Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1868-09-11
THE sKYLARK.

A writer In the British Standard thus de-
scribes tho authoress OF the lines given be-
| low Janet Hamilton is above the middle
height Of women, all blind of one eye and
half blind Of the other. A black silk hand
kerchief Is tied round the extinct organ
| on her head she wears an unfashionable,
but spotless white Scotch mulch; and she
is dressed in an questionable, but neat
clean gown OF sober color. Her face Is
an excellent specimen of the longish and
best type of Scottish features-high, we'll
developed for s,ead, with good breadth,
handsomely shaped Romanish nose, and
flexible, expressive lips, and really speak
ing mouth, and q chin of that peculiaS
breadth which is understood to Indicate de-
cision and vigor. l had seen her portrait
and read her poems, while in Imagination 1
had pondered much over the old woman
eloquent-victoriou over the countless Ills
of heightened and laborious lite teach
ing herself in old age to write 10 order that
she might put on record the thoughts the
fancies and irrepressible imaginings that
sought TO be released from the bondage of
half century of silence. The lines were
suggested Dy the singing Of Gagged skylark,
aud the reader will discover that the other
skylark is Janet herself, who, being nearly
blind, is In a measure Gagged.
as weet minstrel Of the Summer dawn,
Band ofthe sky, DER lea and lawn
Thy rapturous anthem clear and loud,
Kings from the dim and dewy cloud
THAI swathes the brow OF infant morn,
Dame Natures first and fairest born.
From grassy couch saw thee spring,
Aside the daisy curtain fling,
Shake the bright dewdrops flom thy breast,
Preen thy soft wing, aud smooth thy crest
Then, all the bard within thee burning,
Heaven Ia thine eye, the duh earth siurn-
lug.
Thou SCARED aud sung, till lost on high,
10 morning glores of the skyl
Not warbing at thine own sweet WILL
Far up yon heaven kissing hill,
With Quivering wing and swelling throat,
On waves of ambient air ahoat--
Not so l saw thee last, sweet bird
l heard thee--and my heart was stirred
Above the tumult of a street,
Where smoke aud sulphurons gasses meet;
Where night and day, resonds the clamor
" shrieking steam, OF wheel and hammer
A Babel rude OF many tongue;
There, high Ger head, thou blilhely sung,
Gagged, -cribbed, conhned,' yet, full and
clear
As silver aute, fell on my ear
Thy Joyous song; as void of sorrow
As when, to bid the sun good morrow,
Just rising from his couch OF gold,
Thou suug, and scared DER mead aud wold.
Thy prison song, o bird beloved,
Ny heart hath strangely, deeply moved,
10 reverie, waking dream
Steals o'er my senses, aud seem
The Joyous girl that knew no care,
When fields were green and skies were fair;
Aud, sweetest Of the waroling throng,
The thrilling, gushing voice OF song
seem TO hear--an, tits the lark,
That, mounting, sings at heavens gate; :
harki f
These rapturoas notes are all his own: .
Bard OF The sky, he sings alone
Sweet captive, thy fate DO mine,
will not langpish, willnot pine;
Nor beat my wings gainst the wires,
In vain regrets and strong desires
To roam again, all biitho and free,
Through Natures haunLs--again to see
The blooming, bright and beauteous things
That in her train each season brings:
Springs bursting buda and tender leaves,
The Summer flowers, the autumn sheaves,
The purple hills, the shining streams,
Were lingering memory broods and dreams;
But, never more--ah never more
To climb the hill or tread the shore
With foot untiring, swift aud free
IL may not-nay, IL cannot be-.
All cannot be my eyes are dark,
A prisoner, too, like thee, sweet lark:
But have sought and found content,
And so our song shall oft DO blent--
/ singing in my hermitage,
Thou warbling 10 thy prison cage,
Aspire thou 10 thine own blue sky,
l 10 a loftier sphere on high p U.s..