The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1857-12-09

real the book of Nature III the original
we were dining Delmonicesily and in
doors as his guests. The dinner was of
course, absolutely perfect: and SO was our
number at table, though there was an
empty chair; for we were seven and our
fr;end--the missing Pleiad-was made
present by the poetry of remembrance.
Even Dana, who swings commonly such
a battle-axe of prose, was POLITICALLY ten
der in his recurring mentions Of the boy.
Then came George Curtis; and, Howad,
ji-tated he was, you will see by the brill
liant rhyme-bubbles little farther on
Stoddard sat next-tragedy in his black
eyes and raven locks, but mirth in his
sunny memories of Bayard dear. And
Putnam, Taylor's kind counsellor and pub
Usher, sat rejoicing in the Forthcoming
new work." though the copyright would
not probably be for him. And there was
Hicks. of the vigorous pencil, with the
candle of truth burning bright on the pro-
jecting mantel- piece of his perceptive Or
gans, and, by that light, the poet-traveller
was seen approvingly. as he was talked
of lovingly. And Kensett, the land
scape-painter = Natures veriest sweet
heart of appreciative beauty-fnders-
there sat he, gentle and genial, the smile
through his sllken brown mustache, or
the occasional low-spoken and timely word
telling of his cherished brotherhood for
the bard. And Storrs Willis, my broth
er, was the sixth in the constellation
his musical soul responsive to that verse
of Bayard's:--
Give me music sad and strong,
Drawn from deeper founts than song !;
More imprisoned, full and free,
Than the poets numbess be-
And, seventh and last came he whe thus
lamely chronicles the gay festivities of the
scene-pleased with having rejoieed in
the bridegroom as he was in the begin
ming, and particularly rejoicing in him as
he is now, and trusting to be permitted to
rejoice in him as he ever shall be, ir the
world without end And thus ended the
circle of the constellation of Bayard Tay.
lor.
Bnt Dana-prompt, solid and senten-
tious-was our leading star for the nights
shining-and as Delmonico, at last, aba
ted his irresistibililies, and left us untemp-
ted, to our discourse, he Dana, with a
few pithy words, proposed the health of
our new-wedded bard and brother. And
standing up and reaching to the centre,
where our glasses all touched, we echoed
the sweet words s'BAYARD AND HIS BRIDE"
Bayard's own glowing lines occurred to
me as we seated ourselves again, in
thoughtful silence:-
This is life indeed
From blood like this is coined the nobler seed
Whence poets are begotten. Drink again,
And give US music of tender strain,
Linking your inspiration unto mine,
For music hovers ON the lips of wine %
And, for that music, Dana called on the
Howadji; and in the rich-toned cadences
which we all know so well, handsome
George Curtis read us this charming ep-
ithalamium -
TO BAYARD TAYLOR ON HIS WE'D
DING-DAY.
We drink to one who Bayard hight
In whose fine heart and Falcon glance,
We hail once more the noble knight,
And gallant gentleman of France.
We toast Taylor one who cuts
Out all our books, but not our brooches !;
A lucky wight who loves sauer-kraut,
And yet who never cabbages.
We pledge poet. crowned with bay
Whose every leaf his country knows
Strange, though in verse he has his way,
That every reader cons his prose.
We drink a traveller, who goes
In bee line to sea to see
What comes of following that nose
That knows the way to Already.
A traveller whose earnest aim
The sources of the Nile to scan,
BY way of contrast, feeds the flame
OF travel with the Isle of man.
We Benedicks had sore alarms
His flowers might not end in fruit.
But Bayard now gives up his arms
This night our Taylor follows suit.
We pledge a maid we meier shall know
A wife whom one day we shall see,
The years that banyan-hkc shall grow,
We pledge the childi en- that shall be.
Oh friend beloved, and friend unknown,
Ye stand mid bridal songs and flowers,
And, with the blossoms Ger You thrown.
We breathe prayer and mingle ours.
This sparkling epithalamium was of
course the keynote to the next hours
voluntary of wit and eloquenoe. and mer-
rils rang out the variations, betwix; fun