Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1874-12-04


His forests, g,cns, and streams,
Mountains and heather blooming fair;
\ Highland lake and lady were
The playmateS OF my dreams.
Years passed away: my dreams were gone
Ny pilgrim footsteps pressed alone
Loeb katrue storied shores;
And winds that winged me o er the lake
Brcathcd low as if they feared to break
The music OF my oars.
No tramp Of warrior men were heard;
For wclgome-song or challeuge-word
listened, but in vain;
And. mOugti beneath his favorite tree,
y yau,y wooei the minStrelsy
Of ray-haired Allan Bane.
saw the Highland heath flower smile
Ia beauty upon Ellen isle
And cOuched in ElIen's bower
wa;ched'heneath the lattice leaves,
Her coming through a summer ewes
Youngest and love.iest hour.
She came pot; lonely was her home;
Herself o:Airy shapes that come,
Lake shadows to depart.
Are there two Ellen Of the mind?
Or have lived AT last TO find
An Ellen Of the heart
For music Ike the boricrer now
Rings round me, aud again bow
Before the shrine OF song,
Devouiiy as bowed in youth
For hearts that worship there in truth
And ioys are ever young.
And well aays harp responds to-day,
Ard willingly its chords obey
: The MINISTRIES loved command;
\ minstrel maid " nose infant eyes
.ngkei on Ohio woods and skies
Ny seho0l-book's 5 sunset land.
And beautiful the wreath she twncs
Round Abb Cottage, howercd in vines,
ole>t in sleigh-bell mirth
.Aua Ioy,livr still her smile that seems
.Ero bid me welcome IN nv dreams
y Beside is peaceful hearth.
Long shall deem that winning smile
But mere mockery. 10 b,guilc
Some lonely hour Of care,
And will this Ellen prove TO be,
: kut like her pamesake DER the sea-
\ being Of the AIR
ur sb.ll take the mornings wing,
Armed with parson and = ring,
Speed hill and vale along,
And ~ her co',aEc-hcarIh ere night,
tGAu-c into tiHttcr.uCs Of delight
or what's more NAc!,} Of alright
The merry moeA-hlrI song
Accompanying the poem was short let
Ter in which he thanks her for her beauti-
ful lines. Though they did not serious
Is intend - make me 4 happy man, they
have certainly made me . very proud one.
lie ask, hcr Il accept copy of his poems
in consideration OF the beauty Of its type
and the vastncss of its margin. and closes
thus. Il am, dear Miss Campbell. very
gratefully. or. if you are in good earnest,
as very much tear YOU are not, | am, dear
est. Ellen, very atiectionatcly yours,
"FIrz-GKEENE HALLECK."
Her reply this is letter Of considera-
blc length. in which she thanks him tor
the promise of his book, and declares that
eager expectation stands tip-toc on the
misty heights Of the blue Ohio to hail its
approach. She closes bv saving that
" hen he is in fashions crowded hall,
or listening to the trump of deathlesS
fame" She would not claim one thought
But when the busy crowd is gone,
And brightly on the Western sky
Thr chl0-etul sunset hucS are thrown-
Oh. wilt thou thithc- turn thine eye
And send one gentle thoa-ht TO her
Like Pcr>iA's jdol-w orshipptr,
OR Muslcm to his prophets shrine.
The correspondence continued through,
out the year, growing more and more in,
tcrcsting. The gay badinage ceased and
was succeeded bv earncstness on both
sides. Though still preserving her in
coguita, and shielded by her assumed
name. we find the lady growing timid as
the poet grows ardent in his protestations
of admiration and esteem. At one time
she says: Every step that have made
in Your acquaintance has increased my
With a reckless laugh | flung
my first offering on the current of accident
little thinking it would ever bring me
back tears and smiles, anxious thoughts
and fevered dreams" Toward the end OF
the year she intimates that the terms OF
her privilege will soon expire, and that
the correspondence must close. The poet
replies. urging its continuance, and speak
ing of the happiness it has afforded him
and the desire to know her personally
She replies Il certainly did suppose had
written to Mr. Halleck for the last time
but YOU know before | confess 1t that l am
but too happy to be convinced by your
profound logic that it is not only my pri-
yilcgc but my duty to respond. Your
witty assumption of your extensive privi-
lege has delivered my 'wOman's pride
from the bastile of word, for whose adj
amantine bars, perhaps, have not shown
a proper reverence" After the inter
change of few more letters. the poet an
nOunccs his intention of seeking the home
of his fair correspondent, and meeting
face to face the lady whom as ELLEN
Campbell' he has learned to highly es-
TEEN. This proposal filled Miss Flannel
with dismay. Remembering that she had
commenced the acquaintance, she reflected
that tacit agreement to the poets visit
would place her id the character of wooer
An ardent admirer of Haleck's poems
nothing could have afforded her moro
pleasure than to have met him. but under
tie circumstances she felt that she must
not encourage his coming. Her reply was
posted at Washington, whittier she haC
sent it in care of relative, and to thai
address the poets subsequent letters were