New-York tribune., 1867-09-26
y x,TupTNA: HER LIFE AND NINE by >. ~ "Oi
hAiH-' ,ou,o mn on. Charles Sclibner ~ 90

NNAHNN''NN
but the main interest of the story rests on the sub
;ectye history Of an individual mind. fondly dwell
hc ON interpretive details which might be deemed
better adapted to the pages of religious diary lhi
to a work of creative Imagination.
Soon after its commencement the poem introduces
rs TO the charming quecnly village of Northampton,
tbroned in snperb beauty amid the sun-lit meadows,
and crowned with iewecd homes and ancient forest
tres. ruling pleasant realm with bcnignant sway.
Here was the birthplace Of Paul, the hero of the
narrative. person Of many sorrows and excellent
purpose but who certainly fails TO win the warmeSt
Of the reader by his melancholic conies-
sons The following passage shows us hs early sur
rouudiucs with hint of mysterious troubles IN tlie
future and furnishes not unfair specimen oI 'lo
authors style Of vcrSiicaIion;
In m old home beneath an older elm
A fourt of weeping gycneiy, u4i dIPeu
It's spray of rain aud dew upon the roof
opened eyes GA life; and how IeturN'
Among the visions of ny early years,
Two So disi met that all tine rest 20 dim;
Ny motacrs lic al } iS9 lace oSoli hG fncS.
From the low window whore size watched my play;
And. after this. the W0udrOus eiil iiat seemeu
To NY Young fancy like an airy bo'i,
Posed by q single stem upon the earth' ~
And thr0nc,d by instant marvclS There IN spring
Ihea,d with 10Y the chccry bluc-ArPs note;
Tnere sang rejoicing robins alter rain; ,
And there within tie omcra. Twilight, when
Driis,l thc md.,lay sun. from bOugl 10 bOuSh-
A torch of duWIiy iamr--tnc OrOle
Passed 10 his nest. 10 feed the ccuser-fres
which Love had ht Tor Airs Of Eeaven TO- swing.
Tarrc. too. through all the wcir' StptenDeFeNcs
Rs.S ,br ,1D nirrchS '.eIi, silence THcrc watched
The glIUt OF stars playing at ldcdndSceh
Behind TIE swgyinS foliage tll drawn
By fender hand, to chiilhoods bdmy rest.
SIS Mother and the Clm! Too sooL ha;hcd
T.st Ger mo hung, a"t DER ire widowed one
WAC gave inc birth, with broader boushs'
Hauliicd by sabler wings and siddcr sounds
a darker shadow than the mighty elm;
tie street lIt III tueSc
Who pointed at me rs passed, or paused
To gaze l sE.iug nifty on my play;
From payuatCs VINO. tOtNu'.cn 10 OynSe, 49,,
rhc kioWlcdsc they possessed, with childish trics
OF iudirccliOu str0ye IN vain 10 hide
Tacir awful meaning IN uulueauing phrase;
From kisses which were ptIui from Noius
Gcutlcr than loves because compassionate;
Prom deep, unconscious signs out OF the h'art
o. her who loved me best, and from her tears
That lIecst flowed when was lApIlest.
The gloom that hung over the early life of Paul
pompted him to dark questiOningS and secret
doubts. until his faith completely shipwreeked
and all the natural religion OF hls young heart was
concentrated on his mother, whom he loved with
passionate tenderness. He had no God nor loyalty
nor affection for any being higher than herself.
Even this beautiful relation was couded by sense
of terrible mystery, which in few years found a
solution even more terrible than the anticipation.
Meantime the youth feels the STRINGS of ambition,
and resolves to seek for himself intellectual
love spreads an unwonted glory over his path, and
opens new world of aspiration and JOY to his
desponding gaze He first meets the idol of his soul
an a country church. which suggests the description
pf a scene which has seldom been made the subject
Of poetry.
The simple table underneath the desk
Was draped with linen, on whose snow was spTean
The feast Of loye-the vases iilled with wine
The separated bread and circling cups
The venerable pastor had come down
From ms hign pulpit, and assumed the seat
or preHdence, and, with benigant eyes,
Rose from their pews-four Oh, brOwu-handed men,
With frosty and took the ancient chairs
That nanltrd the table. An the house was still,
Save here and there the rustic Of a silk
or folding Of fan and overan
Broodcd the dove of peace. had no part
In the fair spectacle. but could feel
That il was beautiful and sweet as heaven.
when the old pastor rose. with solemn men,
iOoStu 10 see the lady bit her lead;
But stiil Sic bowed; aud then heard these words:
The pclsOn who unitcs with Us to-day
"N take her place before in the aisle.
To give her answer % our creed, and speak
"Ihe pledges Of OHr covenant
saw her face With modest grace She rose,
Lifted her hat and gave il to the hand
or . companion, aud within the aisle
Stood ont alone. Ny ncart beat thick and fast
with vision OF her perfect lovcliness,
And apprehension Of the hero>m
Tbat shonc within her eyes, and made her act
a ChrstAkc sacrifice.
o. eves OF blue!
o! LILY throat and checks Of fIiflffsf rose,
D! brow serene, entiIrOrcd In holy Thought!
o: soft, brown sweeps OF hair o. shapely Grsce
or naidcnhy ID, cniObcd in virgin white!
why ln Your rpt unc0n- -cOusucss of me
Aud lll around yOu-n the pIeseUre-han
OF Cod aud az sels-a the lnarr'acYfcast
Of Jesus and his ch0,cn-did my eyes
Proiane the hour with other feast than yOursl
heard the "You Believe" Of the old creed
OF puritan New England; and heard
The old You Promise of ITS covenant.
Her bow OF reverent assent To all
The knotty doginas and her silent pledge
OF faithfulness and fellowship, saw.
These formularcs were the frame OF oak
Gnarled strongly carved and svart with age and use
Which held the lovely picture Of my saint
And showed her saintliness and beauty well.
At close Of the recital and response.
The pastor raised the plain, baptismal bowl
And She, the maiden devOtee, advanced
And knelt before him. Lifting then her eyes
To him and heaven with look Of earnest faith
And perfect conservation, she received
Upon her brow the water from his hand
The trickling chrsn shOne her checks like tears
The While he joined her lovely name with Gods:
"KATHRNA. BAFrIzE THEE IN THE NAME
"OF FATIER son, AND HOLY GHOST, AMEN"
stin kneeng like saint before a shrine
She closed her eyes Then lifting up toward heaven
lis hands, the pastor prayed-prayed that her soul
That Christ might live in her and through her life
Shine into other souls might give her strength
To master all temptation. and 10 keep
The vows that day assumed might comfort her
In In every sorrow and, IN deaths dread hour,
Bear her in hopeful triumph 70 the rest
Prepared for those who love him.
7 saw through binding ters. The poetry
That like a soft aureOla embraced
Within its cope those two contrasted forms.
The eager observation aud the hush
That regned through all the house the breatbless smell
OF sweet solemnity and tender awe
Which held all hearts, when she. the Beautiful
Received the sign Of marriage Ia The Good,
Overwhelmed me. and wept. Shall confess
That in the struggle 10 repress my tears
And hold my swelling heart, grudged her gift,
And felt that by the measure she had risen,
She had put space between herself and me,
And quenched Ioy hopel
She stood while courtesy
OF formal Christian welcome was bestowed;
Then straightway sought her seat though no eyes
But those OF One unseen observed her steps.
saw her taste the sacramental bread,
And touch the silver chalice 10 her lips;
And while she thought OF Hin, The SpOtless One
Whose flesh aud blood were symhOled 10 her heart
And worshiped in her thought, ate and drank
Her virgin beauty-with what guilty sense
or proclamation!