The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-06-17
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PoErE, BY JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.


JoHH Qp1NoY ADAMS was, upon the whole, one @
the most accomplished public characters we have ev
or had in the United States. In many respects
doubtless, Mr.. EVERETT may be regarded his equal
but Mr.. EVERETT is by no means comparable with Mr.
ADAMS for many sidedness for universally. Both o
these eminent men are ranked among our American
poets and it would be difficult to say which of th
two exhibits the best claims to poetica Distinction
Mr.. ADAMS, however, surpassed his more youthful
friend in the number and variety of his rhythmica
and lyrical compositions, and apparently in the cas-.
fuency with which they were thrown of. Indeed
Mr.. ADAMS appears to have written inverse about a
readily as in prose-, gfs .y.zys - stta
Among the published poems of Mr.. ADAMS, we dt
not remember any more pleasing, or rejecting in
more agreeable light his character, than the follow
ing, which addressed to his wife, on her birth
day, from Washington, in the winter Of 1907 and ha
never before appeared in print. We copy it from
his autograph, preserved among the most eurousant
valued treasures in the possession of of bis
viving and intimate friends. - lss +s+-
WINTERS DAE TO LOUISA.
Friend of my bosom! wouldst thou know
How, far from thee, the day spend,
And how the passing moments flow,
To this short, simple tale attend:
The sunbeam flashes on my curtain.
start from sumber's ties, released,
And make the weather's temper certain.
Next on the closets shelf seek
My pocket Homer, and compel
The man of many wiles, in Greek,
Again his many woes to tell.
How true he paints the scenes of lfel
How sweet the poets honest prattlei
Far sweeter than fierce Illium's strife,
And never-ending fields of battle.
AT nine, comes Moses to my door,
And down stairs summons me with ease,
But on mJ neighbor calls before,
And knocks, &c Miss Kittyl breakfast pleaseI'
Again he louder knocks, and stronger, -
Till Kitty answers, &c Coming, Mosesi"
And then, in half an hour or longer,
Comes Kitty just as breakfast closes.
Then forth I sally for the day,
And, musing politics and rhyme,
Take to the Capitol my way,
To join in coHoquy sublime.
There with the fathers of the land,
mix in sage delibelation,
And lend my feeble voice and hand
With equal lawsto bless the nation. Z
1ne iapors or the Senate DER,
Again with solitary pace,
Down to. Potomac's glossy floor gt vFa
My mornings footsteps retrace.
And oft, detected or elate,
With painful or with pleased reflection,
In thought renew the days debate,
And canvass votes for retrospection.
At home find the table spread,
And dinners fragrant steams invite; 'i
But first the two-fold stairs tread,
My atmospheric tale to write;
Then, seated round the social board,
We feast till absent friends are toasted
Though sometimes my delays afford
The beef or mutton over roasted .- -
In bounces Johnson from his school,
dog-eared Webster in his hand;
Repeats his daily studied rule,
And next his mother takes his stand.
With looks of pure, maternal bliss,
Mamma says, Sc John, wilt have an apple?n
And on his cheek imprints kiss ~
His cheek, which rose and hlly dapple.
Soon little Mary, too, they bring;
Ard now, practice every vile,
And clap our hands, and laugh and sing,
To catch that heaven, an Infants smile.
Meantime, an apple-paring whirled
Thrice round the head, with mystic ditty,
$And forthH ith on the carpet hurled,
Foretells her future Lord to Kitty!
As eve approaches ascend,
And bours of solitude eAsue; sEElL = -
To public papers attend,
Or write, my bosom friend, to you.
Gaze at the fire with vacant stare,
Suspended pen and brow contracted; E
Or, starting sudden from my chair,
The chamber pace, like one distracted.
see the partner of my soul,
hear my darling children play;
Before me airy visions roll,
And steal me from myself away.
Not long the dear delusions last, riE1 go
Not long the lovely forms surround me;
Recovered, eyes too soon cass,
And all is solitude-around me!
My heart short depression feels, s-sss
And, throwing straight aside my pen,
take the volume that reveals
Their duties and their hopes to men.
Yes? wherefore should not confess
This book, of sacred Inspiration,
Yields to my bosom in distress, :, ,s..,-f-
Both fortitude and consolation
Anon, the supports bread and cheese
Begins, with grave and solemn face,
Till silence, yielding by degrees,
The festive spirit takes Its place;
Good humor comes, with waggish mien,
And shakes his sides with laughter hearty,
/ And satire's face is not unseen,
| Reflected from the last nights party.
at last, dispensing, we retire;
Again the glass's state learn,
Then, for the night, compose my FIRE,
/ And to my lonely couch return.
Then, for my wife, my boys, my friends,
Imploring blessings-without number,
Even while the VOW TO heaven ascends,
My sense dissolves in peaceful slumber.
Thus, in succession, pass my days,
While Tmefwith hagging.pinion hies, q
And still the promised hour delays
When thou shalt once more charm my eyes.
Louisa, thus, remote from thee,
Still something to each joy is wanting,
While thy affection can, to me,
Make the most dreary scene enchanting.
Louisa's Birthday. February Il, 1907. J. q. A
lfpr the firesiae Ghai:
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