Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-12-26
& Dream of Youthful Ambition.

'Tall oaks from little acorns grow and It
the first young efforts and imaginations of those
VITO wish to bee mt strong aud nselul are 10
be restrained because they lack the wisdom and
weight OF older aud more experienced heads,
We will have few fair towering trees 10 mark
where once the sapliug stood. The eagle could
never take so bold d flight did it not first at
tempt a lesser. 1t is by daily practice that the
stropg man becomes stronger. The wise, by the
exercise of their faculties. develope new and
updreamed OF sources Of improvement. All
great results have small begiDDings.-so the
earliest efforts Of youthful writer's are worthy Of
some consideration. Let your 'critiques,"
therefore, my dear critics, be tempered
with mercy'' as we'll as Judgment aud when
YOU meet the etfJrts of some young asplrant
ior literary fame, poiut cut his errors kindly,
aud teach him how be may correct them. Hav.
ing been touched by your "caustlc thong 10
INV Young days, | have a fellow feeling" for
those who. like myself, have felt the smart, aud
trust this last attempt gu my part will not 30
uurc warded.
| was reminded Of my youthful! desire for
tame, (snu how quickly it was "olpt IN the
bud,') of a dream which followed ny last
struggle, by an article 10 a "RevleW' | have
Just concluded. and which has occasloned this
protest. Inc agony of that dream Is bound 10
my memory with cords winch all these long
wears have been unable to loosen. You shall
hear il Sleep came as Il rellcf 10 my wounded
feelings, aud hailed Its gentle wooiDgs. with
pleasure. hoping TO escape the notifying, aud
as | considered, unjust r, hectlOus Ut my best
trleud," who advised that | should torsake the
pen for the pluugh," that being, ia his opln-
loo, the most pointed weapon | was capable
OF using" Save me from my friends j. As
| slept, suddenly | was 10 the printing room
of some large House." where all the editors
10 the country We e assembled, having been en-
pauneiled as . jury to pass sentences on NE tor
some misdemeauor committed against the
''Reading Public" aud by their unanimous
vote the publisher oil my last poetical %efuslon
was constituted judge. As | looked at the
impIacable expression Of his countenance, l
tclt my doom Was sealed. The Press stood
uear, looking like a huge Instrument OF torture,
aud the steam engine, putflog and blowing It's
snIphurous breath, so 1t seemed 10 me, waited
but the signal to explode, and smother me With
lis poisououS fumes and scaldlng contents. The
Devils were ranged 10 u circle around me, each
holding 10 his arms one oil the children OF my
brain, my teuder offspring, for to my excited
imagination they had become clothed upon"
with mortality, alas for me | cannot write
immortality, and | recognized some loved and
eudeariDg characteristic in each as | gazed upon
their teri fed faces. The Judge was supported
on either side by a 'composltor,' one holding
10 his arms an outraged edition of webster
Unabridged" while the other bent beneath
the weight OF an enormous box OF pens. The
proof reader was close BY with an arm full of
ueglcctei Grammars stepped 10 lux ready to
hurl them at NY devoted head After all
the evidence hau been gwen in, which was by
no mcaus fstleriug, plagiarism, nonseoce and
lies forming the mildest portion, sentence of
ju igmeut was prououDced, 10 be burnt
alive l. A tuneral pyre was erected, my OWL
Creations forming the material, aud
to this living. breathing, palpltatiug heap CT
"mattcr' vas to be applied a torch, the light
Of which, as it f!shcd on my sight, plainly re
the word Criticism, which would COZ
sune parent and children. A clause 10 the
sentence permitted each editor TO puncturc my
1esh with a pep, which Was provided by the
with a hldeouS grln Of satisfaction,
While the devils stood ready TO catch the drops
If blood, with whicr the history of my criue
houlI BIZ written. At the first inclsion Isbrieked
nd awoke 10 fnd that my fAvorite cat, fail.
ng in her gentle efforts to attract my attentioo,
lad had recourse TO sharper meaOs, causing me
o exeIaim With all the bitterness Of CB .ar,
ct tn Brute !" r. !