Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-11-17
CITY & NEWS ITEMS
WEDNESDAY MORNING, NOV. II, 1855.
New Books.

BTrTER SWEET, A Poem, by J. G. HOLLAND,
author of The Bay Path, }" "Titcomb's Letters, "
elc. New York, Charles Seribner, l24 Grand
street, MDCCCLIX.
Such is the title of a new book, bound in a neat,
attractive form, but with no gaudy tnsel covering
It over, which has been laid on our table, Its au-
thor is not one Of the sages of the lands; he has
not been followed and eted for years as one of the
lions of literary society he has not probably been
bored with the snobs of New York uppertendom
who are wont to hover around the writers who
have returned from tour on tue Continent; but in
his editorial sanctum in the pleasant City Of Spring
field, he has been content TO remain, sending forth
from time to time bright flashes Of wit and Gimp
ses of a nobler purer life with which to please and
instruct the numerous readers of the Republican.
A few months ago he commenced series of
Letters to young people which, collected and
published in book form, have gone forth to be read
and cherished, beside household fires from Maine
to Texas, from Canada to Florida. The author of
these delightful Ttcombs Letters could not be suf
fered to remain idle. His fertile brain has now sent
out Poem which, for touching pathos, and delicate
word painting, has never been excelled. He has
DAOuSut " u4n aLu luC hHOhACdSC VI uu1iau AAtuAS
which years of observation have given him. and has
interviewer some of the sweetest sentiments into
his easy narration of the good old Thanksgiving
festivities.
The scene is where
"Hglfup the pine-capped hill
Stands the old farm house with its cump of barns
The old red f1Tm housL-dim and dun tonight
save when the Iuddy 6rehghts from the hearth
Flap their bright wings against the window panes"
T1na nod o1d Io- oI l.;
children about him on the Thanksgiving day, and
while the storm RACES without
''They give full bursts of careless merriment
orsonss that send it bafled on its way"
After an evening of enjoyment, two of the daugh-
ters retiring to their chamber relate TO each other
the experiences of the past year. Grace tells of
cruel neglect from him who had sworn to love and
cherish her. The picture of her desoation is BIS
told by herself
''And could mark the sen of tenderness
Upon whose breast had sat down for life,
Hoping 70 feel forever, as a. first
With open arms the SILVER surf that ran
b9y W1eek ge1 sS 5se peeP9 G9n nm my GIq iSs eD6 69
Grew dry d hot and the old hulls appeared
of hopes sent outupon thai faithess main
Night sfter night sat the evening out,
And heard The clock tick upon the man eltree
Till IL grew nksOme to me, and grudged
The careless pleasure Of the kitchen maids
Whose distant laughter shocked the lapsing hours "
How could more domestic unhappiness be ex-
pressed than in the following two lines
$50 he lugs round his secret and mice,
call him, husband, AID he calls me, wife"
Mary too, told of grief at husbands pnfaithful.
ness and disgrace She had been
''Naught but poor unfortunate
Picking her bread up III needles point.
She had nearly fallen from her womanhood and
reetitude when she met with one who
Watched with ster1 carefulness
STS EU9T'95 s5 6 s ,s SSlIilon 6 s @ P5aysd With me
Til, gathering impulse In theupward walk
In the sweet light that dawned ubon my soul,
grasped the arm of Jesus and was sale"
Turning from there to the children who were in
the kitchen playin, listen to Joseph,
Laugh if you like to Laugh till you're grey
But guess you'd laugh another way
Ifyou'd hit your toe, and laleR ike me,
And cut bloody gaSh IN your knee,
Iumblmg over the rolling pin
That rol ed to the flood in the awful DIN
That fol owed the fail CT tic wOf lin
That stood upon the dresser"
The boys have gone 10 bee, and the "young folks"
have gathered around the kitchen fireplace discuss
ing cider and apples. A stranger is discovered
making his way heavily to the house. he falls in the
snow and is brought to the fire. When restored
he is found to be Mary's long lost husband. He is
weak aud near death but he prays his injured wife
to
Cling to me dearest while my feet go down
lnto the silent stream nor loose your hold,
Til angels grasp me on the utheTsde."
He then prays for death, and the prayer is one
Of the finest passages in the language.
'Ibegged tie Lord grant me two requess
The INST that might die, and In that world
Where passion sleeps, and only influence
krom Him and those VIII cluster His throne
Breahes On the soul, the gem of this great life,
Bursting Wi hip me, might be perfected.
1he second, that your lie, my love and mine
Might once more be uni ed on the earth
In holy marriage, and that mine might lie
Breathed out at last within your living ms"
MARY. tBnt why this prayer to die ~
"DO you not know me- Mary3
am afraid TO live, 1Ur 1 weak,
I've found treasure only life can steal,
I've won jewel only death will keep.
Ia such a heart as mlne the priceless pearl
Would not be SAFE
To be delivered from myself-oGe
Delivered IRON necessity OF i'll
To be secured from bringing harm TO you.
Oh, what buOn IS death to the sick soul
greet 1t with Joy nat passes speech.
Were the whole world TO come before me now
Wealth with Its p easures; Pleasure with Its cup;
Power robed in purple Beauty It's pride,
And with Loves swee est blossoms garanded;
Fame with its bays, and Glory with its crown -
10 tempt me lfeward would turn away,
And stretch my hands with utter eagerness
Toward the plie angel waiting for now
And give my hand TO him, lie led out
Serenely singing, to the land OF shade" :"
We would gladly quote the last dying scene
which has drawn tears from many eyes that have
perused it, but we must defer that to another time
The temptation to far exceed our space is strong
but at future day we will make more extracts from
this ha crvaafaSt most faudar and roar,