Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-03-05
HALLECK,s REPLY.

On New Years eve, 1896, some pretty verses emil
cd 1.-THE Merry Mock Birds Song" were addresses
FitzGreen Halleck, over the signature of"Elleu A
Campbell" which resulted in q long correspond
nee, in which the lady concealed her true name.
Of the Philadelphia Press, clergy ma
Pittsburgh, gives what purpOrts TO be an authorta
We account Of the girl, who he says was Abbe Flar
Dr. OF Mount Pleasant, Ohio. This is the poem
The Scottish border. minstrel's lay
Eniranced me Oft in boyhoOd's day;
His forests, glens, and streams,
Mountains and heather blooming fair,
A Highland lake and lady were
The playmates Of my dreams.
Years pass'd away, my dreams were gone
W. pilgrim footsteps pressed alone
Loeb Katrines storied shores;
And winds that wing'd me DER the lake
Breathed low, as IL they feared to break
The music Of my oars.
No tramp Of warrior men was heard;
No welcome-song or challenge word
listen'd, but in vain.
And moor'd beneath his fsvorite tree,
AS vainiy wood the minstreIsy
0fgray haired "Allan Bane"
saw the Highland heath flower smile
In beauty upon Ellens isle;
And couched In Ellen's bower,
/ watched, beneath tho lattice leaves
Her coming, through summer ewes
Youngest and lovelest hour.
She came not; lonely Wis her home;
Herself Of airy shapes that come
Like shadows, to depart.
Are there two Ellens Of the mind
or have lived at last to find
An Ellen Of tie heart'
For music like the borders now
Rings round me, and again bow
Before the shrine of song,
Deyoutly as bowed in youth;
For hearts that worship there in truth
And joy are ever young.
And we'll my harp responds to-day,
And willingly its chords ebey
The minstrel's loved command;
A minstrel maid whose infant eyes
Looked on Ohio's woods and skies,
My school-books sunset land.
And beautiful the wreath she twines
Round "Albi Cottage" powered in vines,
Or blest in sleigh-bell mirth
And lovelier still her smile that seems
To bid me welcome IN my dreams
Beside its peaceful hearth.
Long shall deem that winning smile
Duta mere mockery, to beguile
Some lonely hour of care;
And Will his Ellen prove to be
But like her namesake DER the sea,
A being Of the air,
Or shall take the mornings wing,
Armed with parson and ring,
Speed hill and vale along;
And at her cottage hearth ere night
Change into lutterings Of delight,
Or whats more likely of alright
The merry mock birds song,
Miss Planners father was a Quaker preacher. tt
correspondent Of the Press thus describes hers
Miss Flanner was always fond Of reading, al
TO have had facilities in this way that can har
be credited as likely TO he found In an cutoff N
yay village in the woods of Ohio fifty years ago. 81
,ten engaged in teaching, not from choice hut fro
necessity All Of them had to work, but the work W
ather q stimulus TO mental activity than reason
neglect of culture and this In large degree chara
erized the small community. Miss Flanner, in ord
o preserve her secret from the postmaster and other
he postOflice for the letters from Halleck. She "
ingularly and perhaps morbidly sensitive, she vi
all and graceful had sweet, animated, and intelet
nal face full Of sensibillty and peculiarly attract
mile; when silent and thoughtful. her face wore
pensive, sad expression, but when engaged In cOnVe
She was dne conversationalist, and was tho queen
he circle In which she moved. She never could X
over the idea that She though In perfectly innOccn
rirlish fun, had commenced the correspondence, al
that she must, II she yielded to his entreates for
personal interview, and this should result In unto
always feel that she might seem 10 have been q
Fooer.h