The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-09-08

| am now old enough to be convinced OF
the folly of exploring, with a never-tir
ing curiosity, the literary territory of
other countries, for what, TO him who
can diligently seek, may be found in
equal richness, beauty and power, among
the highly gifted authors of our own
land. ] am fond, enthusiastically fond,
of poetry; not indeed of that ostentati-
ously splendid and elevated kind which
seeks to command admiration, but rath-
or of that which affects and wins upon
ME irresistibly by its unt btrusive and
touching simplicity; of that of which
our early dramatists exhibit such i'm
pressiye examples, and of which | find a
mine which never satiates, in the small
er pieces of Greene, of Withers. and in
Vulnerable detached passages of Old
Daniel and Michael Drayton. Of that
poetry which more exclusively describes
the fair and diversified scenes of nature,
| have ever been a constant and devoted
| lover. ] do not SO much mean that
which is solely descriptive, in which the
author is the sole prolocutor, as that
which assumes dramatic form, and in
which nature, lovely and inviting in
herself, acquires more interesting To-
cality, and additional beauty and ami
nation from those personages who move
and act amidst her varied and contrast
ed scenes.
In reading such pieces, feel at once
imp-essively that there is, indeed. a poe
try which has its seat deeper in our ma
ture, and touches, with more irresisti-
BILE hand, the chords of our affections,
than much which in these times has
sprung up amongst ua. My daughters
sometimes on this point gently attempt
to shake my scepticism, by citing some
passages from our living poets; but as
they have never yet heard the empty
and dogmatical lispings of any of your
famed blue-stockings, easily bring
them back to proper feeling of nature
and poetry, by repeating some passage
from Drayton or Spenser, striking, yet
natural, and impressively simple in its
conceptions; rich and copious, and slgni-
ficant in that stream of living language
which pictures forth with vividness and
power those scenes they so much love,
and of which they so truly feel the
awakening influence.
By such a course of delightful study
guard las it seems to me- against that
GOODNESS and aridIty of mind so apt to
steal upon age, and, aided by the nature
of my amusements, communicate to my
, fancy somewhat of the buoyancy, and
richness, and elasticity of youth. These
great productions, in the delightfully."-
vigorous tone they impart to the mind
may be likened to those rich and fra
grant essences which communicate, with
, out exhaustion, to whatever approaches
them, balmy and delicious odor; or tc
the soft and refreshing dews which de
. scend from full and gentle river, ant
which, amidst the parching heats o
! Summer, diffuse beauty and luxurian
, bloom along its banks. But now hast
en- to draw this long, and, fear, tedieu
communication, to a close. You may
perceive that feel too impressively tn,
=, grandeur of nature to be forgetful o
that humble and devout homage which
G is due from all to it's Great Author.
have carefully inculcated on my chill
dren sound and just religious principles
p, and have endeavored to inspire then
o with all ardent piety, constant and abid
! ing in the heart, humble, yet which, il
-, its humility, does not seek to lowe
/ or trample upon the glorious capacitie
o of our nature.
;. During the Summer months, an
: almost constantly in the open air, whe
4 the weather permits, to which l chief
ascribe the equable and vigorous healt
IS ! have throughout life enjoyed. ] al
seldom at loss for objects to occupy m
attention; and as am willing to find sa
q isfaction in very humble occupations,
il may be seen at one time, perhaps, lead
4 ing my horse or my daughters ponies t
= the pasture or to drink at the stream; &
# another, sauntering carelessly along wit
y a Dutch hoe in my hand, and perhaE
a roofing from my gravel-walks thistl
~ or bindweed, or giving to the borderin
4 turf sharper and neater edge. A
10 other times, l may be seen thrusting
bush into broken fence, or angling fc
+. small trout to be used as pike bats Q
~ the morrow; or, it may be, that my be-
y, have cast, and the whole household al
90 assembled beneath some lofty elm or as
- upon which thev have settled; then
IA may be seen swelling the rude clangir
fc height. In short, if my occupations a
be innocent, by no means allow myself
,o be staggered by their seeming vulgari
a or insignifcance; the pure and sparklil
IT. water which springs from an obscu
%. fountain Is still grateful and delicious
II. my taste.
all Thus does my life steal softly ava
"a like stream whose smooth waters gil
imperceptibly by; and the sports al
avocations which delighted my you
- still cheer and solace my age. Most
my friends have long since departe
-: some Of them after tempestuous and d
81 astrous struggles; yet the gong down
- my sun is glowing, yet peaceful a
-, tranquil, and I perceive the shade
- slowly deepening without emotion
H. disquiet. / shall yield up life amic
:, those dear and tender accompanimel
-, for which thousands, in the abiding p
a. sion of their nature, have fondly IL
I guished and sighed in vain. l sh
drop this mortal career where frs
% took it up-amidst those delicious scel
~ which knew my early infancy; sh
die in the very arms, SO to speak, VIII
nurtured me; and my last gentle strl
giles shall be hushed and composed
OIe tboco uho baya Sproai a balloyvoJ a