The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-05-08
Fer the National Era.
THE STORY OF A VIOLET.
BY GRACE GREENWOOD.

BY GRACE GREENWOOD.
Some time last summer had the happiness OF
visiting most agreeable family in Salem, Mas
v,obnsetts-one of the plessantest as II is one Of
the most ancient and aristocratic, cities Of New
England.
Ny hostess was lady of elegant tastes, and
t,pe refinement Of intellect and feeling and with
Al one who has made such good and beautiful use
ofWealth that the least-favored Of fortune would
scarcely dispute its being her rightful heritage
ann peculiar desert An accomplished American
lady, from her position, character, and rare per-
sOnal attractions, necessarily much in the world,
her fine domestic qualities, her warm domestic
affections attest that she is not altogether Of the
world
A few years since my friend, Mrs. s., made
the tour of Europe with her husband and daugh-
ter leaving at home with his nurse her youngest
child, little boy some three years Of age.
During my stay with her, she was so kind as to
show me portfolio, filled with simple memorials
of the most memorable places which she had Wis
tied on her tour Among these, found flowers
from the temple of Jupiter Scraps, from the
house Of Sallust, and from the tragic theatre of
Of Pompeii, with fig leaves from the temple Of
Isis-names rendered dOubly immortal by the
glorious romance of Bulwer. There was myrtle
from SOrrentum, grass from the gate Of Cum@,
and spray of wild grape from the temple Of
Venus Baie. There was fern from the Sacred
fka
Capitol-wild vine from the Coliseum-and jas
mine from the Protestant cemetery, where Keats
and the ashes of Shelley are buried There were
field flowers from the lake Of the beautiful name,
Thrasimine and Orchis from that lake of unap-
proachable lovelness, Como, and tulip flower
from near the tower in which Calico was impris-
oned. There was grass from the bridge of Lo-
d-geDtian from the pass Of the Splugen -
there we're leaves from q tree overhanging the
wounded lion of Thorwaldsten, cut in the rocks
by Lake Lucerne-brave little flowers from the
glsciers--heaths from Chsmouni, with the Ans-
none AlpiaG from the pass of the Jura There
was acacia from Ferney, the sight of which
brought at once to the mind the cynical and inf
del philosopher, whose sublime egotism of genius
was more than match for the hereditary egotism
ofroyalty-a blossom Of the wild pea from the
Castle Of Chillon, which even more wildly
brought before one that lonely prisoner, "whose
hair was gray, but not with years. and for whom
aWorld wept when genius told the story of his
sorrow. There was fir from the Black Forest.
and bunch Of forget-me-nots from Heidelbureh
Castle. Then came a wild rose from Waterloo.
which one could almost fancy crimsoned with the
blood once rained upon that awful battle plain
followed by sweet little peas<s plucked from the
grave Of the worlds most glorious singer, Mali
bran There was trumpet flower from the gar
Gems OF FOntainbleau, a sprig from willow
planted by Marie Antoinette's own hand, and
cedar from the ChGpelle Erpiatoire, Paris. There
was ivy from Windsor rose from Westmin-
Ser-and simple daisy from Kenilworth, alb,
Mt emblem and memento Of sweet Amy Robsart
there were oak leaves from Blenheim Castle
autumn-crimsoned leaves from Oxford-mosses
from Tintern Abbey and Norwich Castle-ferns
from Haddon Hall-snd magnolia from Chats
worth. Then came flowers from Melrose Dry
Ourgh, Abbotsford, and from the grave of Scott
Last came rose from from Holyrood-sweet
orlar from Roslin Castle - leaves from a tree
shading the cottage Of Burns--aowers from the
banks OF Guta from the valley of st. Johns. Ry.
da-Water, Windemere, Rydal Mainland a
sprig from tree OVerhanging the gate through
which wordsworth passed daily for his medita.
tive rsmble among his beloved hills
All these, and many more than these, were bav.
ing about them some proud or sweet or mournfn,
association, which was as magic spell 10 br,no
lar scenes near-to restore the past to cause il
even to give up it's glorious dead But as turned
over this rare portfolio, found among some of
tue most valuable of those mementos of what had
Ueen less tour Of pleasure than the pilgrimage
VI poetic and artistic SOUL common goydl,.
''0.a' carefully pressed and underneath /. vas
',,,5n' Il Uioia from home vlieh has been kissed
" Waie.-ROme.D
hhE VISION OF THE VIOLET,
40 more the dream, the longing
LIE pilgrim s,rAys at last
amid thy haunted tsmple.
Thou city Of the past
"hose eagles once made darkness
"here'sr their wings unfurl,d--
nose seven hills prOpped glory
mat doned the ancient world
with thy ruins gOOming round her.
Thy columns rising fair,
win the murmur Of the TYber
floating down the quiet air;
WIN the Moonlight falling DER her
IN bounteOus, golden shower
'ne stranger, still and tezrfal,
"'l'ng on faded flower!
Alb, she little hseds thy gandsurs.
UT thy woes, dscrOvnsd Rome
OF the vision Of the violet
The viiiOu Of her home!
She cannot lose her spirit |
IN the glOres OF thine art
ror the stirring Of little love
That nsstles In her heartl
'ns hsedeth not thy meody's
Most sweet, prolonged strain
'ot the music ofa little voice
mat singsth In her brainl
otures that the world Blumin.
'oW around her, woudroas f.ir
~ vt =, hsArs paints iovslier pictures
VI the norn's dslIsioas air
TAR on, pleasant chamber.
Looking out upon the sea
satsd BY the elsmberins roses
shaded BY the swsyinx tree,
"s9s the shadow Of the villo.
ais across little bed,
mere upon . saowy pillow
hes q lttls golden head