The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-08-12
From tho Galaxy.
A Memory.

When I say that never knew my as
tere father to be enamOred of but one pO-
EN- in all the long half century that he
lived, persons that knew him will easily
believe me; when l say that / have new
er composed but one poem in oil the long
third of u century that have lived, per-
sons who know me will be sincerely grate-
full; and finally. when I say that the po-
en- which 1 composed was not the one
which my father was enamored Of per-
sons who may have known us both will
not need to have this truth shot into them
with mountain howitzer before they
can receive it. My father and were on
the most distant terms. was bOy-a
sort of armed neutrality, so to speak. At
irregular intervals this neutrality was
broken, and suffering enused; but l will
be candid enough to say that the break
ing and the suffering were always divid-
ed up with strict impartiality between us,
which Is 10 say my father did the break
ing. and did the suffering. Asa gener-
al thing was backward, cautious, un-
adventurous boy; but once jumped of
two story stable; another time gave
an elephant plug Of tobacco and re-
tired without waiting for an answer; and
still another time / pretended to be talk
ing in my sleep, and got OF portion OF
very wretched original conundrum in
the hearing of my father. Let us not
pry into the result, 1t was Of no conse-
quence to any but me. .s.ar ..r
But the poem have referred to as at-
tracting my fathers attention and achicv-
ing his favor was "fIiawatha." Some
man who courted sudden and awful
death presented him with m early copy,
and never lost faith In my own senses
until saw him sit down and 60 to reading
II In cold blo0d--saw him open the book,
aud heard HIM eread tho following lines,
with the same infectionless. judicial frigid-
tiy with which he always read his charges
to a jury. or administered an oath to n
witness: i.3.msG 2lg89 uylioord olt
Taa,r, "Taks your bow. o Hiavathso,r !gun
49,, Take ypur arrows Jasper headed, ,-- n
'''' Take your war-club, Puggawaugun,
moI' And your mittcus. rMinjeaahwsnlf ai2
ain And your birch oaIoe for sailing.I0o eli
.,, Aud the oil Of MishsINaua,"l "l,gi d y,iy
Presently my father took out Of, 70 his
breast pocket an imposing ..Warrnnty
Deed" and fixed his eyes. upon It and
tiroppcd into. meditation. I knew what
IT, wnao A Texan Indy and gentlsinan
had given my half brother rOrrin john
son q handsome property, 10 g town IN
the North. in gratitude TO him for saving
their lives BY a brilliant act Of hcr6istn.
BY and by my father looked ~ wards
me aud sighed. - Then he yssid;,,,u oi,r
s.ifI had such n Son. as this poet here
weyeis subject woPthier than The itradi.
tions Of these Indisns.h 10 osnoIl sii ldl
If you please, sir, ,wheser Gin rnmoli
ha.in IN tS,s qse aGnodr iH1en'3 I'd o'ir
-gyYcsIih tkls very dcSi,, sasd my faith
ers throwingIit On oths itshao lr'dhTo IN
moro poetry, more romance. more sub
Unity, more splendid imagery hidden
away hi that VhotiiSiS document than 6o,ild
Be- fouia iISll tho TRADITIONS rof'isllO tbs
savages that live.l aiidrq.G % ins siaIooHgd
Indeed sir; could I-could lrget Y ont
sirt Could 7 compose the poem. sir, DO do
yci fhiiFrf ss7Tshc9 10 T,oh''H 1'fl7oi ''1
SaYoaprSdT sidqnsn ni is1rapp bad 80
Iwiltcd.- no ns,iid 7so sid tsd iSI9ggD OBJ
q PrsssYtly, nv ta.Assh iaesl, eosaAnsd
'SsS 'SqsS ma a say y Bas @ mtn& assuaaiS 'Biy.
No pesn5 &C tAsaxpensso ttesd. 'fkssp
sttictlya6thUEsuhsd ejamp,h ion- no sSued
-EfasA lMOqd. sd bowpdo myself dau1
and Ssnt PR ssi5ar s..ais,Ia aas, q, 9. :ani
And % ala my Siathcf 8 'fsinAfS hboht ne
sdblEnhy AID n2nse qiddsnan ny sdb.