The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1874-12-31


And at her cottage hearth ere night,
Change into tulterings OF delight
Or what's more likely Of alright,
The merry mock-birds songl
Accompanying the poem was short
letter in which he thanks her for her,
beautiful lines. Though they did not
seriously intend 10 make me happy
man. they have certainly made mea very
proud one" He asks her to accept
copy of his poems "in consideration of
the beauty its type and the vastness Of
its margin" and closes thus; 81 am, dear
Miss Campbell, very gratefully, or, if you
are in good earnest, as | very much fear
you are not, am, dearest Ellen, very af-
fectionately yours,
"FTz-GRRBNR HALLEcK."
Her reply to this is letter of consider
able length, in which she thanks him for
the promise of his book, and declares
that "eager expectation stands tip-tOe on
the misty heights of the blue Ohio to
hail its approach" She closes by say
ing that, when he is in fashions crow
ded hall, or listening to the tramp of
deathess fame" she would not claim one
thought;
When but the busy crowd Is gone.
And brightly on the Western sky
The changeful sunset hues are thrown
Oh, wilt thou thither turn thine eye
And send one gentle thought 70 her
Whose spirit ever turns to thine,
Like Persias idol wOsnipper
Or Mosselman To his prophets shrine
The correspondence continued thrO'-
out the year, growing more and more in
teresting. The gay badinage ceased and
was succeeded by earnestness on both
sides. Though still preserving h in
cognita, and shielded by her assumed
name, we find the lady growing timid as
the poet grows ardentin his protestations
of admiration and esteem. At one time
she says; Every step that have made
in your acquaintance has increased my
timidity. With reckless laugh | flung
my first offering on the current of acci-
dent, 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 ex-
pire, and that the correspondence must
close. The poet replies, urging It's con-
tinuanCe, and speaking of the happiness
it has afforded him, and the desire to
know her personally, She replies; 81
certainly did suppose | had written to
Mr.. Halleck for the last time; but you
know before confess it is that | am but
too happy to be convinced by yeur pro-
found "logic" that it is not only my priv
ilege but my duty to respond. Your wit
ty assumption of your extensive privilege
has delivered my "wOman's pride" from
"the bastile of word, for whose ada
mantine bars, perhaps, | have not shown
proper reverence" After the inter-
change Of a few more letters, the poet
announces his intention of seeking the
home of his fair correspondent, and
meeting face to face the lady whom as FL
len Campbell he has has learned to
highly esteem. This proposal filled Miss
Flanner with dismay. Remembering
that she had commenced the acquaint-
ance, she reflected that tacit agreement
to the poets visit would place her in the
character of worer. An ardent admirer
of Halleck's poems, nothing could have
afforded her more pleasure than to have
met him, but unde. the circumstances
she felt that she must not encourage his
coming Her reply was posted at Wash
ingtOn, whittier she had sent it in care of
relative, and to that address the poets
subsequent letters were addressed. She
eluded all his efforts to discover her iden
tity, and remained to him always "An
Ellen of the mind"-"A beingOf the air,
They never met wealth of possible
happiness was left untouched. For him
the aloe never blOOmed. She married,
late in life, Il man her equal in station,
but her inferior in natural gifts and in
culture. Whether her brief married life
was congenialand happy we do not know.
Miss Flanner, at the time of her cOrre-
spOndence with FitZ-Greene Halleck was
about twenty-siX years Of age She is
described by one who knew her then as
tall, slender, and graceful, with cordial
ana engaging manners She had bright,
hazel eyes attractive features, and pc
culiarly sweet smile. When silent and
thoughtful, her face wore a pensiye, sad
expression but when engaged in cOnver-
sation it lighted up with animation and
intelligence. She was exceedingly sen,i-
tive. When her feelings were wounded
she would put her hand to hes face, and
Immediately the tears came trickling
between her white fingers She had un-
usual mental gifts, was fine conversa-
tionalist, and the queen Of the circle in
which she moved The necessarily brief
extracts from her letters given here al
ford little idea Of her talent and culture,
She belonged to the Society of Friends
or Quakers. She had two brothers and
three sisters. The brothers were both
eminent physicians-the eldest died Of
cholera when that disease was prevalent
in Pittsburgh Sheliyed but year after
her marriage. Her death was marked by
that peace and perfect trust which char
acterizes the last hours of a Christian.
Above and back Of the Ohio river is
bluff commanding wide view of the sur
rounding country and the misty blue hills
Of Virginia. Here beneath the shadow
ing trees, in whose branch the birds sing
all day long, is the grave of Abbie Flan-
ner |. NJ. C.
IT is no eXaggeratiOn to say that health
* "A larup Ingredient in what tho world