New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-12-25
A Poem Admired by President Lincoln.
Prom the Louisville Commercially -


Prom the Louisville COMMERCIAL -
A friend has handed rs the following
poem for publication, which will be familiar
TO our readers. Mr.. +. B. Carpenter. whose
intimacy with the late President warrants
confidence in his statement, wrote out the
copy of this poem for the press under the
following circumstances
"The circumstances under which this
copy was written are these: was with the
during the time l was painting my large
picture at the White House. last year. He
presently threw aside his pen and papers,
and began to talk to me of Shakespeare.
He sent little Tad, J" his con. to the library
to bring copy of the plays, and then read
to me several Of his favOrite passages, show
ing genuine appreciation of the great poet
Relapsing into q sadder strain. he laid the
book aside, and, leaning back in his chair,
said:
There is o poem which has been great
favorite with me for years, which was first
shown to me when q young man by a friend,
and which afterward saw and out from q
newspaper and learned by heart. l would"
he continued, "give o great deal to know
who wrote it, but l have never been able to
ascertain"
Then, half closing his eyes. he repeated
the lises which l inelose 70 you. Greatly
pleased and interested, l told him would
like, if ever an opportunity occurred, to
would some time try 70 give them to me-
A few days afterward he asked me to
accompany him to the temporary studio Of
Mr.. Swayne, the sculptor, who was making
q bust of him at the Treasury Department.
While he was sitting for the bust l was sud-
denly reminded of the poem, and said to
him tina. then would be good time to die
tate it to me. He complied. and, sitting
upon some books at his feet, % nearly as
BY one, from his lips.
With great regard, very truly, yours,
F. B. CARPENTER.
OIL WIT SHOULD 1HD SPIRIT OF MORTAL
BE PROUDs
Oh, WHY should the spirit Of mortal be proud,
Like swim, fleeing meteor q fast-fying cloud.
fash Of the lighting, . break Of the wave.
He passeth from life to hN rest In the grave.
Tho leaves Of the oak and tho willow shall fade,
sc scattered around and together be laid:
And the young and the old, and tlie low and the
high,
Shall moulder to dust and together saali lie.
Tho infant a motl>er attended and loved;
The mother that infants affection who proved:
The husband that mother aud infant who blessed.
Each, all. are away to their dwellings Of rest-
The hand of the king that the seepter hath borne
The brow Of the priest that the inter hath worn;
The eye of the sage and the heart Of the brave,
The peasant, whose lot WA 10 SOW and to reap:
The herdsman, who climbed with his goat UP tho
The beggar, who wandered In search Of his bread,
Have faded away like the grass that We tread.
60 the multitude goes like the flower of the weed
That withers away to let others succeed:
SO the multitude comes, even those We behold
H,la lat Affoy,h hon, told
Por we re the same our fatners have been;
We see the same sights eur fathers have seen
We drink the same stream, and view the same sun.
And run the same course our fathers have run.
The thoughts we are thinking our fathers would
think;
Prom the death We are shrinking our fathers would
shrink;
But is speeds for US ell like bird on the wing
They loved. but the story We can not unfold;
They scorned, but the heart Of she naughty 10 cold
They gr;eved. but no vail frsA their sluMber viii
They ioyet. but the s.ns.s Of their gladnes. is
They died, |Syei they d'edi We things that are
That walk On tho turf that lies over their brow.
And make in their dwellings Q transient abode,
Meet tho things that t,ssy net On their pilgrimage
road.
Yea, hope and despondeney, pleasure aud pain.
We min:s together In sunshine and ram;
And the smile and the tear. the song and the
dirge,
Still follow each other, IKE surge upon surg.
IT'S tho wink Of An eye, rs the draught OF .
BREATH
Prom the blossom Of hfsltA - the pslene&s 81
death,
From tho gildod saIOen - to bier and the
shroud-
Oh Why should the spirit Of mortal be proud
IL