The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1854-05-20
For the Minnesosian
Suggested By Reading Alton Locke"


" Alton Locker is autobiography, purporting to hav
been written by concerned in the disturbance II
EneIan in 1913. AMI who sailed for Americas but dict
within sight Of lani.
The sun was declining in the west, as tai
ship, borne slowly forward, arrived within sigh
of the American shore. The mariners and voy
ayers are all on deck, hailing, with wild de
light. after tedious voyage, the first appear
ance of the long wishcd-for land. Forgotten
are all their trials, their privations and theil
sufferings-forgotten the mountain waves and
the driving storm and the threatening heavens
The laugh OF gladness is heard far and loud
the infant smiles and crows in its mothers
arms-the poor emigrant stretches proudly up
and his face is frightened with look of joy
the boys 60 moving uncasily round and gaze
with wistrul gladncss upon the glowing land
All are gay and happy, all-savc one-tha'
one an exile from his native land, seeking
Puritan-likc. in this New World. q freedom that
was denied him there now at the close of day,
when just arrived within sight of his destined
home, after travelling over a stormy Occan-is
dying. How near, how provokingly near, lies
that shore for which he has sighed. and dream
ed, and wept. First it seems like cloud rest
ing upon the distant horizon, but as it expands
into view, how quiet and beautiful it appears,
girded off in the distance by rolling hills OF
green and great waving forests, while clear
and unclOuded above spreads that New World
sky. Alas, poor fellow! he never can reach it..
Tha np1,s, 10 tai fh,v-os 20
his dearest friend, has stolen aloft for moment
to gaze upon his growing home.
And now. supporting himself feebly in his
chair, he awaits the coming hour. Consump-
tons last stroke is upon him-hs countenance
| is pale aud wan-his thin hair scattered loosely
DER his brow, and his eye beaming with an ur-
earthly lustre and as he leans his head upon
his meagrc, emaciate hand and gazcs ycarnng-
ly toward the shore, his eye kindles, and the
words break forth involuntarily:
"Hail! Land Of Freedom, hail! Thou world
where the homeless-thc oppressed, find succor
and support-all hail! Beautiful land, bright
are thy skies above thee; glorious is thy set
ting sun, but far more happy, far more glorious,
are thy people. No naughty aristocracy to
bind them down, no imperious laws to fettcr
their minds-where birth yields to intellect,
where the honest, the upright, the just rule.
Oh, America so near, and yet shall never
reach thee my trembling limbs, my futtering
heart, all tell me too plainly that am doomed.
SO near and yct-farcwell. As the sun sinks
in the west, as my ship glidcs to the shore, so
Gibbs my fluttering spirit, and now when an
gone, thank God they will lay me on thy
grassy banks, beneath the shady trees, far away
from the noise and the turmoil of that busy
city, where have passed my few but restless
years."
He ceased, while from the shore, faint
through distance, came swectly. softly, the eve
ming bell and as its silvcry chimes fell upon
his car, he raised his hand, and brushed back
the clustering hair from off his brow, closed his
eyes peacefully, and expired Expired? Could
he, indeed, be dead? Had that bright and glo-
rious spirit fled forever? 1t could not he. The
hectic glow still mantled warmly on his check
the curls hung so fresh and life-like on his
forehead, and that forehead, that bright and po-
,, lishcd forchead-surely they could not belong
to death. Yet it was so; the last rays of the
settin,, sun had fallen upon his corsc. His eyes
were closed and his hand crossed upon his
breast, as if IN sleep. They could not realize
that he was dead until they had touched his
face and felt his heart that face was cold that
heart was STILL 1t seemed as if the spirit had
departed so calmly that the body was uncon-
scious Of its absence. Before him on the table
lay his I" last Words; the ink in the pen was
not as yet dry, while the hand that had guided
it SO sklfuly, lay nlotionlcss and still and his
SOUL the abode Of those high and generous
thoughts, had fed forever.
Thus died Alton Locke, the tailor and poet !;
fictitious character he may be, but faithful
type Of many of the mighty multitude that in
habit the vast and populous city of London
victim to the fckleness of the people, and his
own sterling honesty. Poor youth, and was
this to be the end Of all those bright dreams
which he had formed in his boyhood. supported
no, not the end him they may hide in the
damp, cold grave, and conceal from the sight OF
men, but those hopes that he cherished, those
ideas which he promulgated cannot be hidden,
cannot be concealed. They shall be dissemi-
mated far and wide; they shall take root Eng
land shall heave with their mighty growth.
That time which he thought, which he knew
would come, ,cW come, and when it does come,
oh. mobiles, beware! The attention Of the
commons is at present detracted from their
own internal relations, but when foreign wars
cease, as sure as there is a God in heaven, that
time ,rM come. Then, ye that are exalted look
we'll to your stations: the fire burns unquench-
cd in the hearts Of the poor, and ere long will
bust forth into raging fame. When the storm
sweeps. when the earthquake bursts, beware I!
Yc grinders of the poor, we devourers Of widows
houses, ye slaves Of mammon, take heed! Your
hearths shall be made desolate, your riches
scattered to the winds. The poverty and misc
ry of the working classes are fast doing their
work. That bitter dtaught which the poor