The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1853-08-20

married Miss Delaney, whose amiahle lispo-
sition and domestic virtues were admirably
calculated for calling ont the earnest atfec-
tons of his nature, and nursing that grateful
of both action and rcposc which
are so necessary to the freshness and viror
of the mind. He took up his abode in a little
house, which may still be seen at Mameron-
eek in Westchcstcr county, where he eniov-
ed his books, the repoSe Of country life, and
the cheerful sunshine of home. 1t was this
apparent monotonv that was the means ofcn-
tightening him to his real calling. He was
reading new novel to his wife. "P>haw ~
said he; II could write better novel myself"
and by way of proving himself in earnest. he
lmmcdlate V commenced the task, and wrote
the first chapter of "Precaution"
"Go on" was Mrs Cooper'S advice, when
she had listened to it as a Young wife may he
supposed to listen to her husbands first at
tcmpt> at authorship; and the work was fin
i>hcd. 1t was the least successful of his books
The scene was laid in ENGLAND, but it was
from his rccollrctions of books that he wrote
and not from his own observations of life and
knowlcd re Of the society which he painted
His vocation was now decided He had
overcome the mechanical difficulties of au-
thorship, and henccforward followed the I'M
pulses of his genius. and rave himself up cv-
crmore to weave from American history a
series of the most powerful tales and accord
lnglv wrote the Spy" Coopcr'> strong ~
m"rlcan feelings were so generally known to
his friends that they were exceedingly sur
pri>rd At the subject which he had chosen for
his first work. He was aware of the error
he had committed and resolved to atone for
1t but he was rather discouraged with the
want Of success which attended the first VOL
umc he had published; and it was conSe-
IucntIy some time before he could summon
up resolution to BERN second. The "Spv''
- his next effort, was most warmly greeted
1t was not merely a triumph hut revolution:
for 1t proved that American >orictv and his
tory yielded abundant material for the most
inviting form of romance. There was truth
iulnc>S about it which everybody could feel
and which in some countries where his novels
have been translated, have given them the
rank Of history.
Wordsworth has shown y that there j.
mucl !" 'ry scattered throngr thc wills o.'
lowly IL, The "Wandcrrr," 10Y sample.
was beautiful il!u>.rat n Of t.. wisdom
which lies hidden in the brooks and trees.
and the pure sunshine o. mind that has
chaStcncd all lnor!inatc desires. and learned
to look upon natNrc and jc happy; but he
had never been assaulted hy temptation in its
most dangerous form. Cooper was the fiji st
to take the humble son of toll. whose daily
earnings were to he won at the daily risk of
life, and 10y planting the holy principle of
faith and sacrifice in his bosom. raise him to
the dignity of patriot while a pclsr, And
here Cooper discovers his genius. Many A
happy conception has been completely spoiled
for want of this discrimination. or rather that
lntulilvc perception OF the homogeneous clc-
mrnt> OF a GOOD character. of what cannot be-
taken from il, and what cannot be cnrrattc,I
upon it with DESTROYING it. Harvey Birch i,
a pcdlar, and Cooper has gven him The Ian.
grage and habits OF arc'iiar; his pack is well
filled with good> that he has carefully chosen
to meet the wants anl excite the wishes of
ms customers; he knows how to set them
Oft TO advantage and to get the most for them
you can actually see his ewes twinkle with the
pleasure he experiences at driving a rooc
bargain. There is but one touch of poetr,
III him. and that Is rather brought out bv hi
position than from any inward sense of tn,
poetlcal- This Is the exquisite description
of his feelings when led out into the sunshine
Except for this circumstance, You would al
most imagine that, Ike Peter Bell. he ha
walked through the most lovely scenes with
out any appreciation OF their lovclneSs.
Cooper shows the same happy discrimina
ton in drawing the character of the Lcathe
Stocking, in all that relates to his calling
He is simple and natural character, lust a
Harvey Birch.
The "Spy" was published in 1921 the "Pi
onecrs in 1928; next came the Pilot" &c
in 1926; he had covered the ground of hi
invention by the publication of the Last of
the Mohlcans." Scott had Just put out th
pirate, which Cooper admired as a romance
but was unwilling to accept as an accurate
picture of sea life; he was by no means in
clincd to call the literary merit of the pirate
IN question, but felt himself fully justified il
dISputlng its seamanship; the only wav of
doing this was the pilot everybody know
how successful this was, as well AS the "Re,
Rover, and all the other stories of the ocear
which he atterward published
A SINGULAR CAsE.-A Miss Reed of
West Boyl>ton. took chloroform few dav
ago tor the purpose of having a tooth extract
ed' and after the operation was pcrforme,
she was attacked with severe pain in N,
head, became unconscious. and apparentl,
died. Her friends laid her out for burial
and began to prepare for the funeral cercmo
MES; but their grief was unexpectedly turn