Изображения страниц
PDF
EPUB

Will any paper match him? | Yes, throughout; |
He's a true sinking paper, past all doubt.

The retail politician's anxious thought |

Deems this side always right, and that stark nought;
He foams with censure; with applause he raves;
A dupe to rumors, and a tool of knaves; |
He'll want no type his weakness to proclaim, {
While such a thing as foolscap has a name.
The hasty gentleman, whose blood runs high,
Who picks a quarrel if you step awry,
Who can't a jest, a hint, or look, endure; |
What is he? What? | Touch-paper to be sure. |

What are our poets, take them as they fall,

Good, bad, rich, poor, much read, not read at all?
Them and their works in the same class you'll find :|
They are the mere waste-paper of mankind.

Observe the maiden, innocently sweet; |
She's fair white paper, an unsullied sheet; }
i
On which the happy man whom fate ordains, |
May write his name, and take her for his pains. |

One instance more, and only one, I'll bring:|
'Tis the great man who scorns a little thing; |
Whose thoughts, whose deeds, whose maxims are his

own,

Form'd on the feelings of his heart alone: |
True, genuine, royal-paper is his breast; |
Of all the kinds most precious, purest, best. |

MOSES SMITING THE ROCK.

(W. A. VAN VRANKEN.)

On the parch'd plains the tribes of Israel lay, I
Fatigued and sad, to raging thirst a prey:]
In that lone region, | in that desert drear,
No streamlet's murmur stole upon the ear;]
No brook pellucid glanc'd its light along, |
To cheer the vision of that fainting throng. I

[ocr errors]

Nought met the eye save Horeb's rock that frown'd,
In gloomy grandeur, on the scene around.!

At its broad base, behold the patriarch stand, |
And with his rod, at the Divine command, |
Smite its dark front: | o'erawed by Power Supreme,
Its riven breast expell'd a copious stream;

The new-born waters pour'd their torrents wide, |
And foam'd, and thunder'd, down its craggy side. |

At the glad sound each Hebrew mother there |
Her infant clasp'd, and look'd to Heaven a prayer: |
Joy thrill'd all hearts; for lo! the sunbeams play, |
In radiant glory, on the flashing spray |

That dash'd its crystals o'er the rocky pile, I
A beauteous emblem of Jehovah's smile. |

TIME.

(W. A. VAN VRANKEN.)

My silent and mysterious flight |
Reveals each morn the glorious light |
That gilds the passing year; |
I never stop to rest my wing: |
Triumphant on the blast I spring-|
My plumage, dark and sere. I

Onward I speed my flight sublime; |
Before me withers manhood's prime, I
While pillar, dome, and tower,
And massy piles, and temples grand, |
Lie crush'd beneath my iron hand- 1
Resistless is my power. I

Remorseless boaster, hold! thy wings |
May sweep aside earth's mightiest things,'
Mere creatures of an hour:|

Thou canst not reach the Heavenly bloom, I
Celestial tints, and rich perfume, |

Of virtue's lovely flower. i

TO THE AMERICAN FLAG.

(DRAKE AND HALLECK.)

When freedom from her mountain height 1
Unfurl'd her standard to the air,
She tore the azure robe of night, |
And set the stars of glory there! |
She mingled with its gorgeous dyes |
The milky baldric of the skies, |
And striped its pure celestial white, I
With streakings from the morning light
Then, from his mansion in the sun,
She called her eagle-bearer down,
And gave into his mighty hand |
The symbol of her chosen land! |
Majestic monarch of the cloud! |

Who rear'st aloft thy regal form, |
To hear the tempest trumping loud, I
And see the lightning lances driven, |
When strides the warrior of the storm, |
And rolls the thunder-drum of heaven!:
Child of the sun! | to thee 't is given

To guard the banner of the free-
To hover in the sulphur smoke, |
To ward away the battle-stroke, |
And bid its blendings shine afar, I
Like rainbows on the cloud of war,
The harbinger of victory!

Flag of the brave! thy folds shall fly,
The sign of hope and triumph high!
When speaks the signal-trumpet's tone, I
And the long line comes gleaming on;!
Ere yet the life-blood, warm and wet,|
Has dimm'd the glistening bayonet-!
Each soldier's eve shall brightly turn, I
To where thy meteor glories burn,

And as his springing steps advance,

Catch war and vengeance from the glance! |
And when the cannon's mouthings loud, i
Heave in wild wreaths the battle-shroud, ¦
And gory sabres rise and fall, |

Like shoots of flame on midnight pall!!
There shall thy victor glances glow,
And cowering foes shall fall beneath |
Each gallant arm that strikes below |
That lovely messenger of death! |

Flag of the seas! on ocean's wave, |
Thy stars shall glitter o'er the brave. I
When death, careering on the gale, I
Sweeps darkly round the swelling sail, |
And frighted waves rush wildly back
Before the broadside's reeling rack; |
The dying wanderer of the sea |
Shall look at once to heaven and thee,
And smile to see thy splendors fly,
In triumph o'er the closing eye. |

Flag of the free heart's only home, I
By angel hands to valor given! |
Thy stars have lit the welkin dome |
And all thy hues were born in heaven;|
For ever float that standard sheet!]

Where breathes the foe but falls before us, |
With freedom's soil beneath our feet, |

And freedom's banner streaming o'er us! |

MOTIVES TO THE PRACTICE OF GENTLENESS.

(BLAIR.)

To promote the virtue of gentleness, we ought to view our character with an impartial eye; and to learn, from our own failings, to give that indulgence which in our turn we claim. It is pride which fills the world with so much harshness and severity.

In

the fulness of self-estimation, we forget what we are. We claim attentions to which we are not entitled. We are rigorous to offences, as if we had never offended; unfeeling to distress, as if we knew not what it was to suffer. From those airy regions of pride and folly, let us descend to our proper level. Let us survey the natural equality | on which Providence has placed man with man, and reflect on the infirmities common to all. If the reflection on natural equality and mutual offences, be insufficient to prompt humanity, let us at least remember what we are in the sight of our Creator. Have we none of that forbearance to give one another, which we all so earnestly entreat from heaven? Can we look for clemency or gentleness from our Judge, when we are so backward to show it to our own brethren ? |

Let us also accustom ourselves to reflect on the small moment of those things which are the usual incentives to violence and contention. In the ruffled and angry hour, we view every appearance through a false medium. The most inconsiderable point of interest or honor, swells into a momentous object; | and the slightest attack seems to threaten immediate ruin. But after passion or pride has subsided, we look around in vain for the mighty mischiefs we dreaded. The fabric which our disturbed imagination haa reared, totally disappears. But though the cause of contention has dwindled away, its consequences remain. We have alienated a friend; we have embittered an enemy; we have sown the seeds of future suspicion, malevolence, or disgust. Let us suspend our violence for a moment, when causes of discord occur. Let us anticipate that period of coolness, which, of itself, will soon arrive. | Let us reflect how little we have any prospect of gaining by fierce con tention; but how much of the true happiness of life t we are certain of throwing away. Easily, and from the smallest chink, the bitter waters of strife are let

« ПредыдущаяПродолжить »