Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1864-12-20

COMPOSED IN PRsos
A little bird am,
Shut from the fields OF air
And in my cage sit and sing
To Him who placed mo there;
Well pleased prisoner TO be,
Because, my God, 1t peases thee.
Naught have else to do
sing the whole day long,
And He whom most | love to please
Doth listen to my song
He caught and bound my wandering wing,
But still lie bends to hear me sing.
Thou hast an car to hear,
A heart to loyo and bless
And though my notes we're e'er so rude,
Thou woud'st not hear the less;
Because Thou knowest, as they fall,
That love, sweet love, inspires them all.
My cage confines me round
Abroad ! cannot ly
But though my wing is closely bound,
My hearts at liberty,
My prison walls cannot control
The flight, the freedom, OF the soul.
0, 1t is good to soar
These bolts and bars above,
To Him whose purpose adore,
Whose providence love;
And in Thy mighty will to find
The JOY, the freedom, Of the mind.
But We must stop here and can only advise
our readers to obtain the volume, and have thus
within their reach, and to which they can turn
al all times for the souls rofreshment, ,solace and
comfort, these Hymns of the Ages"
This volume is published uniform with the
others Of the series, and delights the eyes with
its typographical neatness and taste.
CLEVER STORIES or MANY NATIONS. Rendered
in Rhyme by John &. SAKE. illustrated by ".
S. Champney. Boston Ticknor and Fields.
Printing has become fine art, as any lover OF
the beautiful can persuade himself by looking at
this sxquisitely illustrated. printed aud bsund VOL
ume. Brown and gold without, aud delicate tint
clear type and heavy paper within, make a feast
for the eye, and leave nothing to be desired
There are twenty stories, each one illustrated in
the ono hundred and ninety-two pages Of the
book ard the artist has, with admirable judgment
selected the most important fact in each story
and set it in picture with fortunate skill and the
mechanical work Of the engrsver is performed
with faithful eaborsteness aud completeness.
The authors part Of this delightful volume de.
serves 10 be thus adorned. While SAKE has
written little poetry Of serious and meditatiye
character which has become celebrated there are
few living poets who havea wider ora better rep.
utation as writers Of witty humorous and satirical
poetry. In this he resembles Hood though he
has never been able to touch the deep nerve, of
feeling, which Hoods poetry often moves to strong
vibrations. Asa punster, wit, and master Of
smooth and easy verSication, SAKE centin-
uay reminds the reader Of Hood, but he ha,
none Of the imagination which originated The
Dream OF Eugene Aram.
We trAnscribe two Of these "clsver stories, I"
which the author has certainly cievcriy rendered
into rhyme Dsputiog lheologians are pleas.
Antly pictured in the story Of
THE BLIND MAN AND THE ELEPHANT.
siSpoo 'AHLI
1t was six men Of lndostau,
To learning much inclined,
Who went TO see the Elephant,
Though all Of them we're bnd)
That each by observation
Might satisfy bis mind.
The First approached the Elephant,
And happening 10 fall
Against his broad and sturdy side
At once began to bnwl;
"God bless me but the Elephant
Is very like wall "
The Second, feeling Of the ,usk,
Cried, " Ho! whi, have we here
So very round and smooth aud sharp
To me lis mighty clear
This wonder Of an Elephant
Is very like speir.'
".
The Third approached the animal,
Aud happening to take
The squirming trunk within his hands,
Thus boldly up and spake:-
al see quolh he, "the Elephant
Is very like snake "
v
The Fourth, reached gu, his eager hand
And fell about the knsst
"What most this wondfous beast is like
|, mighty plain" qao,h he:
"'Tis clear enough the Elephant
!, very like tree"
VI.
The Fi1h, who chauced To touch the ear,
Sad Zen the blindest man
Can tell what this resembles mo,tl
Deny the fac, who can,
This marvel Of an EIephsn,
|, very like Ian"
VII.
The Sirh no sooner had begun
About the beast to grope,
Than. sering on the ssinging tail
That fell within his scope,
al see" quo,h be, "ihs Elephsnt
!, very like rope"
VIII.
And 90 these men Of ludo,An
Disputed loud aad long,
Each 10 hii own opinion
Exceeding s,iII and strong,
a -. n