Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-03-07
AnIr,shman,s e ulo~y of Burns.


in Boston, Mr. Egan. a member of the Boston bar
in reply to the toast of The day we celebrate, and
all who honor it, spoke as follows:
James Egan Esq, replied in speech of classic
elegance. He began by saying that the fact OF his
being called on to reply to that toast, exemplfed
not only the genial fraternzing influence of the gen.
Jus of their loved poet but also the prophetic spirit
of him who sung
"That the time would como for a. that
When man to man, the warld Ger,
Should brither be, and a that.
There was he the counryman of Goldsmith, uniting
with the countrymen of Shakespeare, and the eoun-
trymen of Scott and the countrymen of Longfellow,
and Whittier, and Bryant, in paying reverence to
the memory of Burns, and twining his wreath of
Irish shamrocks with the garland that keeps his
memory green. He had one strong feeling in regard
to Burns, which he was half ashamed to confess be-
fore his Scotch friends and that was to steal him
from them altogether, and claim him lrishman-
altman noser foiSet He had expressed the desire of
committing this literary felony to friend in Ireland,
years ago, who said Burns could not be passed
off for Irishman, for of the best known of his
lyrics, Aud Lang Syne, would detect him at once
.sAnd surely you'll be your pint stoup,
And surely I'll be mine.''
There was Burns, said he in the characteristic
spirit of national thrift, settling the reckoning and
upon condition. too that you to pay for the first
pint stoup. An Irishman would never have thought
| of that.
Mr.. Egan said he considered Burns not only one
of the greatest poets but of the manifest of men
Some critics denied his right to be ranked great
poet, because he had written only songs, and no
epics long diadactic poems Mr. Egan, in elo-
quently refuting this position used the following
beautiful figure The lyrical is higher than the To-
gical AS poetry is itself the of all literature
so song is the of all poetry A true song,
like Burnss, like the drops of song in Shakespeare,
contains within itself the of hundred po-
ems the honey bag of the bee contains the
of thousand flowers. | was common clay until TO-
were planted in me, says some aromatic piece of
earth in an Eastern fable How truly might this be
said of the people in whose hearts the seeds of
Burnss poetry have been sown. It was always
mystery to him how hard and practical people like
the Scotch, could flower and blossom into such poe
try What laws had this g unacknowledged legisla-
tor given for the refinement, and the adornment,
and the publication of the life of Scotland, robing
with the drapery of eternal beauty their souls their
SORROWS and their oves-shedding the aurorial light
of poesie around the laborous duties of the owest
peasant-round the.spinning wheel at the shealing
freside-round the reaper in the corn-feld, and the
ploughman at the plough Mr. Egan spoke at great
length, and this is but an idea of his eloquent ad-
| dress.
Power o Kindness.
| Tom !-heren said father to his boy, speaking
in tones of authority.
The lad was at play. He looked towards his IA
Their, but did not leave his companions.
Do you hear me, sir 2 spoke the father,
sternly than at first.
With unhappy face and reluctant step the boy
left his play and approached his parent
why do you creep along at snales pace 2 said
the latter, angry Come quickly, want you
When speak, | look to be obeyed instantly. Here
take this note to MIR. Smith, and see that you don't
go to sleep by the way. Now fast as you can
The boy took the note. There was cloud upon
his brow He moved away, but at slow pace
You Tom is that going as l ordered Is that
going quickly called the father when he saw tie
boy creeping away. If you are not back in half an
hour Will punish YOU
But the words had but little effect The BOYS
feelings hurt by the unkindness of the parent
He experienced sense of inj ustice consciousness
that wrong had been done him. By nature he was
like his father proud and stubborn and these quail
tiles of his mind were aroused, and he INDUCED in
them, fearless of consequences.
Il never such a boy said the father speak
ing to friend who had observed the occurrence
My words scarcely made impression on him.
Kind words often prove most powerful, said the
friend
The father looked surprised.
Kind words continued the friend, are like the
gentle rain and the refreshing dews!- but harsh
words bend and break like the angry tempest. The
first develope and strengthen good affections, while
the others sweep the heart in devastation and
mar and deform all they touch Try him with kind
words; they will prove an hundred times more pow
erful'
The father seemed hurt by the reproof but it left
|
returned. At times during his absence he was an
CRY at the delay and mediated the nfiction of pun
ishment. But the words of remonstrance were in
his ears, and he resolved to obey them.
| At last the lad came Slowly in, with clouded
countenance, and reported the result of his Grand
Having stayed far beyond his time, he looked for
punishment, and was prepared to receive it with an
angry defiance. To his surprise. after delivering
the message he had brought, his father instead Of
angry reproof and punishment, said, kindly,
Very we'll, my son, you can 60 out to play again
The boy went out but was not happy He had
disobeyed and dsobliged his father and the thought
of this troubled him. Harsh words had not couded
his mind nor aroused spirit of reckless anger In
stead of joining his companions he went and sat
down by himself grieving his act of disobedi-
ence. AS he thus sat he heard his name called He
| listened
Thomas, my son. said his father kindly
The boy sprang to his feet, and was almost in
stantly beside his parent.
Did you call, father!'
Il did, my son. Will you take this package to
Mr., Long for me g
There was no hesitation in the boys manner He
looked pleased at the thought of doing his father
service, and reached out his hand for the package
On receiving it, he bounded away with light step
There is power in kindness, said the father, as he
sat musing, after the lads departure. And even
while he sat musing over the incident, the boy
back with cheerful, happy face, and said
Can do anything else for you, father? q
Yes, there is the power of kindness. The tempest
of passion can only subdue, consran and break but
in love and gentleness there is the power of the
mer rain, the dew and the sunshine