The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-07-14

IL nowhere III ltS UTodu uohaih So"iu
find
The means at hand by which to propo-
gate
The truths of wisdom 'twould perpetuate.
Engraven tablets here and there were seen.
But even these were "few and far between"
And, though the marks of wisdom's hand
they bore,
Twas not enough, for mind demanded
more
Demanded THAT by which it might convey
Its wisdom to the peoples far away;
Some potent messenger which might extend
It's light through all the world from end to
end.
Hand down its well-wrought truths from
saint and sage,
To unborn millions and to every age;
Demanded this, yet for it vainly sought,
For science ne'er the instrument had
wrought,
Nor genius had the hidden problem solved,
Which mind had long---in faith and hope
revolved,
Its demiurgic powers kept alive,
Resolved that never it would cease to
strive
Until the great, grand instrument was
made
To meet need of wisdom, truth and trade,
Thus, mind itself determined to achieve
That which should hence a crying want
relieve;
1t summoned all its pow'rs with stubborn
WILL
Its energies, its genius and its skill
Invoking heavens smiles, its work to bless,
II wrought, and 10 the world received
THE Press.
And thus, in mind of puny man, had
birth
That which is now the ruling pow'r of
earth;
That which, although from mortal mind
it came,
Has made immortal many an honored
name;
Has filled the world with knowledge,
truth and light
O'ercome oppression, and supported
right,
Has sown the seeds of wisdom, far and
wide,
His vice condemned, and all uncomely
pride,
Has fostered virtue---reared her temple
high
And welded pow'r mankind to edify.
But, ev'n the rill that softest. sweetest
Anon some dark, some uncouth object
shows,
And from the cup which seems to foam
with bliss,
Will sometimes come the loathsome SER
pent's hiss;
The purest, warmest heart anon grows cold,
And rude alloy attaints the finest gold;
Fair Eden--home of all the pure and true
Once, long ago, demons presence knew;
What, then! if here and there we sometimes
find
A blur or blemish darkening the mind?
A curse, on what was made alone to bless,
An evil power welded by The PRESS?
In search of natures gems, we turn our
eyes
Aloft, and scan the soft cerulean skies,
And. even there, the tutored eye can trace
Uucomely spots upon the sums bright face;
And vet the sun, all gloriously bright,
Illuminates the world with dimless light,
Sends down his rays with vivifying pow'r,
Imparting life to tree and plant and how'r,
Throws out his beams on meadows, hill and
field, :.
And earth pursuades, her bounteous fruits
to yield. -,
The blurs are there, like spots from inky
night,
But impotent are they to dim its light,
And, ev'n though augurs say they
threaten i'll,
They only make the sun shine brighter
still
Enhance its virtuous pow'r the world to
bless;
And so it is with minds great force
The Press.
Excrescences have now and then appear
ed,
But these, when analyzed, were never
feared;
The SOUL its unmarried purity retained,
And life and strength and vigor still re-
mained,
The body still could WELD resistless
might, NH,
To yanuuished error and established
right.
The Press, the mighty Press, though grand
and great,
Dominion welding over man and state
Can vet the weary hours of life beguile,
On sports of innocence serenely smile
More brightness give to scenes that cheer
the heart,
And relish to the duller ones impart;
Be harsh to vice, yet be 10 virtue mild,
And, like the king who gambolled with hii
child,
Adapt itself to every age and phase;
And ever WELD .resistless pow'r to please
And many love-born swain has trembling
hung
| In dread suspense for want Of ready tongue
And many a blushing maid, with equa
dread,
Has watched and waited---bowed hel
lovely head -, :,
Expectant, he the awful pause would break
And while she hoped, yet feared, to heai
him speak.
And there they sat, while perspiratior
flowed, !,
And each hope and apprehension showed
Both seeming like---so far as words and
acis---
Artemus Wards immortal forms OF wax
And who shall say how long this nigh
have been
Had not some kindly sprite, in pity, seer
Their dread dilemma and troubled looks
And, in friendly way, suggested "bocks!,
The clouds dispersed the sun shone iort'
to bless, m
And love received assistance from Tn
Pressl
How many young and unfedged Cic'r
has
Pumped all in vain, and still pumped o.
for gas;
How many tyro preacher, called to preach
| Has lost his ideas and his powrs OF speech
| How many lawyer, despite his known
looks, J, -.
Would be a clown without the printe
i books; v.,n:
lor d;4srence known 'twixt ipecac an