The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1869-12-09
THE EVENING F1REsIDE.
A Passage from the Essays Of
Leigh Hunt.

A Passage from the Essays Of
Leigh Hunt.
The essays of Leigh Hunt have an
aroma, bouquet of their own, as Pc
culiar as that of old wine of rare vint-
age. A volume of his essays, hitherto
uncollected and unedited, is in the
press of Roberts Brothers, of Boston,
from advance sheets of which we take
this freside paper:
"Now stir the fire, and close the shutters fast,
Let fall the curtains, wheel the sofa round,
And, while the bubbIlug aud lOud-hissing
Throws up u steamy column, and the cups
That cheer, but not inebriats, wait on sach,
So let US welcome peaceful evening in"
Never was snug hour more feelingly
commenced C0wper was not great
poet; his range was neither wide nor
lofty; but such as it was, he had it
completely to himself-he is the poet
of quiet life and familiar observation.
The fire is now stirred, and puts on lis
liyeliest aspect in order to welcome
those TO whom the tea table is point
of meeting, and it is the business OF
the firesidpr to cherish this aspect for
the remainder of the evening. How
light and easy the Goals lCOk How
ardent is the TOUmineSs within the
bars! How airily do the volumes of
smoke course each other up the CHM
Enpy, like so many fantastic and indef
mite spirits, while the eye in vain en-
dpavOrs to accompany any one Uf
them! The flames are not 80 fierce as
I'm the morning. but still they are aG-
tive and powerful; and if they do not
roar up the chimney, they make con-
stant and playful noise that is ex-
tremply to the purpose. Here they
come out at the top with le'Ify twirl ;
there they dart up spirally and at once
there they form a lambent assemblage
that shifts about on its own ground,
and is continually losing and regain
ing its vanished members.
l confess l take particular delight in
seeing a good blaze at top; and my
impatience to produce it will sometimes
lead me into great rashness in the ar
ticle of poking; that is to say, 1 use
the poker at the top instead of the
middle of the fire, and go probing il
about in search of "a flame. A lady OF
my cquaintance-''near and dear, u
AS they say in Parliament-will tell
me of this fault two MY times in day
and every time so gOOd-humOredly
that it is mere want of generosity in
me not TO amend it; but somehow OF
other l do not. The consequence is
that. after a mOmentaTy ebullitiOn Ol
blaze, the fire becomes dark and
sleepy, and is in danger of going out
1t is like boy at school in the hands
of bad master, who, thinking him
dull, and being impatient to render
him brilliant, beats him about the head
and ears till he produces the very evi
he would prevent. But, on the pres
ent occasion, fOrbear to use the pOk
er; there is no need of it; everything
is comfortable, everything snug ant
sufficient.
How equal is the warmth arOunt
us! How cherishing this rug to One'
feet! How cOmplacent the cup Il
ones lip! What fine broad light il
diffused from the fire over the circle
glpaming on the urn and the polished
mahogany, bringing out the white gar
meuts If the ladies and giving poeti
warmth to their face and hair!
need not mention all the good thing
that are said at tea-still less the gal
liant. Good humOr never has an aud
ience more disposed to think it wit
nor gallantry an hour of service NOR
blamrless and elegant. Ever since tPj
has been known, its clear and gentl
powers of inspiration have been aC
knowlpdged, from Waller paying hi
court at the circle of Catharine OF Bra
ganza, to DIR. johnson receiving HON
age at the parties of Mrs. Thrale. Th
former, in mis- lines, upon hearing
recommended by her Majesty" rank
it at once above myrtle and laurel
and her Majesty of course agreed witt
him.
"venus her myrtle, Phuhus has his bays
Tea both e1ceIs, which she voucnsaEes to praise.
The best Of qHesas, and hest of herbs,
To that bold Ratinn which the way did show
To the fair region where the sun does rise,
Whose rich productions so justly rize.
The muses. friend, tea, does fancy aid,
R.press hose vapors which the head invade,