New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-03-11

lied him to fulfill what had long Deeh 1no u0.''0'
wish of his heart, his marriage with lady WHOSE
charms he had often celebrated in his glowing verse
Il was towards the Spring of 1884 that he took his
bride TO their humble home. Some drops OF sweet
ness AT last mingled with the NORWOOD OF his me-
no he exchanged the turmoil of bis recent deadly
exnerience for new Eden of peace and happiness
Uis authorizations were as bright as ever nusneo tne
fancy of the most prosperous OF bridegroohS' o
moved himself judicous and able editor' anu hio
industry never tagged for moment NO an-
| noyauces of business were permitted 10 iuno
his serene domestic atmosphere Ills JOY was
| crowned by the birth OF son Oh OhiiS.maS
| eye-a child of unusual promise ana eAquisi'e
beauty. But the end of his fowery Paradise was
noar 81 hand After few weeks Of dalliance with
his infant wonder there fearful reports of in
| x,asion The army of General Sherman moved on in
its overwhelming march, and just one year and
dav from Mr. Timrods marriage took possession OF
Columbia The devoted city yielded to terror and
despair Timrod had made himself conspicuous by
his hostility to the Union and was forced to remain
in concealment. Upon the departure Of the Federal
troops he reoned his family, but 1t was only to wit
ness a scene of incredible desolation His suferngs
for the next twelvemonth surpassed conception.
His business was destroyed by the ravages Of the
army. His family took refuge in the home OF his
sister, who, like himself, was completely impover-
4
their furniture and plate. 1t story, to use his
own words, of beggary starvation, death. Bit
! ter grief utter want Of hope" His idohzed
child was taken from him in the Autumn of 1865 and
from that time a large portion Of the fathers heart
| was buried in the little grave.
Soon after Mr. Timrod obtained employment in
| the Office of a new journal just established IN
| Charleston. He went to work on beggarly salary,
but for four months failed to receive his pay The
newspaper proved unsuccessful, and he was COM
PEELED to turn his hand to literary labor though
with no prospect of its affording him the means OF
support. AS forlorn hope. he forwarded some OF
bis best poems to certain Northern periodicals. In
every instance, they were coldy declined. The
music of his song was now quenehed in the anguish
| of despair 81 not only feel" he says to friend,
Z" that can write no more verse; but am perfectly
Indifferent TO the fate Of what have already COM
posed. i would consign every line of it to eternal
| oblivion for-one hundred dollars in hand"
Towards the end of 1866 he received a temporary
appointment from Governor Orr, assistant secre-
tary, or rather clerk. The labor was severe, de-
manding his constant attention from o'clock IN the
morning till at night. On more than occasion,
he wrote from 10 in the morning until the sunrise OF
the next day, with only brief intermission for
dinner. 81 1t insures me, however, months supply
of bread and bacon that devoured I'll trust in God
that something else will turn up.7 But the struggle
with want still continued. 1t not the Fictitious
| poverty of a morbid imagination, but frequent
lack of food. compelling those grim encounters
with starvation which sap the life, chill the heart
blood, madden the brain"
But now relief was not far distant In Septem-
ber 1867 he writes to Mr.. Hayne: 81 have been too
sick to write before, and am still too sick to drop
| you more than few lines. You will be surprised
and panied to hear that have had severe
II IA . nY,f
a moments warning, my mouth being filed with
blood while was listening to VIM. Talley talking
| / did not come home an instant too soon. found
them without money provisions Fortunately, L
brought with me a small sum- won't tell you how
small-but six dollars of it from the editor
of the Opinion for my last poem"
| few days after he writes to the same constant
friend: Yesterday / had still more cOpious
| hemorrhage 1t occurred in the street.-the blood
| came in jets from my mouth; you might have
| tracked me home in crimsoni am lying supine in
bed forbidden to speak, or make any exerton what
ever. But can't resist the temptation of dropping
you line in the hope of calling forth a two
from you in return. An awkward time this for me
to be sickl We are destitute Of funds, almost OF
food. But God will provided
| The last comforter was near at hand, The
suffering poet lived till about the middle of October
when the curtain fell the mournful tragedy. The
circumstances of the last are described with
painful mnuteness aletter from his sister, to whom
he was fondly attached. We quote this sad recital
of the close of poets life:
"CoLUNBIA, Oct. %, 1867.
Only DEAR FRIEND:
"You are, know. anxously awaiting the particulars
the effort feel that to you his dearest
"You Will remember that my last letter was scarcely
as hopeful as the former had been Halls apprehension
|
| each cough sent thrill Of terror to my heartl
1.-The idea that he was to choke TO death by sudden
rush of blood the lungs haunted him like pecter
persuasions could induce him TO believe that there
His fears, alas proved but too sure premonons Of
the truth on "Wednesday morning S2d Of octobeE AZ
stream flowing from his lips, while every instant espra-
1.-The hemorrhage however was soon checked but its
effect ON his nervous system was fatal He never rallied
doctors Gibbs and Taley spent hours by his bedside
endeayorns by every human means to arrest the prog
appearance, and hope was gone
"on Friday morning DR.. Gibbs said, Mr. Tmrod,
your recovery Never sha forget the fearfuy Startled
the Doc Sen se S n @ to BE-
the end OF also sooni so soon and have achieved
and delicate fancies. i do think this Winter would
have written purely and with greater delicacy
And then have loved you all so much! Oh! how can
"a little while after he said, DO you not think
OOulQ tctH 10 HNef aOulnR WIN smile,
| an effort, like Mrs Dombey, you knowP
"And indeed res0utey did he seem TO combat with
the OF Death, that the rest OF that day friday
he appeared to grow stronger and the symptoms
more favorable; so much more so, in fact that both
scans at night pronounced change for the better
Captain Hugh Thompson sat up with him that night.
bearing him company. He begged US TO talk, saying
| he liked to hear voices and In the morning OBJ
served 4 have enjoyed this night; l slept when j
| wanted and listened when liked.
81 must omit to say, that from the first serious
hemorrhage his mind turned TO religious subjects and
that the Sew Testament was always near his pillow.
He would every and then ask to read chapter
from the Gospels, and 20 pray with him.
ION Saturday morning he seemed cheerful and
sangune but In the afternoon the great pain in his side