The southern aegis, and Harford County intelligencer. (Bel Air, Md.) 1862-1864, 1862-04-19
For the Southern Kgis.
CHARLES LAMB.


There are some bright names in literary
history over which the pen fondly fingers,
and which at once command our admira-
ton and affection. Such is the tenderness
with which we write the name of Charles
Lamb-a living martyr, but who bore his
sad life with smiling face, tender
heart, and bequeathed to the world-not
sad records to afiict us with low spirits
but bright and pleasant pictures Of thought
and fancy, calculated to make us better
and wiser people. Charles Lamb could
be we'll grouped among those of whom
Longfellow thus beautifully writes: 80,
| have looked with wonder upon those
who, in sorrow and privation, have work.
ed right on to the accomplishment of their
purposes; toiling much, enduring much,
fulfilling much and then, with shattered
nerves, and sinews all unstrung, have laid
themselves down in the grave, and slept
the sleep of death; and the world talks of
them while they sleep! And as in the
suns eclipse we behold the great stars
shining in the heavens, SO in this life
eclipse these men beheld the lights of the
great eternity, burning on solemnly and
forever"
Charles Lamb was born in London, of
respectable but poor parents. He lost his
father at an early age, and supported, by
drudging as clerk in the India House,
an aged mother and only sister; and it
was not till late in life that be was releas-
ed from the desk. Yet in this most un-
congenial employment, he found time to
write some of those exquisite essays which
are celebrated for delicacy and humor.-
But it is not as an author that Charles
Lamb wins from us our warmest admira-
ton, but in the unambitious quiet of his
home life. While toiling as clerk, with
such laudable ends in view, be was over
whelmed by calamity SO terrible that he
who could be cheerful man afterward,
deserves the title of hero. While sit
ting at home one day, eating his dinner,
his sister, seized with her first it of insan-
ity, took the carving knife and plunged it
in her mothers heart, causing her almost
instant death. Previous to this awful
deed Charles Lamb had been attentive to
young and lovely girl, whom he loved as
only such men can love, and whom he had
every reason to suppose reciprocated his
affection but he now determined to give
up all thoughts of matrimony, and devote
his life to that of his afflicted sister; and
his letters and his life record how faithful
ly and lovingly he performed his self.ap-
pointed task. We are struck at finding in
all his works no melancholy illusions to
his great sacrifice. How the achievements
of the warrior fade away before the vision
of this young man, renouncing all that
must have been most charming, to what
he considered solemn duty, and yet
doing all this with smiling face--a cheer
fulness which made bis society agreeable
to the gay as well as the grave!
His sister never knew the dreadful deed
which in her insanity she had committed.
She was woman of remarkably fine mind,
and possessed of every accomplishment;
yet to the end of her life was subject to
frequent and awful spells of insanity, when
she had of necessity to be placed in an
asylum. In the collection Of Charles
Lambs letters, we are struck by the affec-
tionate tone in which he always speaks of
his afflicted sister, with the deep an
guish which he experiences when forced
to convey her to a lunatic asylum, the
heartfelt delight which be expresses az her
recovery--all of which is expressed SO nat
urally, that we are constrained to admire
the quiet pathos, and admit the sincerity.
These letters are all addressed'to intimate
friends, Of whom he had larger number
than most authors are blessed with, and
among whom we find the names Of Cole
ridge and Wordsworth. / am not fond of
collections Of letters written by eminent
men or women. Pope's aud Hannah