New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-03-05

nee with sombcr reality; and "Ihe New housc'
With n touch of Schiller, Longfcllow, ard Bryant,
,londs. in a hgh-wrought description some OF the
gay and solemn aspects of human DESTINY
The "Drdicatory" staazas at the opening of Mrs
DORIS "Poems" prepares the reader for healthy
ltlectionate spirit tender feeling and gfacelu Neri
ication in tie contents of the volume. They DO
not however, Justify the confession that young
Romance was buried long AGO and that the june
roses have lost their crimson glow, for many OF to
noems are fresh and fragrant as a iOwer-gardeh III
vornal bloom, and reveal fancy that has hot SoS
been touched bv Autumn chills. The ehusion ~ .,
maternal sentiment entitled Without and Nlthu
may serve as specimen.
Softly tho gold has faded from the sky,
slowly the stars have gathered one D' h v
Calmly the crescent moon mounts up "n Ns
And the long day Is dOne'
with Quiet heart my carden-walks tread
Feeling the beauty that cannon 81 s,Ied
Beauty and fragrance all aronnu l ~ 80 -
by flower, and shrup'"n wv
ofton I,prer where the roses pour
rXoniste odOrs from each glowing cup ~ .o
or where tho violet, brimmed with sweetness oer'
Lifts its small challce up
v,i,h.fro Grant breath the lilies me now.
And softly speaks the sweet-voced miEhonette'
While heliotropes, with mecky lifted brow,
Say 10 me, Go not yet
SO for while llnger but not long.
CarceTing proudly mid the glorious throng,
Brightest OF all the stars.
But softly cleaning through the curtains fold
The hOme-star beams withmol ainrInS ray
And, as a star led sage and seer OF ola,
so il directs my way;
Aud leads me in where my young children lie'
Rosy and beautiful in tranquil rest;
The seal OF sleep Is on each fasf-Shut eye,
Heavens peace within each breast
I bring them gifts. Not frankincense nor myrrh'-
Gifts the adoring Magi humDly brought
Tile young child Graded In the arms OF her
Blest beyond mortal thought;
But love-the love that fills my motherheart
With a sweet rapture oft akin 10 pain;
Such yearnng love as bids the tcar-drOps start
Aud fan like Summer rain.
And f,tl-that dares for their dear sakes to climb
Boldly, where once it would have feared to co.
And calmly standing upon nights sublime
Fears not the storm below.
And PRAYER O God! unto thy throne come.
Bringing my darlings,-but cannot speak
With love and awe oppressed, my lips are dumb;
Grant what my heart would seek!
"A Dead Love " is burst of solemn pathos utter
ing in tender wall the emotions suggested by the
tte "My Friends" celebrates the JOY of the writer
in communion with her beloved bards, Chaucer
wearing on his face all the freshness of the morn,
Milton, "blind, yet seeing God by inner sight,
Camoens praisng, soft and low, sweetest eyes were
ever SEEM" and Our own Margarets lifted face
wearing still its queenly DOVER" Once" conceals
lesson of ethical protest III soft vail of mysticism
and without special reference TO Others, The Name
gives new version of one of loves questlonlngs
which has never yet received its answer. The tom
of the volume is subdued rather than impassioned
murmuring in strains of sweet gentleness but with
out any morbid languor of sentiment, and tempered
by womanly fir1nness and cheerful hope. Several 0
the poems in the volume are patriotic themes
and are among the best in that kind which we hav
seen in print Others express profound religious con
vctiOns in the light of poetic Imagination, rattle
than of creed or dogma.
Mrs Thaxter's poetry is marked by vein of mas
culne vigoT with no traces of the e1emlnate sentl
ment which is sometimes mistaken for Inauguration
by singers with weak muscle Of either SEX Inc
staple of her verse consists more of Thought than OF
fancy but her thought has not yet attained com
plete consciousness of itself much less a mastery
of tit expression. She is guided by the cherub con
temptation" in lofty flights into the cmpyrean. but
she is not always sure of her foothold the sole
ground. Her productions have more strength THAI
gracefulness or ease. They are less remarkable fo
sweetness than for a certain salty flavor which be
trays the inspiration of the sea. Still she is nC
stranger to any realm of Nature. She gathers ma
terals for song in every region of space and in al
the phases Of human experience. Her cunning hand
gathers fresh garland from fading flowers, while
her voice echoes in harmony with the plantive moa
of the ocean If her verse is sometimes rugged, it
always significant. She never attempts to sing with
out placing an idea in the song. She is singu
larly free both from commonplace sentimen
and commonplace imagery. She can justly CLAIM
originality of conception, if not facility of versifica
ton. The qualities displayed in the present volum
are perhaps more hopeful in their promise, thai
striking in their effect, and afford basis for per
manent fame as poet, rather than for the enthusi
assn of temporary admiration, One Of her mos
Characteristic poems, though not the most pro
found, is
THE sASDPIPER.
Across the beach we fit,
Or,o Ito nd |