The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1864-05-18
Selcft Mistrllany.
MarVeI's Preface 10 the New
Edition of the RcYcries Of ~
W2.a a IN A InR.


My publisher has written me that the
old type of this book of Reverics are so
far worn and battered, that they will bear
no further USAGE and in view of new
edition, he asks for such revision of the
text as may deem julicious, and for a
few lines in way of preface.
! began the revision scored out word
after word presently came to the scor-
ing out Of paragraph; snd before ! was
done, | was making my scores by the page.
1t would never do: it might be the bet
ter, but it would not be the same. can
not lop away those twelve, swift, change
ful years that are gone.
Middle age does not look on life, like
youth; we can not make it. And why mix
the years and the thoughts? Let the young
carry their own burdens and banner, and
we ours.
have determined not to touch the book
A race has grown up which may welcome
its youngnesS, and find a spirit of senti-
ment in it, that cleaves to them, and cheers
them and is true. hope they will.
For me those young years are gone.
can not go back to that time. bear the
rush of it in quiet hours, like the murmur
of lost music. The companions who dis
cussed with me these little fantasies, as
they came reeking from tho psess--and
suggested how | might have mended mat
ters, by throwing in a a new light here, or
deepening the shadows there-are no
longer within earshot. If living they are
widely scattered heads of young families
may be, who will bring now to the reading
of passages they thought too somber the
light of such bitter experience, as, ten years
since, neither they nor | had fathomed.
Others are dapper-elderly bachelors, CO.
quoting with the world in the worlds great
cities, brisk in their STEP coaxing all the
features of youth to stay ny them, brush
ing their hair with needless and nervous
frequency, over the growing spot of bald
ness perSersely reconing themselves still
proper mates for girlhoOd, dreaming yet
las we once dreamed tosether) of an Ely
stun in store and of fair future where
only roses shall bloom,
The houses where was accustomed to
linger, chow other faces at the windows (;
bright CHEEKY faces, il is true; but they are
looking over at young fellow, upon the
other side of the way.
The children who sat for my pictures are
grown, the boys | watched at their game
of taw, and who clapped their hands glee
fully, at a good shot, are bu,toned into
natty blue frocks, and wear little lace-bor-
dered bands upon their shclders: and over
and over, as read my morning paper
am brought to asudden pause, and strange
electric current thrills Inc, as | come upon
their boy-names, printed in the dead-roll
of the war.
The girls who wore the charming white
pinafore, and Wild tangle of naxen curls,
have how netted up all those clustering
tresses into as--tately PompaadOur head
dress aud they rustic past me in silks,
ami do not know me.
The elderly friends who cheered me with
kindly expression of look and tongue
am compelled to say-nOw trip IN their
speech; and observe a little morocco
case at their elbows--for eye glasses
And as they put them on, to read what
may be saying now let them keep their old
charity, aud think as well of me as they
can. tt-"