The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-04-08
A TRIBUTE TO BYRANT.

in the Massachusetts, Legislature ON tho
Bill to Incorporate the Bryant Free Ii
brary in Cummington.
Mr.. Speaker: feel we'll assured that
the House has every disposition to find, if
it can, in this application those exceptional
circumstances that justify US in suspending
the rule. Fsr many years MIR, Bry ant has
cherished the purpose of founding in his
native town an institution devoted to edu-
cation, science and art, and has already ex.
pended very liberal sums of money in the
erection of stone edifice, and furnishing
it with library and adjoining the grounds
about it. He has always intended to ask
of our legislature such an organization as
he thought would secure its benefit for all
time. Engrossed in various cares, he has
but just completed his application to the
legislature, and is good deal taken abaek
to find himself confronted with this rule.
Approaching its value, he modestly de-
cines to have it rudely assailed In his be-
half. But his brow betukens some pain at
the thought that his darling project may
possibly miscarry for this session. At the
suggestion of delay till another legislative
winter, his venerable form sinks in silent
misgivings, for he clearly sees each OF his
successive winter suns ride lower and low
or in the southern sky, and cannot but feel
that each may be his last. l have the great
honor to plead for him, that his residence
out OF the state, his ignorance of the rule,
| the need of action on account of his ex-
| treme age, now SO, fairly take the case out
of its int ended operation.
But why do plead against this barr The
| House anticipates me when avow that all
the people of his native state, and her rep
resentatives assembled here, are eager to
seize any proper occasion, not only to re-
spond to his request, but to acknowledge
his great worth. Were he to enter this
capitol, we should rise with one accord
and do him reverence. For GO years he
has served the very highest interests of
mankind. The temples of Nature, of Lib
erty and Of Truth, have equally shared his
devotions, and he has minstered so meek-
ly and efficiently at their affairs, that the
world has come to look upon him as the
high priest of the three. Very few living
men enjoy so much of its esteem. Clarum
ct venerable nonen! Would that we could
stay the descent of this evening star, and
| fix it on the horizon, as beacon light,
forever. His parentago was plain, bat
| good and very enlightened, He was born
in one of the Businesses of our western hills
that are always vocal with the voices of
Nature. Young, very young, he began to
| thrum the Tyre she presented him. l sup
pose there never was a child that submitted
a more docile ear TO her whisperings.
Younger than Pope, he "lsped in num-
bers, for the numbers came" He was ed
ucated in the college of our county, and
spent few years in professional life in an
other part of the same county. / am glad
of it tam so glad" as the girls say. Had
he lived in the moot remote and unhearing
desert, he would have paid his devotions
to his great mistress; but here, where Ma
ture assemblies many o: her most bewitch-
ing charms, no business cares could re-
strain him. His passion broke forth in q
tide of immortal song. Hill and valley,
stream and woodland, are under the ever
lasting spell of his genius. Mr.. birth and
boy hood were hard by the place of his pro-
fessional life. Full oft have l roamed, boy
and man, along these haunts of his muse,
and still more and more brightly do they
glow with the Illuminated print of his foot
steps.
Fortune transplanted him, while still
Young, to the great cities, where plunged
quite deeply in human affairs, he has spent
the greater part of his life. The occasion
does not permit me to follow him further
than to note that the change did not sub
vert the original bent Of HIS being nor al
ter the tone of his higher ministrauons to
his fellow men. He seized every occasion
TO revisit the sanctuaries of hrs young de-
yotjons. and, strengthened by his contrasts
ed experience of lite, he hymned the Cos
mel of nature in still more lofty and inspir-
ing strains. Cheerily, cheerily. almost
play fully, the preacher Is ever crying;-
..Is this a time o look cloudy and sad
| When our mother Nature laughs around,
| When even the deep niue heavens look glad
And gladnrss breathes from the blossoming
grotnds"
Bend your ear to his harpings, whenever