Contents.
  MemoirTheDesertedBrideTheMain—Truck;Or,ALeapForLifePoetryTheCrotonOdeFragmentofanIndianPoemLand—Ho!
  Woodman,SparethatTreeTheCottager’sWelcomeLandofWashingtonTheFlagofOurUnionLinesAftertheMannerofOldenTimeTheDreamofLoveI’mWithYouOnceAgainOh,WouldThatSheWereHereTheSwordandtheStaffTheChieftain’sDaughterThyWillBeDoneLifeintheWestSongofMarion’sMenJanetMoreaLisetteMyMother’sBibleTheDog—StarRagesLegendoftheMohawkTheBall—RoomBelleWeWereBoysTogetherOh,Boatman,HasteFuneralHymnO’ertheMountainsWomanRosabelThyTyrantSwayAHerooftheRevolutionRhymeandReason:AnApologueStarlightRecollectionsWeariesMyLoveofMyLetters?
  FareTheeWell,LoveThouHastWoventheSpellBessieBellTheDayisNowDawning,LoveWhenOtherFriendsareRoundTheeSilentGriefLoveThee,Dearest?
  ILovetheNightTheMiniatureTheRetortLinesonaPoetTheBacchanalTwentyYearsAgoNationalAnthemILoveTheeStillLookFromThyLattice,LoveSheLovedHimTheSuitorsSt.Agnes’ShrineWesternRefrainThePrairieonFireTheEvergreenTheMay—QueenVenetianSerenadeTheWhip—Poor—WillTheExiletoHisSisterNeartheLakeWhereDroopedtheWillowThePastor’sDaughterMargarettaTheColonelTheSweep’sCarolTheSeasonsofLoveMyWoodlandBrideOh,ThinkofMeMyBarkisOutUpontheSeaWillNobodyMarryMe?
  TheStarofLoveWell—A—DayNotMarriedYetLadyofEnglandOh,ThisLoveMaryTheBeamofDevotionTheWelcomeandFarewell’TisNowthePromisedHourTheSongsofHomeMasonicHymnTheDismissedLordoftheCastleTheFallenBraveSongoftheTroubadourChampionsofLibertyTheHunter’sCarolWashington’sMonumentTheSister’sAppealSongoftheReapersWalterGayGroundsForDivorceTemperanceSongBoat—SongWillieTheRockofthePilgrimsYearsAgoTheSoldier’sWelcomeHomeTheOriginofYankeeDoodleLinesontheBurialofMrs.MaryL.WardNew—Yorkin1826
  TheHero’sLegacyWhatCanItMeanWhereHudson’sWaveAuRevoirToMyAbsentDaughterSongoftheSewingMachineMyLadyWaitsForMeMusicTheMillionaireInMemoryofCharlesH.SandfordSeventy—SixAParodyTheStag—HuntDeliverUsFromEvilUnionWePartForEverCometoMeinCherryTimeOntheDeathofMrs.JessieWillisThankGodforPleasantWeatherTheMaster’sSongTheMissingShipJeannieMarshLucyEpitaphInMemoryofJohnW.Francis,JrNature’sNoblemenAWall—StreetLyricKingCottonWordsAdaptedtoaSpanishMelodyLoveinExileTotheEveningStarWelcomeHomeTheSycamoreShadeUptheHudsonOnlyThineEpigramonReadingGrim’sAttackuponClintonOnHearingthatMorseDidNotInventtheTelegraphAddressfortheBenefitofWilliamDunlopAddressfortheBenefitofJ.SheridanKnowlesAddressfortheBenefitofHenryPlacideTheMaidofSaxony:Or,Who’stheTraitor?
  Ho!Hans!——Why,Hans!
  Rejoice!Rejoice!We’reSafeandSoundTheLifeForMeisaSoldier’sLifeConfusion!AgainRejected!
  WhenIbeholdthatLoweringBrow’TisaSoldier’sRigidDutyTheSpring—TimeofLoveisBothHappyandGayFromMyFateThere’sNoRetreatingLadsandLassesTripAwayAllHailtheKing!
  HomeSky,Stream,Moorland,andMountainDaredTheseLipsMySadStoryImpartFieryMars,ThyVotaryHearAh!LoveisnotaGarden—FlowerTheKing,ThePrincesoftheCourtVictoria!Victoria!
  ThisGloomyCellismyAbodeatLastHark!’TistheDeep—TonedMidnightBellOnce,MildandGentlewasmyHeartTheGentleBirdonYonderSprayThatLaw’sthePerfectionofReasonWithMercyLetJusticeWhatOutrageMore?——AtWhoseCommandTheJavelinFromanUnseenHandRejoice!OurLoyalHeartsWeBringOurHeartsareBoundingwithDelightNotesTheDesertedBrideTheCrotonOdeWoodman,SpareThatTreeTheChieftain’sDaughterSongofMarion’sMenJanetMcReaTheDog—StarRagesThePrairieonFireTheSweep’sCarolTheFallenBraveofMexicoTheChampionsofLibertyTheRockofthePilgrimsTheSoldier’sWelcomeHomeTheOriginofYankeeDoodleNew—Yorkin1826
  TheMaidofSaxonyMemoirofGeorgeP.Morris.
  ByHoraceBinneyWallace.
  Blessthouthylot;thysimplestrainshaveledThehigh—bornmusetobethepoorman’sguest,Andwaftedonthewingsofsong,havespedTheirwaytomanyarude,unletteredbreast.
  ——Beranger.
  Morrishashungthemostbeautifulthoughtsintheworlduponhingesof[illegible];andhissongsaredestinedtorolloverbrightlipsenoughtoforma[sonnet?illegible].Hissentimentsaresimple,honest,truthful,andfamiliar;hislanguageispureandeminentlymusical,andheisprodigallyfullofthepoetryofevery—dayliving.
  ——Willis.
  ThedistinctionwithwhichthenameofGeneralMorrisisnowassociatedinapermanentconnectionwithwhatisleastfactitiousorfugitiveinAmericanArt,isadmittedandknown;buttheclassofyoungmenoflettersinthiscountry,atpresent,canhardlyappreciatetheextenttowhichthey,andtheprofessiontowhichtheybelong,areindebtedtohisanimatedexertions,hisvariedtalents,hisadmirableresourcesoftemper,duringaperiodoftwentyyears,andatatimewhenthecharacterofAmericanliterature,bothathomeandabroadwasyettobeformed.Thefirstgreatservicewhichtheliterarytasteofthiscountryreceived,wasrenderedbyDennie;aremarkableman;qualifiedbynatureandattainmentstobealeaderinnewcircumstances;fittotakepartintheformationofanationalliterature;asavindicatorofindependenceinthought,abletoestablishfreedomwithoutdisturbingtheobligationsoflaw;asaconservativeintaste,skilfultokeepthetoneofthegreatmodelswithwhichhisstudieswerefamiliar,withoutcopyingtheirstyle;bybothcapacitiessuccessfulindevelopingtheone,unchangeablespiritofArt,underanewformandwithneweffects.
  Inthisofficeoffield—marshalofournativeforces,GeneralMorrissucceededhimunderincreasedadvantages,insomerespectwithhigherpowers,inadifferent,andcertainlyavastlymoreextendedsphereofinfluence.Themanifoldandlastingbenefitswhich,aseditorof"TheMirror,"GeneralMorrisconferredonartandartistsofeverykind,byhistact,hisliberality,thesuperiorityofhisjudgement,andthevigorofhisabilities;bytheperseveranceandaddresswithwhichhedisciplinedacorpsofyouthfulwriters,inthepresenceofaconstantandheavyfirefromthebatteriesofforeigncriticism;bytherarecombination,sovaluableindealingwiththenumerousaspirantsinauthorshipwithwhomhispositionbroughthimincontact;ofaquick,trueeyetodiscerninthemodestyofsomenamelessmanuscriptthefuturepromisesofapowerhardlyyetconsciousofitself;adiscretiontoguidebysoundadvice,andagenerositytoaidwiththemostimportantkindofassistance;thefirmandopentemperwhichhisexampletendedtoinspireintotherelationsofliterarymenwithoneanotherthroughouttheland;andmorethanall,perhaps,bytheharmonyandunion,ofsuchinappreciablevalue,especiallyinthebeginningofnationaleffort,betweentheseveralsisterartsofwriting,music,painting,anddramaticexhibition,whichthesingularvarietyanddiscursivenessofhisintellectualsympathiesledhimconstantlytomaintainandvindicate;these,inthemultiplicityoftheiroperation,andthefullpoweroftheirjointeffect,canbeperfectlyunderstoodonlybythosewhopossessedacontemporaneousknowledgeofthecircumstances,andwho,rememberingthestateofthingsatthecommencementoftheperiodalludedto,andobservingwhatexistedattheendofit,areabletolookbackoverthewholeinterval,andseetowhatinfluencesandwhatpersonstheextraordinarychangewhichhastakenplace,istobereferred.If,atthismoment,theliterarygeniusofAmerica,renewedinyouth,andquiveringlietheeagle’swingswithexcessofvigor,seemsabouttomakeanewflight,fromahighervantage—ground,intoloftierdepthsofairydistance,thecapacitytotakethatflightmust,toagreatdegree,beascribedtothosetwopersonswhomwehavenamed;withoutwhoseservicesthebrightererawhichappearsnowtobedawning,mightyetbedistantanddoubtful.
  Besidestheseparticularsofpasteffort,whichoughttomakehiscountrymenlovethereputationofthesubjectofthisnotice,weregretthatourlimitsforbidustospeakatlargeofthosemoreintimatequalitiesofpersonalvalue,which,inourjudgment,formthegenuinelustreofonewho,admirableforotherattainments,istobeimitatedinthese.
  Tousitisaninstinctivefeelingthatawrongisdonetothepropergrandeurofourcomplexnature——thataviolenceisofferedtothehigherconsciousnessofourimmortalbeing——wheneveranintellectualqualityisextolledtotheneglectofamoralone.
  Moralexcellenceisthemostrealgenius;andatempertocopeandcalmlybafflethemultitudinousassaultsofthespiritualenmityofactivelife,isatalentwhichoutshinesallpraiseofmentalendowments.Unhappily,thebiographerofliterarycreatorsaffordsfewoccasionsinwhichafeelingofthiskindcanbeindulgedandgratified:thatsensibilityofmentalapprehensionswhichisthefameoftheauthor,isusuallyattendedbyasusceptibilityofpassionateimpressionwhichisthefateoftheman;andearthandsensedelighttowreaktheirdestructivevengencesuponthespiritualnatureofhim,ofwhoseintellectualbeingtheyaretheslavesandthesport.Inthepresentinstance,weareconcernedwiththecharacter——’totus,teres,atquerotundus;’whichmaybelookedupon,fromeveryside,withanequalsatisfaction.Searchthewideworldover,andyoushallnotfindamongtheliterarymenofanynation,oneonwhomthedignityofafreeandmanlyspiritsitswithagracemorenativeandfamiliar——whosespontaneoussentimentshaveatruertoneofnobleness——thecourseofwhoseusualfeelingsismoreexpandedandhonorable——whoseacts,whethercommonanddaily,ordeliberateandmuch—considered,arewontatalltimestobemorebeautifullyimpressedwiththosemarksofsincerity,ofmodesty,andofjustice,whichformtheverysealofworthinconduct.Thosejealousies,andlittlenesses,andenvyings,whichpreyuponthespiritsofmanymen,asthevultureontheheartthatchainedPrometheus——andwhosefiercebesetmenttheywhoWILLbemagnanimous,havetofightoff,asonedrivesawaytheeaglesfromtheirprey,withvoiceandgestures——seemnevertoassailhim.ItisthehappinessofhisnaturetohaveTHATonlyabsolutedeliverancefromevilwhichisimpliedinbeingrenderedinsensibletotemptation.
  Whilethedutywhichislaiduponus,inthispaper,mainlyistoopenandsetforthhispoeticpraisesandclaimthelaurelforhisliterarymerits;whenthecrownofsongistobeconferreduponhim,weshallinterposetobegthatthechapletmaybeaccompaniedbysomemark,orsomeinscriptionwhichshalldeclare,"Thisistherewardofmoralexcellence."
  Forthesuccessofourspecialpurpose,inthisnotice,whichistoconsiderandmakeapparentthespecificcharacterwhichbelongstoGeneralMorrisasaliteraryartistandapoeticcreator,toexplainhisclaimstothattitlewhichthecommonvoiceofthecountryhasgiventohim——ofTheSong—WriterofAmerica——itwouldhaveprobablybeenmorejudicioushadwekeptoutofviewthemattersofwhichwehavejustspoken.ItisrecordedofaGrecianpainter,thathavingcompletedthepictureofasleepingnymph,headdedontheforegroundthefigureofasatyrgazinginamazementuponherbeauty;butfindingthatthesecondaryformattracteduniversalpraise,heeraseditasdivertingapplausefromthatwhichhedesiredtohaveregardedastheprincipalmonumentofhisskill.Thereisinthisanecdoteadoublewisdom;theworldisaslittlewillingtoyieldtoatwofoldsuperiorityasitisabletoappreciatetwodistinctobjectsatonce.
  Inareviewofliteraryreputations,perhapsnothingisfittedtoraisemoresurprisethantheobviousinequalityintheextendandgreatnessofthelaborstowhichanequalrewardoffamehasbeenallotted.TheaboundingenergyandpicturesquevarietyofHomerareillustratedineight—and—fortybooks:theremainsofSapphomightbewrittenonthesurfaceofaleafofthelaurusnobilis.
  Yetiftheoneexpandsbeforeuswiththemagnificentextent,thediversifiedsurface,theendlessdecorationsoftheearthitself,theotherhangsonhigh,likealone,clearstar——smallbutintense——flashinguponusthroughthenightofages,investedwithcircumstancesofdivinitynotlessunquestionablethanthosewhichattendthevenerablemajestyoftheAncientofSong.TherichandroseatelightthatshinesaroundthenameofMimnermus,isshedfromsomedozenortwentylines:theimmortalityofTyrtaeusrestsuponastanzaortwo,whichhavefloatedtouswiththeirpreciousfreight,overtheseaofcenturies,andwillfloatonunsubmergiblebyallthewavesofTime.ThesoulofSimonideslivestousinasinglecouplet;butthatistheverystuffofEternity,whichneitherfirewillassoil,nortempestperil,northewrathofyearsimpair.TheInfinitehasnodegrees;wherevertheworldseesinanyhumanbeingthefireoftheEverlasting,itbowswithequalawe,whetherthatfireisdisplayedbyonlyanoccasionalflash,orbyaprolongedanddiffusiveblaze.Thereisacertaintonewhich,hearitwhenwemay,andwherewemay,weknowtobetheaccentsofthegods;andwhetheritsqualitybeshowninasingleutterance,oritsvolumedisplayedinathousandburstsofmusic,wesurroundthebandofspiritswhomwetheredetectintheirmortaldisguise,withequalceremoniesofrespectandworship,hailingthemalikeasseraphsofabrightersphere——sonsofthemorning.
  Thisisnatural,anditisreasonable.Geniusisnotadegreeofotherqualities,norisitaparticularwayorextentofdisplayingsuchqualities;itisafacultybyitself;itisamanner,ofwhichwemayjudgewiththesamecertaintyfromoneexhibition,asfrommany.Thepraiseofapoet,therefore,istobedeterminednotbythenatureoftheworkwhichheundertakes,butbythekindofmasterywhichheshows;notbythebreadthofsurfaceoverwhichhetoils,butbytheperfectnessoftheresultwhichheattains.
  Mr.Wordsworthhasvindicatedthecapacityofthesonnettobeacasketoftherichestgemsoffame.Wehavenodoubtthatthesongmaygiveevidenceofageniuswhichshalldeservetoberankedwiththeconstructorofanepic."ScornnottheSONG."Wewouldgosofar,indeed,astosaythatsuccessinthesongimports,necessarily,amoreinbornandgenuinegiftofpoeticconception,thanthesameproportionofsuccessinotherlesssimplemodesofart.Therearesomesortsofcompositionwhichmaybewroughtoutofeagerfeelingandthefoamofexcitedpassions;andwhicharethereforetoalargeextentwithinthereachofearnestsensibilitiesandanambitiouswill;othersarethespontaneousoutflowoftheheart,towhoseperfection,turbulenceandeffortarefatal.Ofthelatterkindisthesong.Whiletheodeallowsofexertionandstrain,whatisdoneinitmustbeaccomplishedbynativeandinherentstrength.
  Speakingwiththatconfidencewhichmaynotimproperlybeassumedbyonewho,havinglookedwithsomecareatthefoundationsoftheopinionwhichheexpresses,supposeshimselfable,ifcalleduponbydenial,tofurnishsuchdemonstrationofitstruthasthenatureofthematterallowsof,wesaythat,inourjudgment,thereisnoprofessedwriterofsongs,inthisday,whohasconceivedthetruecharacterofthisdelicateandpeculiarcreationofart,withgreaterprecisionandjustnessthanMr.Morris,orbeenmorefelicitousthanheindealingwiththesubtleandmultiformdifficultiesthatbesetitsexecution.Itiswellunderstoodbythosewhosethoughtsareusedtobeconversantwiththesuggestionsofadeeperanalysisthanbelongstopopularcriticism,thattheformsofliteraryartarenotindefiniteinnumber,variableintheircharacteristics,ordeterminedbythecasualtasteorarbitrarywillofauthors:
  theyexistinnature;theyaredependentuponthosefixedlawsofintellectualbeing,ofspiritualaffection,andmoralchoice,whichconstitutetherationalityofman.Andtheactual,positivemeritofapoeticalproduction——thatrealmerit,whichconsistsinnativevitality,ininherentcapacitytolive——doesnotlieintheglitterorcostlinessofthedecorationswithwhichitisinvested——norintheforcewithwhichitismadetospringfromthemindofitscreatorintothemindsofothers——noryetinthescaleofmagnitudeuponwhichtheideasbelongingtothesubjectareillustratedinthework;butrather,aswesuppose,obviously,andinallcases,upontheintegrityandtruthwithwhichtheparticularformthathasbeencontemplatedbytheartist,isbroughtout,andthedistinctnesswithwhichthatonespecificimpressionwhichisappropriatetoit,isattained.ThisisthekindofexcellencewhichweascribetoMr.Morris;anexcellenceofaloftyorder;genuine,sincere,andincapableofquestion;morevaluableinthisclassofcompositionthaninanyother,becausebothmoreimportantandmoredifficult.
  Forthesongappearstoustopossessadefinitenesspeculiarlyjealousandexclusive;tobelessflexibleincharacterandtopermitlessvarietyoftonethanmostotherclassesofcomposition.
  Ifamanshallsay,"Iwillputmoreforceintomysongthanyourmodelallows,Iwillchargeitwithagreatervarietyofimpressions,"
  itiswell;ifheisskilful,hemaymakesomethingthatisveryvaluable.Butinsofarashisworkismorethanasong,itisnotasong.InallworksofArt——whereverformisconcerned——excessiserror.
  Thejustnotionandofficeofthemodernsong,aswethinkofit,istobetheembodimentandexpression,inbeauty,ofsomeoneofthosesentimentsorthoughts,gay,moral,pensive,joyous,ormelancholy,whichareasnaturalandappropriate,inparticularcircumstances,ortocertainoccasions,astheodortotheflower;
  risingatsuchseasons,intothemindsofallclassesofpersons,instinctiveandunbidden,yetinobediencetosomelawofassociationwhichitisthegiftofthepoettoapprehend.Itsgracefulpurposeistoexhibitanincidentinthesubstanceofanemotion,tocommunicatewisdomintheformofsentiment;itistherefractedgleamofsomewanderingrayfromthefairorbofmoraltruth,whichglancingagainstsomeoccurrenceincommonlife,issurprisedintoasmileofquick—darting,manycoloredbeauty;itistheairyripplethatisthrownupwhenthecurrentoffeelinginhumanheartsaccidentallyencountersthecurrentofthoughtandbubblesforthwithagentlefretofsparklingfoam.Self—evolved,almost,andobedientinitsdevelopmentandshapingtosomeinwardsparkofbeautywhichappearstopossessandcontrolitscourse,itmightalmostseemthat,intheout—goinglovelinessofsuchproductions,sentimentmadesubstantialinlanguage,floatedabroadinnaturalself—delivery;asthatheatwhichisnotyetflame,givesforthinbluewreathsofvaporousgrace,whichunfoldtheirdelicatenessforamomentuponthetranquilair,andthenvanishaway.Itisnotanartificialstructurebuiltupbyintellectafteramodelforeshapedbyfancy,orforeshadowedbytheinstinctsofthepassions;itisasimpleemotion,crystalledintobeautybypassingforamomentthroughthecoolerairofthemind;itismerelyaneffluenceofcreativevigor;agracefulfeelingthickenedintowords.Itsproperdwellingisintheatmosphereofthesentiments,nothepassions;itwillnot,indeed,repelthesympathyofdeeperfeelings,butknowsthemratherundertheformoftheflowerthatfloatsuponthesurfaceofmeditation,thanofthedeeperrootthatliesbeneathitsstream.AndthisisthegrievousfaultofnearlyallLordByron’smelodies;thathepiercesthemtooprofoundly,andpassesbelowtheregionofgrace,charginghislyrewithfarmorevehemenceofpassionthanitsslightstringsaremeanttobear.Thebeautywhichbelongstothisproduction,shouldbeintheformofthethoughtratherthanthefashionofthesetting:thatgenuinenessandsimplicityofcharacterwhichconstitutealmostitsessence,aredestroyedbyanyappearanceofthecoldartificesofconstruction,palpablespringssetforouradmiration,wherebythebeginningisobviouslyarrangedinreferencetoaparticularending.Thisistheshort—reachingpowerofMoore——guilty,bydesign,ofthatdeparturefromsimplicity,bywhichhefascinatedonegenerationattheexpenseofbeingforgottenbyanother.Thesong,whileitisgeneralinitsimpression,shouldbeparticularinitsoccasion;
  notanabstractionofthemind,butadefinitefeeling,specialtosomecertainsetofcircumstances.Risingfromoutthesurfaceofdailyexperience,likethewateryissuingsofafountain,itthrowsitselfupwardforamoment,thendescendsinasoft,glitteringshowertothelevelwhenceitrose.HereinresidesthechiefdefectofBayly’ssongs;thattheyaretoogeneralandvague——aspeciesofpatternsongs——beingembodimentsofsomegeneralfeeling,orreflection,butlackingthatsufficientreferencetosomeseasonoroccurrencewhichwouldjustifytheirappearing,andtakeawayfromthemtheaspectofpretensionanddisplay.
  Theonlysatisfactorymethodofcriticismisbymeansofclinicallectures;andwefeelregretthatourlimitsdonotsufferus——toanygreatdegree——toillustratewhatwedeemthevigoroussimplicity,andgenuinegraceofMr.Morris,bythatmodeofexposition.Wemustrefertoafewcases,however,toshowwhatwehavebeenmeaningintheremarkswhichwemadeabove,uponthepropercharacterofthesong.Theballadof"Woodman,sparethattree"——oneofthoseaccidentsofgeniuswhich,however,neverhappenbuttoconsummateartists——issofamiliartoeverymindandheart,astoresentcitation.Take,then,"MyMother’sBible."Weknowofnosimilarproductioninatruertaste,inapurerstyle,ormoredistinctlymarkedwiththecharacterofagoodschoolofcomposition.Ortake"Wewereboystogether."Inmanlypathos,intendernessandtruth,whereshallitbeexcelled?"TheMiniature"possesthecaptivatingeleganceofVoiture."WhereHudson’sWave"isagloriousburstofpoetry,modulatedintorefinementbythehandofamaster.
  Wherewillyoufindanauticalsong,seeminglymorespontaneousinitsgenialoutbreak,reallymorecarefulinitsconstruction,than"Land—ho!"Howfullofthejoyousmadnessofabsoluteindependence,yetmadeharmoniousbyinstinctivegrace,is"LifeintheWest!"
  Thatthesameheartwhosewildpulseisthrilledbytheadventurousinterestsofthehuntsmanandthewanderer,canbeatinunisonwiththegentlesttruthofdeepdevotion,isshownin"WhenotherFriendsareroundThee.""IlovetheNight"hasthevoluptuouseleganceoftheSpanishmodels.Werewetomeetthelines"Oh,thinkofme!"inananthology,weshouldsupposetheywereSuckling’s——soadmirablyisthetoneoffeelingkeptdowntothelimitofprobablesincerity——whichisacharacteristicthatthecavalierstyleofcourtingneverloses."TheStarofLove"mightstandasaselectedspecimenofallthatismostexquisiteinthesongsofthe"Trouveurs.""TheSeasonsofLove"isacharmingeffusionofgay,yetthoughtfulsentiment.Thesong,"Ineverhavebeenfalsetothee,"is,ofitself,sufficienttoestablishGeneralMorris’sfameasagreatpoet——asa"potensmagisteraffectuum"——andasaliterarycreatorofahighorder.Itisathoroughlyfreshandeffectivepoemonasubjectashackneyedasthehighway;itisasdeepastruthitself,yetlightasthemovementofadance.Wehadalmostforgotten,whattheworldwillneverforget,thematchlesssoftnessandtransparentdelicacyof"NeartheLake."Thoselines,ofthemselves,unconsciously,court"thesoftpromoterofthepoet’sstrain,"andalmostseemabouttobreakintomusic.Itisagreeabletofindthat,insteadofbeingseducedintoafalsestylebytheexcessivepopularitywhichmanyofhissongshaveacquired,GeneralMorris’slatereffortsareinaveinevenmoretrulyclassicthanhisearlierones,andshowadecidedadvance,bothinpowerandease."TheRockofthePilgrims,"andthe"IndianSongs,"areaveryclearevidenceofthis.Wewouldwillinglygoonwithourreferences,asthereareseveralwhichhaveequalclaimswiththeseuponournotice,but——"clauditejamrivos."
  Sucharesomeofthecompositions,originalinstyle,naturalinspirit,beautifulwiththecharmofalmostfaultlessexecution,whichmaychallengefortheirauthorthetitleofthelauraeteofAmerica
  Awriterin"Howitt’sandthePeople’sJournal"furnishesthefollowingsketchofGeneralMorrisandhisSongs,whichwascopiedandendorsedbythelateDr.RufusW.Griswold,inhisInternationalMagazine:——
  "Beforeusliesaheapofsongsandballads,theproductionoftherichfancyandwarmheartofGeorgeP.Morris.Notmanyweekssince,atapublicmeetinginLondon,agentlemanclaimedtobeheardspeakonthegroundofhisconnectionwiththepublicpressfromthetimewhenhewassevenyearsofage.WewillnotundertaketosaythatGeneralMorrisranhisjuvenilefingersoverthechordsofthelyreatsoveryearlyaperiod;butitiscertainhetriedhishandatwritingforthenewspaperswhenhewasyetbutamereboy.Whileinhisteens,hewasaconstantcontributortovariousperiodicals.Manyofhisarticlesattractednotice.Hebegantoacquirealiteraryreputation;andatlength,in1823,beingtheninhistwentiethyear,hebecameeditorofthe’NewYorkMirror.’
  Thisresponsibleposthecontinuedtoholduntiltheterminationofthepaper’sexistencein1834.
  "Morrisaccomplishedaninfinityofgoodinthetwentyyearsduringwhichhewieldedtheeditorialpen.PerhapsnoothermanintheUnitedStateswassowellqualifiedforthenobletaskhesethimselfattheoutsetofhiscareeraseditor.Americanliteraturewasinitsinfancy,andsubjecttoalltheweaknessesofthatperiod.
  Morrisresolvedtodohisutmosttowardformingacharacterforit,andlookedabroadanxiouslyforsuchascouldaidhiminhisendeavor.The’Mirror"willeverbefondlyrememberedbytheAmericanliteraryman,forithasbeenthecradleofAmericangenius.
  "Tohimawriterin’Graham’sMagazine’attributesthepresentflourishingconditionandbrightprospectsoftransatlanticliterature.
  HeevidentlypossessesapersonalknowledgeofGeneralMorris,anddiscoursesrighteloquentlyinhispraise.Nordowethinkthatheoverrateshismeritsintheleast.FromothersourceswehaveourselveslearnedmuchofthegenialnatureofGeorgeP.Morris,andhisgiganticlaborsasaliterarypioneer.Consideringitsjuvenilityasanation,republicanAmerica,indeed,hasbeenamazinglyprolificofgoodwriters.ThelargeshareMorrishashadinawakeningthelatenttalentofhiscountrymen,musteverbetohimahighsourceofgratulation.Andthen,asanoriginalwriter,hehaswonforhimselfahighplaceamongliteraryAmericans;heis,infact,knownthroughouttheStatesas’TheSongwriterofAmerica;’
  andwehavetheauthorityofWillisforstatingthat’ninety—ninepeopleoutofahundred——takethemastheycomeinthecensus——wouldfindmoretoadmireinMorris’sSongsthaninthewritingsofanyotherAmericanpoet.’Willisalsotellsus,asproofoftheGeneral’spopularitywiththoseshrewddollar—lovingmen,thepublishers,that’hecan,atanytime,obtainfiftydollarsforasongunread,whenthewholeremainderoftheAmericanParnassuscouldnotsellonetothesamebuyerforasingleshilling!’Heisthebest—knownpoetofthecountrybyacclamation——notbycriticism.
  "Morrisseemstohavehadjusternotionsofwhatwasrequiredinasongthanmanywhohaveachievedcelebrityassong—writersinEngland.’Thejustofficeandnotionofthemodernsong’hasbeendefinedtobe,theembodimentandexpressioninbeautyofsomethoughtorsentiment——gay,pensive,moral,orsentimental——whichisasnaturalandappropriateincertaincircumstancesastheodortotheflower.Itsgracefulpurposeistoexhibitanincidentinthesubstanceofanemotion,tocommunicatewisdomintheformofsentiment.Asongshouldbetheembodimentofsomegeneralfeeling,andhavereferencetosomeseasonoroccurrence.
  "Itisnotadifficultthingtomakewordsrhyme;someofthemostunimaginativeintellectsweeverknewcoulddosowithsurprisingfacility.ItisraretofindasentimentalmissoralackadaisicalmasterwhocannotaccomplishthisINTELLECTUALfeat,withthehelpofWalker’sRhymingDictionary.Asforlove,why,everyonewritesaboutitnow—a—days.ThereissuchanabhorrenceofthesimpleSaxon——suchanoutrageousrunningafteroutlandishphraseology——thatwewonderfolksaresatisfiedwiththisplainterm.
  "WewondertheydonotseekforanequivalentinhighDutchorinlowDutch,inHungarian,orinHindostanee.Wewishtheywould,withallourheartandsoul.Wehavenoobjection,providedtheheartbetouched,thataheadshouldproducealittleofthestuffcalled’nonsenseverses’——thatthisarticleshouldbecommittedtoscentednote—paper,andcarefullysealedupwithskeweredheartsofamazingcorpulence.Godforbidthatweshouldbethoughtguiltyofasneeratrealaffection!——farfromit;suchevercommandsourreverence.Butwedonotfinditinthenoisytribeofgoslingsgreenwhowouldfainbethoughtofthenightingalespecies.Didthereaderevercontemplateachildengagedintheinterestingoperationofsuckingalollipop?——weassurehimthatthatactwasdictatedbyquiteasmuchoftruesentimentasputsinactionthefingersandwitsofthegeneralityofouryoungamatorypoetasters.
  "WeknowofnonewhohavewrittenmorecharminglyoflovethanGeorgeP.Morris.WouldtoApollothatourrhymsterswouldcondescendtoreadcarefullyhispoeticaleffusions!Buttheycontainnostrainingaftereffect——noextravagantmetaphors——nodrivelingconceits;andsothereislittlefearoftheirbeingtakenasmodelsbythosegentlemen.Letthereadermarkthesurprisingexcellenceofthelovesongs;theirperfectnaturalness;thequietbeautyofthesimiles;thefineblendingofgracefulthoughtandtenderfeelingwhichcharacterizethem.Morrisis,indeed,thepoetofhomejoys.
  Nonehavedescribedmoreeloquentlythebeautyanddignityoftrueaffection——ofpassionbaseduponesteem;andhisfameiscertaintoendurewhiletheAnglo—Saxonwomanhasahearthstoneoverwhichtorepeathermostcherishedhouseholdwords.
  "Seldomhavethebenigneffectsofthepassionbeenmorefelicitouslypaintedthaninthe’SeasonsofLove’;andwhatsimpletendernessiscontainedintheballadof’Wewereboystogether.’Everywordinthatbeautifulmelodycomeshometotheheartofhimwhoseearlydayshavebeenhappy.Godhelpthoseinwhomthispoemawakensnofondremembrances!——thosewhosememoriesitdoesnotgetwanderingupthestreamoflife,towarditssource;beholdingateverystepthesunsmilingmorebrightly,theheavensassumingadeeperhue,thegrassafreshergreen,andtheflowersasweeterperfume.Howwondrousarenotitseffectsuponourselves!Thewrinkleshavedisappearedfromourbrow,andtheyearsfromourshoulder,andthemarksofthebranding—ironofexperiencefromourheart;andagainweareacarelesschild,gatheringprimroses,andchasingbutterflies,anddrinkingspring—waterfromoutthehollowofourhands.Aroundusarethehedges’withgoldengorsebrightblossoming,asnoneblossomnow—a—day.’Wehaveheardofdeath,butweknownotwhatitis;andthewordCHANGEhasnomeaningforus;andsummerandwinter,andseed—timeandharvest,haseachitsunutterablejoys.Alas!wecanneverremainlonginthishappydream—land.Nevertheless,wehaveprofitedgreatlybythejourney.
  Thecowslipsandvioletsgatheredbyusinchildhood,shallbepotentinthehouroftemptation;andthecapofrusheswovenforusbykindhandsindaysgoneby,shallbeasurerdefencethanahelmetofsteelinthehourofbattle.No,no;wewillneverdisgraceourantecedents.
  "Thereisonequalityinhissongstowhichwecannotbutdirectattention——andthisistheiralmostfemininepurity.Thepropensitieshavehadtheirlaureates;andgenius,alas!hasoftendefileditsangelwingsbycontactwiththesensualandtheimpure;butMorrishasneverattemptedtorobeviceinbeauty;andashasbeenwellremarked,hislayscanbringtothecheekofpuritynoblushsavethatofpleasure."
  Thefollowingletter,fromthepenofGraceGreenwood,isalady’stributetothegeniusofthepoet:——
  "Ihavereadoflate,withrenewedpleasureandhigherappreciation,thesongsandballadsofourgenial—heartedcountryman,Morris.I
  hadpreviouslyworriedmyselfbyacourseofratherdryreading,andhispoetry,tender,musical,fresh,andnatural,cametomelikespring’sfirstsunshine,thesongofherfirstbirds,thebreathofherfirstviolets.
  "Whatacontrastisthispleasantvolumetothesoul—racking"Festus,"
  whichhasbeenoneofmyrecentpassions.Thatremarkableworkhaspassagesofgreatbeautyandpower,linkedinunnaturalmarriagewithmuchthatispoorandweak.Itislikeastatelyruinedpalace,’MinglingitsmarblewiththedustofRome;’
  oritislikeitsownfabledfirsttemplebuilttoGod,inthenewearth——amultitudeofgems,swallowedbyanearthquake,andscatteredthroughaworldofbasermatter.Thesoulofthereadernowfaintswithexcessofbeauty,nowshuddersattheterribleandtherevolting.theyoungpoet’smuseattimesgoeslikeProserpinetogatherflowers,butstraightwayisseizedbythelordoftheinfernalregions,anddisappearsinflameanddarkness.TheentirevolumeisapoeticalArchipelago——islesoflovelinesssprinklingadeadseaofunprofitablematter.
  "ItwereabsurdtocomparethelightandgracefulpoemsofMorriswiththework"Festus"——asimpleGrecianarchwithastupendousTurkishmosque——anEtruscanvasewithaGothictower.Yettherearedoubtlessmanywhowillprefertheperfectrealizationofmodestaspirations,togrand,butineffectualgraspingsafterglory’shighestandmostdivineguerdons——aquietwalkwithtruthandnature,toanIcarusflightofmagnificentabsurdities.
  "Ithasbeensaidthattheauthorof’Longtimeago’hasrungtoomanychangesonthesentimentandpassionofLOVE.Love,theinspirationofthegloriousbardsofold,’Whoplayupontheheartasonaharp,Andmakeoureyesbrightaswespeakofthem;’
  ’loveever—new,everlasting,fresh,andbeautiful,nowaswhenthesilenceofyoungEdenwasthrilled,butscarcebroken,bythevoiceofthefirstlover——ajoyandasourceofjoyforever.’
  "Iknowitismuchthefashionnow—a—days,toholdinlordlycontemptmanyofthosesweetandholyinfluenceswhichare——
  ’Asangelhands,enclosingours,LeadingusbacktoParadiseanbowers.’
  "Loveandlibertyarefastbecomingmereabstractionstotheenlightenedapprehensionofsomemodernwisemen.Itissadtoseehowsoonthosewhite—wingedvisitorssoiltheirplumageandchangetheirverynaturebyameredescentintothephilosophicatmosphereofsuchmind.OneisremindedofthewordsofSwedenborg——’Isawagreattruthletdownfromheavenintohell,anditTHEREBECAME
  ALIE.’
  "Thiscynicalobjectiontothelaysofourminstrel,surelynevercouldhaveemanatedfromtheheartofWOMAN.SHEiseverloyaltolove——thattenderandyearningprincipleinthebosomoftheFather,fromwhichandbywhichthefemininenaturewascreated.
  "ThepoemsofMorrisareindeedlikethoseflowersofold,bornoftheblood—dropswhichoozedfromthewoundedfootofthequeenoflove——blushingcrimsontotheveryheart;yetthereisnot,tomyknowledge,inthewholerangeofEnglishliterature,solargeacollectionofamatorysongsinwhichsensualismandvoluptuousnessfindnovoice.Theselayscanbringtothecheekofpuritynoblush,savethatofpleasure——themothermaysingthemtoherchild,thebridetoheryounghusband.
  "’Festus’hasaneloquentreplytosuchasholdloveathemeunworthythetruebard:——
  ’Poetsareallwholove——whofeelgreattruths,Andtellthem;andthetruthoftruthsisLOVE.’
  "ThemuseofMorriswasPoesy’sown’summerchild.’Hope,love,andhappiness,sunny—wingedfanciesandgolden—huedimaginings,havenestedinhisheartlikebirds.
  "Hisversedoesnotcauseonetotrembleandturnpale——itcharmsandrefreshes.Itdoesnot’possesuslikeapassion’——itstealsuponuslikeaspell.Itdoesnotstormtheheartlikeanarmedhost——itislikethevisitationofgentlespirits,’Comingandgoingwithamusicallightness.’
  Itisnotaturbulentmountain—torrent,hurlingitselfdownrockyplaces——itisasilverstream,glidingthroughquietvalleys,inwhosewavesthesweetstarsaremirrored,onwhosebosomthewater—liliessleep.
  "Nowandthentherestealsinastrainofsadness,liketheplaintofabereavedbirdinagardenofroses;butitisatender,notanOPPRESIVEsadness,andweknowthattherainbowbeautyoftheversecouldonlybeborninthewedlockofsmilesandtears.Inaword,hislaysarenot’nightandstormanddarkness’——theyaremorningandmusicandsunshine.
  "ItwereidleatthistimetoquoteorcommentuponallthosesongsofMorrisbestknownandoftenestsung.Itwouldbeintroducingtomyreadersoldfriendswhotooklodgingsintheirmemories’longtimeago.’Inreferencetothem,Iwouldonlyremarktheirpeculiaradaptednesstopopulartaste,thekeendiscrimination,thenicetact,or,touseoneofSirJamesMackintosh’shappyexpressions,the’FEELosophy’withwhichthepoethasinterlacedthemwiththeheart—stringsofanation.
  "’ARockintheWilderness’isanodethatanypoetmightbeproudtoown.ItismuchinthestyleofCampbell——chaste,devotional,’beautifulexceedingly.’Iknownothingofthekindmoremusicallysweetthantheserenade’’Tisnowthepromisedhour’——thefirstlineinespecial——
  ’Thefountainsserenadetheflowers,Upontheirsilverlute——
  Andnestledintheirleafybowers,Theforestbirdsaremute.’
  "Manyanabsentlovermusthaveblessedourlyristforgivingvoicetohisownyearningaffection,halfsadwiththatdelicatejealousywhichisnowrongtothelovedone,inthesong’Whenotherfriendsareroundthee.’
  "’TheBacchanal’——ifourlanguageboastsalovelierballadthanthis,ithasnevermetmyeye.Thestoryofthewinning,thebetrayingandthebreakingofawoman’sheart,wasnevertoldmoretouchingly.
  ’TheDismissed’isinapeculiarveinofrichandquiethumor.I
  wouldcommendittotheentireclassofrejectedloversascontainingthetruestphilosophy.’Linesafterthemanneroftheoldentime’remindoneofSirJohnSuckling.Theyare’sunnedo’erwithlove’——theirsubject,bytheway.’Ineverhavebeenfalsetothee’wasanemanationfromtheFEMININEnatureoftheminstrelalone.Whodoesnotbelievethepoetgiftedwithdualityofsoul?
  ’Thinkofme,myownbeloved,’and’Rosabel,’arethethrobbingsofalover’sbreast,settomusic;and’Onebalmysummernight,Mary,’’Theheartthatownsthytyrantsway,’and’WhenIwasinmyteens,’thedistillationofthesubtlestsweetslodgedintheinnermostcellsofallflowersdedicatedtolove.
  "Icomenowtomyfavorite,’WhereHudson’swave;’apoemwhichIneverreadbutthatitglowsuponmylipandheart,andleavestheairofmythoughtstremulouswithmusicalvibrations.Whatadeliciousgushofparentalfeeling!Howdaintilyanddelicatelymovethe’fitlychosewords,’trippingalonglikesilversandaledfairies.
  "’Land—Ho!’andthe’WesternRefrain’thrillonegloriously.’TheCottager’sWelcome’wouldofitselfcarrythepoet’snametothenextage,andthe’CrotonOde’keephisbaysgreenwithaperpetualbaptism.Thelast—mentionedisfreshandsparklingasitssubject,anddisplaysmuchoftheimaginativefaculty.
  "’Oh,amerrylifedoesthehunterlead,’rolledupthetenthwaveofMorris—ianpopularityattheWest.Itstirsthehunter’sheartlikeabugleblast——itringsoutclearasarifle—crackonahuntingmorning.
  "GeneralMorrishasrecentlypublishedsomesongs,whichhaveallthegrace,melody,andtouchingsweetnessofhisearlierlays.Butasthesehavebeenartisticallysettomusic,andareyetinthefirstseasonofpopularity——arelyingonthepianosand’rollingoverthebrightlip’ofallsong—dom,theycallfornofurthermentionhere.
  "IthinkIcannotbetterclosethissomewhatbrokenandimperfectnotice,thanbyreferringtooneoftheearliersongsofMorris,which,morethanallothers,perhaps,hasendearedhimtohisnativeland.’Homefromtravel’isasimple,hearty,manlyembodimentofthetruespiritofpatriotism,asentimentwhichthrobslikeastrongpulsebeneathourpoet’slightandgracefulverse,andneedsbuttheinspirationof’stirringtimes’toprompttodeedsofheroicvalor,likethelaysoftheancientbards,orthe’Chansons’ofBeranger."
  ThebiographyofMorriswouldnotbecompletewithoutawordfromWillis.Wehaveadashofhispencilinthefollowinglettertotheeditorof"Graham’sMagazine":——
  "MyDearSir:ToaskmeformyideaofGeneralMorris,islikeaskingthelefthand’sopinionofthedexterityoftheright.Ihavelivedsolongwiththe’Brigadier’——knowhimsointimately——workedsoconstantlyatthesamerope,andthoughtsolittleofeverseparatingfromhim(exceptbyprecedenceofferriageovertheStyx),thatitishardtoshovehimfrommetotheperspectivedistance——hardtoshutmyownpartialeyes,andlookathimthroughotherpeople’s.Iwilltry,however;and,asitisdonewithbutonefootofffromthetreadmillofmyceaselessvocation,youwillexcusebothabruptnessandbrevity.
  "Morrisisthebest—knownpoetofthecountry,byacclamation,notbycriticism.Heisjustwhatpoetswouldbeiftheysang,likebirds,withoutcriticism;anditisapeculiarityofhisfame,thatitseemsasregardlessofcriticism,asabirdintheair.Nothingcanstopasongofhis.Itisveryeasytosaythattheyareeasytodo.Theyhaveamomentum,somehow,thatitisdifficultforotherstogive,andthatspeedsthemtothefargoalofpopularity——thebestproofconsistinginthefactthathecan,atanymoment,getfiftydollarsforasongunread,whenthewholeremainderoftheAmericanParnassuscouldnotsellonetothesamebuyerforashilling.
  "Itmay,ormaynot,beonesecretofhispopularity,butitisthetruth——thatMorris’sheartisatthelevelofmostotherpeople’s,andhispoetryflowsoutbythatdoor.Hestandsbreast—highinthecommonstreamofsympathy,andthefineoilofhispoeticfeelinggoesfromhimuponanelementitisitsnaturetofloatupon,andwhichcarriesitsafetootherbosoms,withlittleneedofdeepdivingorhighflying.Hissentimentsaresimple,honest,truthful,andfamiliar;hislanguageispureandeminentlymusical,andheisprodigallyfullofthepoetryofevery—dayfeeling.Thesearedayswhenpoetstryexperiments;andwhileotherssucceedbytakingtheworld’sbreathawaywithflightsandplunges,Morrisuseshisfeettowalkquietlywithnature.Ninety—ninepeopleinahundred,takenastheycomeinthecensus,wouldfindmoretoadmireinMorris’ssongs,thaninthewritingsofanyotherAmericanpoet;
  andthatisaparishinthepoeticalepiscopate,wellworthyawiseman’snurtureandprizing.
  "Asfortheman——Morris,myfriend——Icanhardlyventureto’burnincenseonhismoustache,’astheFrenchsay——writehispraisesunderhisverynose——butasfaroffasPhiladelphia,youmaypaythepropertributetohisloyalnatureandmanlyexcellencies.
  Hispersonalqualitieshavemadehimuniversallypopular;butthisoverflowupontheworlddoesnotimpoverishhimforhisfriends.I
  haveoutlinedatruepoet,andafinefellow——fillupthepicturetoyourliking.Yours,verytruly,"N.P.Willis."
  In1825,GeneralMorriswrotethedramaof"Briercliff,"aplay,infiveacts,foundeduponeventsoftheAmericanRevolution.Itwasperformedfortynightsinsuccession;andthemanagerpaidhimforit$3,500——asolidproofofitsattractivepopularity.Ithasneverbeenpublished.Prior,andsubsequenttothisperiod,hispenwasactivelyengageduponvariousliteraryanddramaticworks.
  Hewroteanumberofthe"WelcomestoLafayette,"andsongsandballads,whichwereuniversallypopular,besidesmanyprologuesandaddresses.
  In1842,hewroteanoperaforMr.C.E.Horn,calledthe"MaidofSaxony,"whichwasperformedfourteennights,withgreatsuccess,attheParkTheatre.Thepressofthecity,generally,awardedtothisoperathehighestcommendation.
  FromtheperiodwhenGeneralMorriscommencedhiscareerasawriter,hispenhasbeenconstantlyemployedinwritingpoems,songs,ballads,andprosesketches.
  In1840,theAppletonspublishedaneditionofhispoems,beautifullyillustratedbyWeir&Chapman;in1842,Paine&Burgesspublishedhissongsandballads;andin1853,Scribner’sedition,illustratedbyWeirandDarley,appeared.Thislastbeautifulworkhashadanimmensesale.
  Theywerehighlycommendedbythepressthroughoutthecountry,andtheseandothereditionshavehadlargesales.Aportionofhisprosewritings,underthetitleof"TheLittleFrenchmanandhisWater—Lots,"werepublishedbyLea&Blanchard,whicheditionhasbeenfollowedbyothers,enlargedbytheauthor.
  GeneralMorrishaseditedanumberofworks;amongthemarethe"AtlanticClubBook,"publishedbytheHarpers;"TheSong—WritersofAmerica,"byLinen&Ferin;"NationalMelodies,"byHorn&Davis;
  and,inconnectionwithMr.Willis,"TheProseandPoetryofEuropeandAmerica,"astandardworkofgreatvalue.
  In1844,inconnectionwithMr.Willis,heestablishedabeautifulweeklypaper,calledthe"NewMirror,"which,inconsequenceofthecoverandengravings,wastaxedbythepost—officedepartmentapostageequaltothesubscriptionprice;andnotbeingabletoobtainajustreductionfromMr.Wickliffe,thenpost—master—general,theproprietorsdiscontinueditspublication,afterayearandahalf,notwithstandingithadattainedacirculationoftenthousandcopies.
  Thedaily"EveningMirror"wasnextcommenced,andcontinuedforoneyearbyMorris&Willis.
  Afewmonthsafterwithdrawingfromthe"EveningMirror,"GeneralMorrisbeganthepublicationofthe"NationalPressandHomeJournal;"butasmanymistookitsobjectfromitsname,thefirstpartofitstitlewasdiscontinued;andinNovember,1846(Mr.
  Willishavingagainjoinedhisoldfriendandassociate),appearedthefirstnumberofthe"HomeJournal,"aweeklypaper,publishedinNewYorkeverySaturday,whichiseditedwithtaste,spirit,andability,andwhichhasacirculationofmanythousandcopies.
  GeneralMorrisisstillintheprimeandvigoroflife,anditisnotunlikelythatthepublicwillyethavemuchtoadmirefromhispen,andwhichwill,withoutdoubt,placehimstillhigherinthenicheoffame.HisresidenceischieflyatUndercliff,hiscountryseat,onthebanksoftheHudson,nearColdSpring,surroundedbythemostlovelyandbeautifulsceneryinnature,whichcannotfailtokeepthemusealivewithinhim,andtunetheminstreltofurtherandstillhigherefforts.
  Althoughhepossessesabilitieswhicheminentlyqualifyhimforpublicstation,hisliterarytasteandhabitshave,inspiteofthestrenuoussolicitationsofhisfriends,ledhimtoprefertheretirementofprivatelife.This,however,doesnotpreventhistakinganactiveinterestinallquestionsofpublicgood;andthecityofNewYorkisgreatlyindebtedtohisvigorousaidformanyofhermostbeautifulandpermanentimprovements.
  Wecannotclosethissketchwithoutadvertingtothefollowingincident,whichoccurredintheBritishHouseofCommons:——
  "Mr.Cagley,amemberfromYorkshire,"saysthe"LondonTimes,"
  "Concludedalongspeechinfavorofprotection,byquotingtheballadof’Woodman,sparethattree’(whichwasreceivedwithapplauseofthewholehouse),the’tree’accordingtoMr.Cagley,beingthe’Constitution,’andSirRobertPeelthe’woodman,’abouttocutitdown."
  Whatpoetcoulddesireamoregratifyingcomplimenttohisgenius?
  PoemsandBallads.
  Poems.
  TheDesertedBride.[SeeNotes]
  Suggestedbyasceneintheplayofthehunchback.
  InscribedtoJamesSheridanKnowles.
  "Loveme!——No.——Heneverlovedme!"
  Elsehe’dsoonerdiethanstainOnesofondashehasprovedmeWiththehollowworld’sdisdain.
  Falseone,go——mydoomisspoken,Andthespellthatboundmebroken.
  Wedhim!——Never.——Hehaslostme!——
  Tears!——Well,letthemflow!——Hisbride?
  No.——Thestrugglelifemaycostme!
  Buthe’llfindthatIhavepride!
  Loveisnotanidleflower,Bloomsanddiestheself—samehour.
  Title,land,andbroaddominion,Withhimselftomehegave;
  Stoopedtoearthhisspirit’spinion,Andbecamemywillingslave!
  Kneltandprayeduntilhewonme——
  Lookshecoldlyuponme?
  Ingrate!——NeversurewasmaidenDeeplywrongedasI.WithgriefMytruebreastisoverladen——
  Tearsaffordmenorelief——
  Everynerveisstrainedandaching,Andmyveryheartisbreaking!
  LoveIhim?——Thusscornedandslighted——
  Thrown,likeworthlessweed,apart——
  Hopesandfeelingssearedandblighted——
  Lovehim?——Yes,withallmyheart!
  Withapassionsuperhuman——
  Constancy,"thynameiswoman."
  Love,nortime,normood,canfashion——
  Love?——Idolatry’sthewordTospeakthebroadest,deepestpassion,Everwoman’shearthathstirred!
  Vaintostillthemind’sdesires,Whichconsumelikehiddenfires!
  Wreckedandwretched,lostandlonely,Crushedbygrief’soppressiveweightWithaprayerforCliffordonly,Iresignmetomyfate.
  ChainsthatbindthesoulI’veprovenStrongastheywereironwoven.
  DeepthewothatfastissendingFrommycheekitshealthfulbloom;
  SadmythoughtsaswillowsbendingO’erthebordersofthetomb!
  WithoutClifford,notablessingIntheworldisworthpossessing.
  Wealth!——astrawwithinthebalanceOpposedtolove,’twillstrikethebeam:
  Kindred,friendship,beauty,talents?——
  Alltoloveasnothingseem;
  Weighloveagainstallelsetogether,Andsolidgoldagainstafeather.
  Hopeisflown——awaydisguisesNaughtbutdeathreliefcangive——
  ForthelovehelittleprizesCannotcease,andJulialive!
  Soonmythreadoflifewillsever——
  Clifford,faretheewell——forever!
  TheMain—Truck;Or,ALeapforLifeANauticalBallad.
  [Foundeduponawell—knowntalefromthepenofthelateWilliamLeggett,Esq.]
  OldIronsidesatanchorlay,IntheharborofMahon;
  Adeadcalmrestedonthebay——
  Thewavestosleephadgone;
  WhenlittleJack,thecaptain’sson,Withgallanthardihood,Climbedshroudandspar——andthenuponThemain—truckroseandstood!
  Ashudderranthrougheveryvein——
  Alleyeswereturnedonhigh!
  Therestoodtheboy,withdizzybrain,Betweentheseaandsky!
  Noholdhadheabove——below,Alonehestoodinair!
  Atthatfarheightnonedaredtogo——
  Noaidcouldreachhimthere.
  Wegazed——butnotamancouldspeak!——
  WithhorrorallaghastIngroups,withpallidbrowandcheek,Wewatchedthequiveringmast.
  Theatmospheregrewthickandhot,Andofaluridhue,As,riveteduntothespot,Stoodofficersandcrew.
  Thefathercameondeck——Hegasped,"O,God,Thywillbedone!"
  Thensuddenlyariflegrasped,Andaimeditathisson!
  "Jumpfarout,boy!intothewave!
  Jump,orIfire!"hesaid:
  "Thatonlychanceyourlifecansave!
  Jump——jump,boy!"——Heobeyed.
  Hesank——herose——helived——hemoved——
  Hefortheshipstruckout!
  OnboardwehailedtheladbelovedWithmanyamanlyshout.
  Hisfatherdrew,insilentjoy,Thosewetarmsroundhisneck,ThenfoldedtohishearttheboyAndfaintedonthedeck!
  Poetry.
  Tometheworld’sanopenbookOfsweetandpleasantpoetry;
  IreaditintherunningbrookThatsingsitswaytowardthesea.
  Itwhispersintheleavesoftrees,Theswellinggrain,thewavinggrass,Andinthecool,fresheveningbreezeThatcrispsthewaveletsastheypass.
  Theflowersbelow,thestarsabove,Inalltheirbloomandbrightnessgiven,Are,liketheattributesoflove,Thepoetryofearthandheaven.
  ThusNature’svolume,readaright,Attunesthesoultominstrelsy,Tinginglife’scloudswithrosylight,Andalltheworldwithpoetry.
  TheCrotonOde.[SeeNotes]
  WrittenattherequestofthecorporationofthecityofNewYork.
  Gushingfromthislivingfountain,Musicpoursafallingstrain,AsthegoddessofthemountainComeswithallhersparklingtrain.
  Fromhergrotto—springsadvancing,Glitteringinherfeatheryspray,Woodlandfaysbesideherdancing,Shepursuesherwindingway.
  Gentlyo’ertheripplingwater,Inhercoral—shallopbright,Glidestherock—king’sdove—eyeddaughter,Deckedinrobesofvirginwhite.
  Nymphsandnaiads,sweetlysmiling,Urgeherbarkwithpearlyhand,MerrilythesylphbeguilingFromthenooksoffairy—land.
  Swimmingonthesnow—curledbillow,Seetheriver—spiritsfairLaytheircheeks,asonapillow,Withthefoam—beadsintheirhair.
  Thusattended,hitherwending,Floatsthelovelyoreadnow,Eden’sarchofpromisebendingOverhertranslucentbrow.
  Hailthewandererfromafarland!
  Bindherflowingtressesup!
  Crownherwithafadelessgarland,Andwithcrystalbrimthecup.
  Fromherhauntsofdeepseclusion,Letintemperancegreethertoo,AndtheheatofhisdelusionSprinklewiththismountain—dew.
  Waterleapsasifdelighted,Whileherconqueredfoesretire!
  PaleContagionfliesaffrightedWiththebaffleddemonFire!
  Safetydwellsinherdominions,HealthandBeautywithhermove,AndentwinetheircirclingpinionsInasisterhoodoflove.
  Watershoutsagladhosanna!
  Bubblesuptheearthtobless!
  CheersitlikethepreciousmannaInthebarrenwilderness.
  Herewewonderinggaze,assembledLikethegratefulHebrewband,Whenthehiddenfountaintrembled,Andobeyedtheprophet’swand.
  Roundtheaqueductsofstory,AsthemistsofLethethrong,Croton’swavesinalltheirgloryTroopinmelodyalong.
  Eversparkling,bright,andsingle,Willthisrock—ribbedstreamappear,WhenposterityshallmingleLikethegatheredwatershere.
  FragmentofanIndianPoem.
  ******
  Theycome!——Befirm——insilencerally!
  Thelong—knivesourretreathavefound!
  Hark!——theirtrampisinthevalley,Andtheyhemtheforestround!
  Theburdenedboughswithpalescoutsquiver,Theechoinghillstumultuousring,WhileacrosstheeddyingriverTheirbarks,likefoamingwar—steeds,spring!
  Theblood—houndsdarkenlandandwater;
  Theycome——likebuffaloesforslaughter!
  Seetheirglitteringranksadvancing,SeeuponthefreewindsdancingPennonproudandgaudyplume.
  Thestrangerscomeinevilhour,Inpomp,andpanoply,andpower!
  But,whileuponourtribestheylower,ThinktheyourmanlyheartswillcowerTomeetawarrior’sdoom?
  Righttheyforgetwhilestrengththeyfeel;
  Ourveinstheydrain,ourlandtheysteal;
  AndshouldthevanquishedIndiankneel,Theyspurnhimfromtheirsight!
  BesetforeverindisgraceThegloryofthered—man’srace,Iffromthefoeweturnourface,Orsafetyseekinflight!
  Theycome——Up,anduponthembraves!
  Fightforyouraltersandyourgraves!
  Drivebackthestern,invadingslaves,Infighttillnowvictorious!
  Likelightningfromstorm—cloudsonhigh,Thehurtling,death—wingedarrowsfly,Andwind—rowsofpalewarriorsdie!——
  Oh!neverwasthesun’sbrighteyeLookedfromhishill—topsintheskyUponafieldsoglorious!
  ******
  They’regone——againthered—menrally;
  Withdanceandsongthewoodsresound:
  Thehatchet’sburiedinthevalley;
  Nofoeprofanesourhunting—ground!
  Thegreenleavesontheblitheboughsquiver,Theverdanthillswithsong—birdsring,Whileourbark—canoestheriverSkimlikeswallowsonthewing.
  Mirthpervadesthelandandwater,Freefromfamine,sword,andslaughter.
  ******
  Letus,bythisgentleriver,Blunttheaxeandbreakthequiver,While,asleavesuponthespray,Peacefulflowourcaresaway.
  ******
  Yet,alas!thehourisbriefLeftforeitherjoyorgrief!
  AllonearththatweinheritFromthehandsoftheGreatSpirit——
  Wigwam,hill,plain,lake,andfield——
  Tothewhite—manmustweyield;
  For,likesun—downonthewaves,Wearesinkingtoourgraves!
  FromthiswildernessofwoLikethecaravanwego,LeavingallourgrovesandstreamsForthefar—offlandofdreams.
  Thereareprairieswavinghigh,Boundlessasthesheetedsky,Whereourfathers’spiritsroam,Andthered—manhasahome.
  Lettraditiontellourstory.
  Aswefadeincloudlessglory,AsweseekthelandofrestBeyondthebordersofthewest,Noeyebutoursmaylookupon——
  WEARETHECHILDRENOFTHESUN.
  ******
  Land—Ho!
  UP,UPWITHTHESIGNAL!——Thelandisinsight!
  We’llbehappy,ifneveragain,boys,to—night!
  Thecoldcheerlessoceaninsafetywe’vepassed,Andthewarmgenialearthgladsourvisionatlast.
  Inthelandofthestrangertrueheartsweshallfind,Tosootheusinabsenceofthoseleftbehind.
  Land!——land—ho!——Allheartsglowwithjoyatthesight!
  We’llbehappy,ifneveragain,boys,to—night!
  THESIGNALISWAVING!——Tillmornwe’llremain,Thenpartinthehopetomeetonedayagain!
  Roundthehearth—stoneofhomeinthelandofourbirth,Theholiestspotonthefaceoftheearth!
  Dearcountry!ourthoughtsareasconstanttotheeAsthesteeltothestar,orthestreamtothesea.
  Ho!——land—ho!——Wenearit!——Weboundatthesight!
  Thenbehappy,ifneveragain,boys,to—night!
  THESIGNALISANSWERED!——Thefoam—sparklesriseLiketearsfromthefountainofjoytotheeyes!
  Mayrain—dropsthatfallfromthestorm—cloudsofcare,Meltawayinthesun—beamingsmilesofthefair!
  Onehealth,aschimegailythenauticalbells:
  Towoman——Godblessher!——wherevershedwells!
  THEPILOT’SONBOARD!——thankheaven,all’sright!
  Sobehappy,ifneveragain,boys,to—night!
  Woodman,SparethatTree![SeeNotes]
  Woodman,sparethattree!
  Touchnotasinglebough!
  Inyouthitshelteredme,AndI’llprotectitnow.
  ’Twasmyforefather’shandThatplaceditnearhiscot;
  There,woodman,letitstand,Thyaxeshallharmitnot.
  Thatoldfamiliartree,WhosegloryandrenownArespreado’erlandandsea——
  Andwouldstthouhewitdown?
  Woodman,forebearthystroke!
  Cutnotitsearth—boundties;
  Oh,sparethatagedoak,Nowtoweringtotheskies!
  Whenbutanidleboy,Isoughtitsgratefulshade;
  InalltheirgushingjoyHere,too,mysistersplayed.
  Mymotherkissedmehere;
  Myfatherpressedmyhand——
  Forgivethisfoolishtear,Butletthatoldoakstand.
  Myheart—stringsroundtheecling,Closeasthybark,oldfriend!
  Hereshallthewild—birdsing,Andstillthybranchesbend.
  Oldtree!thestormstillbrave!
  And,woodman,leavethespot;
  WhileI’veahandtosave,thyaxeshallharmitnot.
  TheCottager’sWelcome.
  HardbyI’veacottagethatstandsnearthewood——
  Astreamglidesinpeaceatthedoor——
  Whereallwhowilltarry,’tiswellunderstood,Receivehospitality’sstore.
  Tocheerthatthebrookandthethicketafford,Thestrangerweeverinvite:
  You’rewelcometofreelypartakeattheboard,Andafterwardsrestforthenight.
  Thebirdsinthemorningwillsingfromthetrees,Andheraldtheyounggodofday;
  Then,withhimuprising,departifyouplease——
  We’llsetyourefreshedontheway:
  You’recoinforourservicewesternlyreject;
  Notrafficforgainwepursue,AndalltherewardthatwewishorexpectWetakeinthegoodthatwedo.
  Mankindareallpilgrimsonlife’swearyroad,AndmanywouldwanderastrayInseekingEternity’ssilentabode,DidMercynotpointouttheway!
  IfallwouldtheirdutydischargeastheyshouldTothosewhoarefriendlessandpoor,Theworldwouldresemblemycotnearthewood,Andlifethesweetstreamatmydoor.
  TheLandofWashington.
  IgloryinthesagesWho,inthedaysofyore,Incombatmetthefoemen,Anddrovethemfromourshore.
  Whoflungourbanner’sstarryfieldIntriumphtothebreeze,AndspreadbroadmapsofcitieswhereOncewavedtheforest—trees.
  ——Hurrah!——
  IgloryinthespiritWhichgoadedthemtoriseAndfoundamightnationBeneaththewesternskies.
  NoclimesobrightandbeautifulAsthatwheresetsthesun;
  Nolandsofertile,fair,andfree,AsthatofWashington——Hurrah!——
  TheFlagofourUnion.
  "Asongforourbanner?"——ThewatchwordrecallWhichgavetheRepublicherstation:
  "Unitedwestand——dividedwefall!"——
  Itmadeandpreservesusanation!
  Theunionoflakes——theunionoflands——
  TheunionofStatesnonecansever——
  Theunionofhearts——theunionofhands——
  AndtheFlagoftheUnionforeverAndever!
  TheFlagofourUnionforever!
  WhatGodinhismercyandwisdomdesigned,Andarmedwithhisweaponsofthunder,Notalltheearth’sdespotsandfactionscombinedHavethepowertoconquerorsunder!
  Theunionoflakes——theunionoflands——
  Theunionofstatesnonecansever——
  Theunionofhearts——theunionofhands——
  AndtheFlagoftheUnionforeverAndever!
  TheFlagofourUnionforever!
  Oh,keepthatflagflying!——Theprideofthevan!
  Toallothernationsdisplayit!
  Theladiesforunionarealltoa——MAN!
  Butnottothemanwho’dbetrayit.
  Thentheunionoflakes——theunionoflands——
  Theunionofstatesnonecansever——
  Theunionofhearts——theunionofhands——
  AndtheFlagoftheUnionforeverAndever!
  TheFlagofourUnionforever!
  LinesAftertheManneroftheOldenTime.
  OLove!themischiefthouhastdone!
  Thougodofpleasureandofpain!——
  Nonecanescapethee——yesthere’sone——
  Allothersfindtheeffortvain:
  Thoucauseofallmysmilesandtears!
  Thoublightandbloomofallmyyears!
  Lovebatheshiminthemorningdews,Reclineshiminthelilybells,Reposesintherainbowhues,Andsparklesinthecrystalwells,Orhieshimtothecoral—caves,Wheresea—nymphssportbeneaththewaves.
  Lovevibratesinthewind—harp’stune——
  Withfaysandoreadslingershe——
  Gleamsinth’ringofthewaterymoon,Ortreadsthepebblesofthesea.
  Loverules"thecourt,thecamp,thegrove"——
  Oh,everywherewemeetthee,Love!
  Andeverywherehewelcomefinds,Fromcottage—doortopalace—porch——
  Loveentersfreeasspicywinds,Withpurplewingsandlightedtorch,Withtrippingfeetandsilverytongue,Andbowanddartsbehindhimslung.
  Hetinklesintheshepherd’sbellThevillagemaidenleanstohear——
  Bylatticehighheweaveshisspell,Forladyfairandcavalier:
  Likesun—burstsonthemountainsnow,Love’sgenialwarmthmeltshighandlow.
  Thenwhy,yenymphsArcadian,why——
  SinceLoveisgeneralastheair——
  WhydoeshenottoLeliafly,Andsoftentheobduratefair?
  Scornnervesherproud,disdainfulheart!
  ShescoffsatLoveandallhisart!
  Oh,boy—god,Love!——Anarcherthou!——
  ThyutmostskillIfainwouldtest;
  OnearrowaimatLelianow,Andletthytargetbeherbreast!
  Herheartbindinthycaptivetrain,Orgivemebackmyownagain!
  TheDreamofLove.
  I’vehadtheheart—achemanytimes,AtthemerementionofanameI’veneverwoveninmyrhymes,Thoughfromitinspirationcame.
  Itisintruthaholything,Life—cherishedfromtheworldapart——
  Adovethatnevertriesitswing,Butbroodsandnestlesintheheart.
  ThatnameofmelodyrecallsHergentlelookandwinningwaysWhoseportraithangsonmemory’swalls,Inthefondlightofotherdays.
  Inthedream—landofPoetry,Reclininginitsleafybowers,HerbrighteyesinthestarsIsee,Andhersweetsemblanceintheflowers.
  Herartlessdallianceandgrace——
  Thejoythatlightedupherbrow——
  Thesweetexpressionofherface——
  Herform——itstandsbeforemenow!
  AndIcanfancythatIhearThewoodlandsongssheusedtosing,Whichstoletomyattendingear,Likethefirstharbingersofspring.
  Thebeautyoftheearthwashers,Andhersthepurityofheaven;
  Alone,ofallherworshippers,Tomehermaidenvowsweregiven.
  Theylittleknowthehumanheart,Whothinksuchlovewithtimeexpires;
  Oncekindled,itwillne’erdepart,Butburnthroughlifewithallitsfires.
  Weparted——doomednomoretomeet——
  Theblowfellwithastunningpower——
  AndyetmypulsewillstrangelybeatAttheremembranceofthathour!
  Buttimeandchangetheirhealingbrought,Andyearshavepassedinseemingglee,ButstillaloneofherI’vethoughtWho’snowamemorytome.
  TheremaybemanywhowilldeemThisstrainawayward,youthfulfolly,TobederidedasadreamBornofthepoet’smelancholy.
  Thewealthofworlds,ifitweremine,Withallthatfollowsinitstrain,Iwouldwithgratituderesign,Todreamthatdreamofloveagain.
  I’mWithYouOnceAgain.
  I’mwithyouonceagain,myfriends,Nomoremyfootstepsroam;
  Whereitbeganmyjourneyends,Amidthescenesofhome.
  Nootherclimehasskiessoblue,Orstreamssobroadandclear,AndwhereareheartssowarmandtrueAsthosethatmeetmehere?
  Sincelastwithspirits,wildandfree,Ipressedmynativestrand,I’vewanderedmanymilesatsea,Andmanymilesonland.
  I’veseenfairrealmsoftheearthByrudecommotiontorn,WhichtaughtmehowtoprizetheworthOfthatwhereIwasborn.
  Inothercountries,whenIheardThelanguageofmyown,HowfondlyeachfamiliarwordAwokeanansweringtone!
  ButwhenourwoodlandsongsweresungUponaforeignmart,ThevowsthatfalteredonthetongueWithrapturethrilledtheheart!
  Mynativeland,Iturntoyou,Withblessingandwithprayer,Wheremanisbraveandwomantrue,Andfreeasmountainair.
  LongmayourflagintriumphwaveAgainsttheworldcombined,Andfriendsawelcome——foesagrave,Withinourbordersfind.
  Oh,WouldthatShewereHere!
  Oh,wouldthatshewerehere,Thesehillsanddalesamong,WherevocalgrovesaregaylymockedByEcho’sairytongue:
  WherejocundnaturesmilesInallherboonattire,Androamsthedeeply—tangledwildsOfhawthornandsweet—brier.
  Oh,wouldthatshewerehere——
  ThegentlemaidIsing,WhosevoiceischeerfulasthesongsOfforest—birdsinspring!
  Oh,wouldthatshewerehere,Wherethefreewatersleap,ShoutinginsportivejoyousnessAdowntherockysteep:
  WherezephyrscrispandcoolThefountainsastheyplay,Withhealthupontheirwingsoflight,Andgladnessontheirway.
  Oh,wouldthatshewerehere,Withthesebalm—breathingtrees,Thesylvandaughtersofthesun,Therain—cloud,andthebreeze!
  Oh,wouldthatshewerehere,Whereglidetherosyhours,Murm’ringthedrowsyhumofbees,Andfragrantwiththeflowers:
  WhereHeaven’sredeemingloveSpansearthinMercy’sbow——
  ThepromiseoftheworldaboveUntotheworldbelow.
  Oh,wouldthatshewerehere,Amidtheseshadesserene——
  Oh,forthespellofwoman’slove,Toconsecratethescene!
  TheSwordandtheStaffTheswordofthehero!
  Thestaffofthesage!
  WhosevalorandwisdomArestampedontheage!
  Time—hallowedmementosOfthosewhohaverivenThesceptrefromtyrants,"Thelightningfromheaven!"
  Thisweapon,OFreedom!
  Wasdrawnbytheson,AnditneverwassheathedTillthebattlewaswon!
  NostainofdishonorUponitwesee!
  ’Twasneversurrendered——
  Excepttothefree!
  WhileFameclaimstheheroAndpatriotsage,TheirnamestoemblazonOnHistory’spage,NoholierrelicsWilllibertyhoardThanFRANKLIN’sstaff,guardedByWASHINGTON’ssword.