The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1858-03-10
Stolen HOnCrS.

play. LIZ requires Il pritctisou anu oN'iiiui
head to do it successfully. Even then
the deception is apt to act ike an over
loaded musket and send the deceiver
SPRAYING. Somehow or other truth will
struggle into daylight and maintain an
upright posture. Mr.. Bryant has Como to
the trouble of putting this idea into ele-
giant verse, and in the very smoothest of
numbers assures us, that not only when
truth is poked over, and laid out in hor-
izontal position, but when actually 'crush-
ed to Earth" she will recover her powers
and finally get on her legs again. An
ass may wear lions skin, but ten to ore
his auricular organs will protrudc above
the royal covering, and betray his asine
stupidity. We are led to these remarks
from the fact that ayoung acquaintance
Of ours, now in Vermont, has written us
a letter and enclosed in it poem, which
he desired us to publish if we considered
it worthy, of which he was the avowed
author. We deem it worthy. tits good.
1t is really excellent. 1t has The ring of
the true metal-the genuine lyrical fresh
ness and flow.
But some things about this poem arcs
ted our especial attention. First, it SEEM
ed strange to us that youth that had
journayed to Wisconsin, and back to Yer
mont should say: e
"I'ye seen all nations of the Earth,
fevery tongue and hue"
and should speak of hearing his native
language in "foreign countries" dJg
Secondly, while the letter was badly
spelled, and worse punctuated, in the po-
em,the spelling and punctuation weie per-
feet, which led us to suspect it might after
all be only well transcribed "copy.'
Thirdly, we distinctly remembered
having read the poem before, and gentle
men of undoubted veracity have assured
us that they have seen it set to music and
frequently sung it themselves. We are
not positive who its author is, but think
it was composed by a no less distinguish
ed individual than Gen. George P. Nor
ris.
We are sorry that ''sonny" tried to i'm
pose upon rs. 1t is a trifiing thing, but
it is mean. 1t stirs up our Indignation
Itdoes not tend to develop within us any
christian virtue. The only sufficient cause
we can think of for this conduct on the
part of our young friend. is, that perhaps
he is in love. Love is very apt to pro-
duce poetic spasms in young minds
Glove" as Bulwer tells us, ''borrows great
ly from opinion; Pride above all things
strengthens affection" Perhaps he was
ambitious that some fair young damse
should be proud Of him.
But enough. We commend him to tho
care of his Aunt and Grandmother, ant
would suggest that the prayer with
which he turns to his native lend lend be off
cred chiefly for himself.
The following is the poem:
"I'm with you once again, my friends,
No more my footsteps roam
Where it began my journey ends,
Amid the scenes of home.
No other cline has skies so blue, .i
Or streams SO broad and clear, -.t.s
And where are hearts SO warm and true
AS those that meet me here ?
Since last, with spirits wild and free,
Ipress'd my native strand,
I've traversed many miles at sea $500
And many miles on land;
I've seen all nations of tho earth, #"t''"
Ofevery tongue and hue 5 hi
They taught me how to prize the worth
Which fingers here with you.
In foreign countries when | heard
The language of my own,
Oh how my echoing heart has stirred
How bounded at the tone
| But when our woodland strains were sung
For other ears to hear,
Emotion chained my quivering tongue,
But love gushed in tear.
My native land / turn to you,
With blessings and with prayer, -
Where man is brave and woman true,
And free as mountain air,
In triumph may our banners wave,
Against the world combined,
And friends welcome-foes grave,
Within our borders find. ~. -.