Volcano weekly ledger., 1857-02-21


4 of lady residing in Ottowa, Illinois. They
re written short time since in answer to few
es addressed to her by friend in this plac,
ON she had never seen. There is in them beau
of thought and expression SO well blended, tha
nink they will be read with interest by the pa
ms of the Ledger. Yours HOMER.
To MY Unseen Friend.
Thank you for your welcome letter,
Highly priced as unexpected;
And believe me truly grateful
For the unexpected honor
OF a friendly correspondence.
shall prize it very highly,
And it will afford me pleasure
In my solitary moments
To converse with one residing
In that far off land Of wonders;-
In that region of enchantment,
Where the glowing tales of Romance
And the marvels of magicians,
Who by mystic incantations
And their mighty powers of magic
Brought to light the hidden treasures
Long concealed in earth and ocean,
Sometimes with capricious friendship
On some highly favored mortal
Lavishing the gifts of fortune;
Making beggars rich as Princes
All these marvels once considered
Only Idle dreams of fiction,
The inventions of the Poets
Have become all true and real,
Are Of every day occurrence
And as "household words" familiar!
All the wondrous tales of magic
And the Poets brightest visions
Are in real life exceeded
Proving true the ancient adage,
Truth is stranger far than fiction"
True it is, this glowing picture
Has another side more gloomy.
Who may paint the other picture!
Wo describe the bitter parting,
When fond hearts are torn asunder,
When the voice of hope is silenced
By the fearful words of terror,
This may be a. final parting!
We may meet no more forever
Never give the smile of welcome
Nor receive the kiss of greeting,
Never more be reunited
While the heart suspends its beating
Paralyzed by grief and terror?
Who may tell the days of sorrow
And the nights of sleepless anguish
OF the sisters, wives and mothers,
(Saying nothing of the sweethearts,)
While imagination pictures
All the dangers of the journey;
Savage foes in ambush lurking,
Watching the unconscious sleepers.
Waiting an unguarded moment
When the death blow may be givenl-
And the vision seems SO real
That they start from sleep in terror.
Who may tell the souls deep hunger
During long dark years of ABSENCE
How the lonely fainting spirit
Prays with tears of bitter sorrow--
Prays a silent prayer unceasing
For the presence of the loved one
And the hearts sweet fond affection?
Thousands nor can tell the story,
Thousands more may live to learn it.
California! glorious region!
Lying at the gates of sunset.
Wonderful has been thy history,
Brief and brilliant as comet.
Like an infant giant springing
In moment up to manhood
Armed and ready for the conflict
With the mightiest of the nation.
Who may draw aside the curtain
And foretell thy future destiny!
In this age of steam and lightning,
When progression" is the password
And Impossible is banished
Wholly from our Dictionary,
Everything can be accomplished
By the power of gold and genius,
And shall not be astonished
If at no far distant period
Mighty ships should sail above us
In the great Aerial Ocean,
Where the birds and clouds have sported
Through the long unnumbered ages
OF the past, by man unquestioned.
II would be no more surprising
Than the thousand things already
By the power of man accomplished.
Mighty ships propelled by lightning"
The electric fluid "harnessed"
Someway by the power Of genius
To the cars that may transport us
Through the azure sea of ether
To the great Pacific Ocean
To the gateway of sunsetl
Things more wonderful than this is
Have already been accomplished
And this seems to be demanded
Needed to complete the circle
OF the art of Navigation!
Then II would be so convenient,