The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1853-07-28
From the Home Journal.
THE POET AND THE wrLD-BIRD.

A youth who was friendless, sad and poor,
Went forth one morn from his humble door
The genial sunbeams cheered his way;
The busy streets of the town were gay;
And smiling crowds al.ured his eye,
As fast and free they hurried by
Like sparkling waves meath summer SKY.
But he, amid that rushing tide,
Moved ever slowly on, and sighed
Joys rapid march he might not share,
For his heart beat low to the notes Of care.
He had hoped for fame-he had sought it long,
Pouring out his soul in tide of song;
Aud oft had liz ened, but still in vain,
For the voice of praise to reward his strain
Vow he pined to be in sorne lonesome glen
Aar from the noisy haunts of, men;
T lie deemed the soothing balm of rest
Night lul the tumult Of his breast.
Thus, wandering on for many an hour
He came at last TO wild wood bower
beauteous, calm, and cool retreat,
Where yioiets breathed their perfume sweet
Where dainty mosses, softly spread,
And green boughs waving overhead,
Made drapery meet for monarchs bed
There Nature, with an aspect mild
Looked kindly on her sorrowing child
whilst he, the hayward one meanwhile,
Regardless of her soothing smile,
sank down with a weary. fretful sigh,
And murnlured, Here would like TO die "
last then; from the long grass waving near,
Came q Wild-bird's note, so sweet and clear
50 eloquent Of heartfelt pleasure,
30 tuned co joys inspiring measure,
The listener could not choose but feel
It's cheering influence DER him steal
ArSused Rad charmed, he gaZed arodnd
70 see what warbler woke the sound
It was not one Of plumage bright
Or natchless form, or wing Of might;
!: was net could soar high
And trill its music in the sky;
No -acoruer Of the ground" Wa5 he
VINO chauDted forth that miastrelsy
tiny sparrow bird that made
It's mast within that lowy shade
Of mossy dell, or grass grown spot,
aud happy there, with humblest lot,-
Pour I'd forth, from morn till night, q strain
Thst gladdened III ths neighboring pain
Tbs moody man who heard it nov,
Rose up with lightened heart and brow
Like Que just walked from trou 3led dream,
Ae "a .ed on dow'ret, tree and stream
What sudden radiance filled the sky!
What newborn beauty met his eyei
Al! would he then hsve wished to die
lis sweet, when lingering storms are Ger
70 see the sunbeams smile once more
But sWeeter far, when from the soul
Despair's dark sullen shadows roll,
TO mark the dawning of that ray
Which herslds in happier day.
AS home ward, now, the poet turned
Hopes heaven-lit star before him burned;
Light was his heart, his footstep free,
For still that wild wood miustrelsy
Attuned his thoughts to joys sweet key
Still on the pleasant theme intent,
These words he murmured as he went:
"His life, like mine, is passed amid
The lcWiiese scaces his hoEe Is hid
Ia shades obscure, yet is his lay
Attuned to rapture's notes alway;
Aud still with gratitude elate,
AS If 'twere breathed at heavens gate.
Oh, let me from the sparrow's song
j noble lesson learn-too long
My own hearts strain has murmured low
The sad, the planning notes of woe:
How could hope that praise would flow
Responsive TO SO dull theme,
Or deem the world would favor show
TO lays that breathed but sorrows dream?
HencefoIth Fill WOO meriier chime,
And if, in any future time,
l wake one heart mine, this hour,
Was wakened in yon greenwood bower,
I shall not then have idly strung
My votive Tyre, vainly sung"