Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1851-06-26
Anecdote of Campbell, the Poet.


Taking walk with Campbell one day up Regent
street, we. were accosted by a wretched looking
woman with a sick child in her arms and another
starved little thing creeping at its mothers side.
The woman begged for copper. had no change,
and Campbell had nothing but sovereign. The
heart in his face and could feel his beginning
TO tremble. AT length, saying something about its
being his duty to assist poor creatures he told the
woman to watt and Fastening into MERGERS shop,
asked rather impatiently, for change. You know
what excitable being ne was; and how he fancied
all business must give way until the change sup
Piled The shopman thought otherwise; the poet in
sisted; an alteration ensued, and in a minute or
two the master jumped over the counter and collared
him, telling us he would turn us both out-that he
believed we came there TO kick up row, for some
dishonest purpose So here was pretty dilemma.
on his apoogising for his gross insult All was up
roar. Campbell called out "Thrash the fellow
thrash him!'' "You will not go out, then?' said the
mercer. 'No, never, until you apologise!" s'Well,
we shall soon see-John, go to Vine street and fetch
the police" In a few minutes two policemen APP
peared; one went up close up TO Mr.. Campbell, the
other to myself. The poet was now in such breath
less Indignation that he could not articulate SEN
tence. TOLD the policeman the object he had in
asking change; and, that thelshopman had most un-
warrantably insulted US. f"This gentleman add
ed, by way of climax, is "Mr. Thomas Campbell,
the distinguished pOet-d man VINO WOufu not nurt
fly, much less act with the dishonest intention that
person has insinuated." The moment uttered the
name the policeman backed away two or three paces
as if awe-struck, and said, ssCuid Cd, mon, is
that Master CANNED, the lord rector o. Glasgow? %
&c Yes, my FRIEND he is, as this card may convince
you,'' handing it to him; call this commotion has
been caused by mistake. By this time the mer-
Ger had cooled down to moderate temperature, and
in the end made every PREPARATION in his power say
ing he was very busy at the time, and had he but
known the gentleman, he would have changed fifty
sovereigns for. him. ''My dear fellow, !" said the
poet, (whc had recovered his speech, " am not at
all offended" and it really laughable to see
teT:i shaking hands long and vigorously, each with
perfect sincerity and mutual forgiveness-Life and
Letters Of Campbell. m .
SyMPATHy.-Cbe erfulness, not enjoyment is
duty Be it, then, aim. In soul filed with
pleasures and mistrust, the heavy air checks the
growth of spiritual flowers. Let your heart expand
TO sympathy and compassion but not TO cold mis-
trust, as the flower opens to the blessed dew, but
closes against the rain. So little is suffering, so
much is happiness, proper part of nature, that
with equal means of delusion, we reach only what
has given us pleasure. Great bereavements work
more refreshngly upon the spirit thus than great
joys so on the contrary, minor sorrows weaken more
than minor joys strengthen. After the sunshine of
happiness, the chambers of the heart open to our
enemies, grief expands them to our friends But the
happiness Of grief consists, like the day, not in sin
gle flashes, but in steady, mild serenity.