Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1854-06-20
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MATTE GRIFFITH.


strains of the sweetest poesy. Her first appear
ance before the public, was through the columns
of the Louisville Journal. Its able editor and no
less able poet, GEO. d. PRENTICE, at once saw and
encouraged her, from an intuitive perception of
her transcendent abilities, in the path she had
marked out for herself. She commenced writing
at very early age, only fourteen summers having
passed over her head. Notwithstanding her ex-
treme youth, from the first she was distinguish
ed favorite, and moved among the highly polish
ed and accomplished society of the metropolis of
Kentucky. Her first strains do not bctray any of
that weakness, and want of culture, that would be
excusable in the efforts of one so young, and so
inexperienced. On the contrary, they carry with
them degree of force and sweetness, that render
them, as it were, irresistibly charming. They
carry with them the conviction, and indellibly i'm
press it upon the mind of the reader, that they
are the out-pourings of a heart, as guileess and
as pure as when it first came from the Makers
hand. Her warbings have bird-lke melody, a
soothing influence, and an artistic finish, that de-
lights and fascinates every one who truly appre-
ciates such heavenly gifts. Through all her wri
tings runs vein Of devotional feeling, and from
her pure heart there wells up spirit of thankful
ness to that Being from whom these faculties en-
anate In her pathetic pieces, she is at times, if
might be allowed the expression, tearfully inter-
esting. Whilst depicting, in her own glowing
language, the sorrows of the unfortunate, the
readers whole attention becomes absorbed, and
he must be as immovable as adamant, and as
stern as Mars himself, if he do not feel some of
the emotions so feeingly described. So deeply
have been engrossed, as to be almost spell
bound, in some of the creations of her ardent and
poetic imagination. Her sportive lays, betoken
that they are the offspring Of mind free from
care,-of a brow unclouded by gloom, and of a
spirit overshadowed by no chilling doubts, and
whose peaceful serenity has never been disturbed
by dreams of misfortune. And such, too, is tho
case. Residing in Louisville, the centre of at
traction, and the almost worshipped idol of nu-
merous circle of friends, who guard her with a
jealous care,-the belle Of the city,-her life SO
far has, indeed, been fortunate. Surrounded by
wealth, friends and relatives rejoicing in mind
whose sc,ntilations of genus,-gems Of rare
beauty, and strains of touching pathos, have de-
lighted, wherever read; it is no wonder that her
writings betray no misanthropic tincture.
Ever since her entrance upon the life of an au-
thoress, she has been regular and ever welcome
contributor to the columns of the Louisville Jour
nal. than which no paper has more talented list.
She has also contributed to the columns of the
Missouri Republican, many beautiful lays.
AS specimen, extract the following exquisite
gem, from prize pc IN, written for that paper
1t is dated Louisville, midnight. Read it, and
say if it is not beautiful:
GA bright NEW YEAR,
and radiant year, from God
Is 5 now, and DER the sleeping world
He smiles blessing and benson
His advent is unmarked by grief stormy
Like young eagle poised OH shining wing,
He enters on his flight. The gentle Stars
Seem waxing bright and brighter still
In their silen, march ups up the far blue heaven,
And shine welcome to their newborn ng.
The Moon sweet virgin OF the realms Of air,
l. adding her silver light greet
The New Years reign.''
Hitherto, l have only spoken fhcr as poetess.
In the field of prose, she welds powerful pen. Her
romance of SIMON KENToS, written for an Alton
paper, and by which she carried of the prize of
two hundred and fifty dollars, offered by the pub
Usher, from host Of competitors, is one of thrill
ling interest, and ably sustained in all Of its
characters. A little more than year ago, the
proprietors Of the Missouri Republican, in that
spirit Of liberaity which has always distinguished
and characterized them, made her present Of a
magnificent bracelet, and other jewelry, altogeth-
worth FIVE hundred dollars, as a small compen-
sation, and token of their regard for her per-
sonal worth, and as a mark Of gratitude for her
able contributions to that paper. No one at her
age, (being only 10 years old,) has received such
testimonials Of regard 1t is now little more than
year since she gave to the public, her poems ii,
a collected form, and they have met with a most
gratifying reception, -being found on the centre
table everywhere, with the most talented Ameri-
can poets.
Some time since, the Missouri Republican Of
fered as a prize, silver goblet, worth two hun
dred and fifty dollars, to the best New YEARS.
ADDRESS, to be written for that paper. Here
again MATTE carried off the prize, in a pom,
which, for beauty and sublimity, is only e}ualed
by GEO. D. PRENTIcE's song to the Old Year.
Long may she live, to delight us with her song ;.
May her strains still linger, sweet now, upon
the ears of generations yet to come. May kind
May hopes, bright as the morning Of life, still
gid her horizon, in all time to conn. May all
her life, be one long, blissful dream, from whose
beautiful reality there shall be no awakening.
St. Paul. June IL. 1854. FRAHK.
JOIN MITcuELL.-The nan who sighed for an
Alabama plantation stocked with negroes, and a
drivers whip to brandish over their backs. has