tones OF
Daniel Webster interrupt the discussion go-
ing on, to announce that ga great misor-
tune threatened the land" that the Presi-
dent Of the United States was dylng--wa,
Z not expected to outlive that day. And
that very evening, how changed was III,
: gay scene in the White House! Dealt
was there, was laying his heavy hand OF
; the beloved father Of the family--on tn,
elected head OF the Republic Of the Unitel
States.
Yet serene was he even now. In deatl
j he grasped the hand Of bis wife, and said
t ''My dear wife, am not afraid TO die.
Y have tried TO DO my duty :" Ana tina
= stern montor--so fearful to many-cam
n to him on his death bed, as a comforter, q
e a soothing angel. But he had long, ion
n since made of him a friend. Duty ha
e been and was the spring of his life and ac
: tions. His friends and his foes land h
y had such in war and in poltics,) must ioi
d in acknowledging that truthlulness and con
II scientiousneSS were the unsWeTving quail
: ties Of his mind. In these virtues he wa
/ great.
'e saw him but twice, and for a littl
IN while, but as l saw him, and with what
e have heard of him, can well unders;an
g that brave men, his companions on the ba
Il te-feld, have weFt as children at bis deaiI
" and that there is, within the White Hous
re a heart who, after that death, never mol
re will feel the JOY Of life.
le Yet happy is she, who can live and gloT
lg in such memoyiesl And happy the ma
who lived and died as be, who, on his dealt
s. bed, looking over a life Of great militaT
or and civil import, could serenely say,
Or am not afraid to die; l have tried to {
SIS my duty."-Sartaia's .Alagqaias for Sc
fsm5r.
~ CAUTION TO RUNAWAY APPRENTICESHIP
he understood that certain individuals in this c
a. are and have been melting Apprentices en-
ce ployed in the PAINTING BUSINESS in the cou
- lry,around and about Philadelphia, to abseor
on from their masters. This being in violati,
'ss of The laws of this CommonwealSl, notice
az hereby given, that all such absconding A
0i prentices will be apprehended and imprsont
until the arrival of their respective maste
~ to reclaim them; and all persons harborir
i them prosecuted to the full extent of Il
RI Ledger.
er THE ENGLISH JOURNALS say that 1t will n
10 be long before their walls are placarded wi
s- announcements of Hcheap monster excursion
ell to New York and back ~