The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-09-05
CoNraIRUrnR AND PUnLIsHER.
= Young Man Brings His Manuscript
and Has It Examined for Pub
IIcRtIOn.
A Specimen of ar. Holmes Best.


life than in his description of the intro
duction of the young poet, Gined Hop
kins, to the publisher, by his frienC
DIR. Byles Gridley.
"My name is Gridley," he said with
modest gravity, as he entered the pub
lisher's private room. 81 have note
OF introduction here from one OF your
authors, AS think he called himself
4 very popular writer for whom you
publish"
The publisher rose can came forward
in the most cordial and respectful man
ner. "Mr. Gridley T-Professor Byles
Gridley-author of Thoughts on the
UniVersep"
The bruve-heurted old man cOloTed
MS if he had been young girl, His
dead book rose before him like an ap
partition, He CROPPED in modest con
fusion for AN answer. 'tA child l buried
long ago, my dear SIR" he said. "Its
title page was It's tombstone. l have
brought this young friend with me
this is Mr. Gifted Hopkins, of Oxbow
village, who wishes 10 converse with
| you about"
81 have come, sir" the young poet
began, interrupting him. ......
"Let me look at your manuscript, ii
you please, Mr.. Popkins, said the pub
Usher, interrnpting, in his turn.
y
suggested, mildly, proceeding to ex-
tract the manuscript, which had got
Wedged into his pocket, and seemed 10
be holding on with all its might. He
was wondering all the time over the ex-
traordinary clairvoyance of the pub
Usher, who had looked through so
many folds, broadcloth, lining, brown
| paper, and seen his poems lying hid
den in his breast pocket. The idea that
| II young person coming on such an
errand should have to explain his in.
! tentionS would have seemed very odd
to the publisher. He knew the look
! which belongs to this class of enthusi-
asts, lust AS a horse dealer knows the
| look OF green purchaser with the
| equine fever raging in his veins. IL Il
! Young author had come 10 him with a
scrap OF manuscript hidden in his boolsr
like Major Andres papers, the publish
er would have taken one glance at him
and said, "Out with i'll"
81 have brought you my Poems in
| the original autographs, sir" said Mr..
| Gifted Hopkins.
He laid the manuscript ON the table,
caressing the leaves still with one hand,
as il 10th To let II go.
"WhaI disposition had you Thought
of making OF them?" the publisher
asked, i'll "A pleasant tone. He was Ms
kind IA man ms lived, though he worked
the chief engine in II chamber OF tor
ture.
81 wish to read you few specimens
OF the poems," he sad, with refer
ence to their proposed publication IN
| volume"
.'By all MEANS" said the kind pub
| Usher who determined TO be very pa
tient with the protege OF the hitherto
| little known but remarkable writer,
| Professor Gridiey. AT the same time
rl.I lgG gaEN "A F.TI IfHNI
sort of way, and pressed 1t on the right
hand knob of three which were ar
ranged in line beneath the table. a
| little bell in distant npartment-the
little bell marked C-gaVe one slight
noIe, loud enough TO start a small boy
up, who looked at the clock and knew
that he WAS to 90 and call the publisher
in just twenty-five minutes. "a, five
minuIesi b, ten minutesi g, twenty
| five minutes" that was the small boys
woi king formula. Mr.. Hopkins WAS
treated to the full allowance of time,
as being introduced by Professor Grid
ley.
| script so that the title pHge, written
out very handsomely in his own hand,
should win the eye OF the publisher.
BLOSSOMS OF THE SOUL
A Brtdth Of Herse: Original
BY GIFTED HOPKINS.
"a youth to fortune, aud TO fame unknown.'
LGray.
"Shall read you some of the rhym-
ed pieces first, or some of the blank
| verse poems, sir ?" Gifted asked.
| "Rend what you think is best-a
| composition"
al will read you the very last poem
have written" he said, and he began:
| THE TRIUMPH OF SONG.
al met that gold-haITed maiden, all too dear;
| And to her: Do!t art very fair,
! Eairer than all the ladies In the world
That fan the sweeIened air with scented fans
| And am scoTched with exceeding love,
| \ ga, criSped Till my bones are dry "a straw,
| Look not away with that hIgh-Hrched brow,
| hut turn its wniteness that may benold,-
And Iiit thy great eyes TIL they blaze on
And lay thy tinger on thy perfect mouth,
And let thy lucent ears OF carven pearl
Drink In the murmured music OF my souf,
| AS the lush grass drinks in the gl bed dew;
For have many scrolls OF sweetest rhyme
| l will unroll aud make thee glad 10 hear.
Tuen she: shaper OF The marvellous
That opens woman's heart as doth a key,
l dare not hear thee-lest the oolt should
slide
That locks anothers heart within my own.
90, leave me-Aud she lei her eyelids fall
And the great tears rolled nom her large blue
Then /: II thou not hear me, shalt die.
Yea, in my desperate mood may lift my
/ hAnQ ..
And do myself hurt no leech eau mend;
For poets ever We're OF dark resolve, r.
| Andswift, stern deed
That maiden heared no more.
| But spake: Alas! my heart Is very weak,
And but for-Stayl And II some dreadful
A tier great search and snonnng through the
| world,
We found the missing ng-strangled-drowne
! i the mere
Then should go dIslraught and be clean
o poet, read read all thy wondrouJ scronl
Yea, read the verse that maketh glad 10 heari
Then began and read two sweet, brief hours,
And she forgot all love save only mlneI'
rs all this from real life2" asked the
| publisher. I H
"It-no, sir-nOt exactly from real
life-that is. the leading female person
is not wholly tictitious-and The incl
dent is one that might have happened.
Shall read you the poems referred TO
in the one you have Just heard, sir 20
/ "Allow me, one moment. Two hours
reading, / think you said. / think
shall hardly be able to spare quite time
TO hear them all. Let me ask what you
intend doing with these productions,
Mr-rr-Popkins."
"Hopkins, If you please, sir, not Pop
kins," said Gifted, plaintively. He ex-
pressed his Willingness to dispose of the
copyright, TO publish on shares, or per-
haps to receive certain percentage on
the profits.
| "Suppose we take glass of wine to-
! gelher, ,Mr.-Hopkins, before we talk
| business" the publisher said, opening
IA little cupboard and taking therefrom
Il decanter and two glasses. He saw
the young man was looking nervous.
He waited Il few minutes, until the wine
had comforted his epigastriunl, and
| diffused its gentle glow through his nm :