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BY GOULD & EF!
WELL,
Office 80 Middle, near Sommer of Exchange St,
Cranseript.
TERM!
One Dollar for Eight Months, in advance
$: $1,50 PER YEAR.
AN INDRPENDENT FAMILY JOURNAL OF LITERATURE, NRWS, &B.
VOLUME Xy.
PORTLAND,
SATURDAY, JULY 26, 1851.
NUMBER 15.
POETRY.
VICTORIA: AN ODE.*
BY ALFRED TENNYSON.
Revered Victoria, you that hold
A nol
ms, or bower tran, or birth
Could lve th the warrior kings o'
I thank you that your royal grace
To one of less desert allows
‘This laurel greener from the brows
Of him that uttereth nothing base:
‘And should your greatness, and the care
If aught of ancient worth be there, .
Take, madam, this poor book of song ;
For though the faults were thick as dust
In vacant chambers I could trust
‘Your sweetness. May you rule as long,
And leave us rulers of your blood
As noble till the latest day !
* May children of our children say,
“She wrought her people lasting good ; '
“Her court was pure ,, her life serene 5
Qu
In her as mother, wife, and queen.
She brought vast design to p
When Europe and the scattered ends
Of our flerce world were mixed as friends
And brethren in her halls of glass ;
“And statesmen of her council met
“By shaping come august deci
Which kept her throne unshaken still,
Broad-based upon her people's will,
‘And compassed by the inviolate sea.” .
‘*Prefaced tothe new edition of the Poet Laureate’s
Poems, .
must have 1 many cares to prey ‘upon ‘him. I after-
wards learned his history.) His father had-been a
merchant, had fuiled, and committed suicide. . Up-
on him had devolved the care of supporting his
mother and sister, lis sister, a short time before,
had been so injured by a carriage, as to be render-
ed a cripple for life. Poor fellow! no wonder; he
looked sal, cs scarcely enough to keep soul
and body
Istaid Tice ner friends but a short time. One day,
(Iremember it as if it vere but yesterday, )astranger
entered my master’s shop. , How it was I know not,
but I took an involuntary dislike to him, he looked
so cold, so stern, so sa:castic. Oh, how Ihoped that
he would not notice me, but it seemed my destiny.
He saw me, and after a few words with my master,
purchased me. Iwasthen wrapped up in-cloths,
to keep from being injured; and, with other articles
of furniture, placed ona team preparatory to being
remoyed to his house. My pale, young friend was
to accompany me. That was an eventful day to
him, as well as to me. We arrived at our place of
destination about an hour before sunset. Itwas an
old fashioned house, old fashioned even for those
days, situated upon aslight eminence, commanding
an extensive view of the surrounding landscape,and
surrounded by those fine old trees that one loves to
gaze upon. It was indeed one of the loveliest spots
that I ever beheld. :
“T was carried carefully into a room which I af-
terwards found was oceupied by my master,as a pri-
vate apartment.’ I had but just been deposited in
the place prepared for my reception, and my young
friend was carefully brushing away the dust'that had
collected upon me during my ride, when a gay ring-
ing laugh sounded upon the lawn; and the next
instant a yoting girl sprang into the apartment. Me-
thinks I can sce her now, as she then appeared to
me, her hair floating in careless Iuxuriance over her
ORIGINAL SKETCH.
A “ATALE OF A ‘SECRETARY.
It was evening, and “Sitting in my apartment, I
had been gazing for some time on an old desk that
oveupied one corner of the room. It was one of
those old fashioned carved desks, that are seldom
to be met with’ now ; and my fancy conjured up
many a scene of joy and grief, that it might have
witnessed. . At last I began to nod; the carved legs
assumed - grotesque shapes, the bright brasses on
each side of the drawer seemed to wink at me, and
at last assumed the shape of a pair’ of spectacles ;
the swelled front changed into the form of a pussy
little old gentleman, who smiled good-humouredly
upon me, and said that jf I would listen, he would
give me his past history. I thanked him, and after
wiping his glasses he thus proceeded :
« My first recollections seem like a far off dream,
like a distant. landscape, shrouded in mist How
many generations have passed into etermty within
my memory—how mang brilliant aspirations have
been checked, and how many loving hearts stilled
by the hand of death! The dearest friends, the
fondest lovers—all have been separated by the fell
destroyer,—but still the world goes on the same as
in my youth. There are as dear friends, and as hap-
py hearts around me now as then, and men pursue
the same yain chimeras as they formerly did.
‘Bat perhaps I have moralized too long, though
to my mind, it is swecter to muse upon past scenes
—to give, myself up to my own thoughts, than to
mix with the giddy crowd. The first that I recol-
lect at all distinctly, (though sometimes memory
brings for a moment vividly to my mind,some event
that happened , previous to. the commencement of|
> this history, but to be lost again in the dim visions
of the past) I was standing in a large room, filled
with various kinds of furniture. ' There were curi-
ously carved, high-back chairs,and ponderous tables,
whose large dimensions were supported by legs
carved to represent some hidcous monster. » In fact
I was inan extensive furnitare establishment—
Well do I remember the’ proprictor of the shop, a
fat, ruddy Englishman, and the pale young man
who dusted me so regularly every morning. His
lineaments are deepely engraved upon my memory.”
Heré methought I saw a tear struggling in my
fricnd’s eye, but he brushed it away and continued.
shoulders, and her cheeks flushed with exercise.”
At this part of his narrative my friend was visi-
bly affected; he removed his glasses, and after care-
fally wiping away the mist that had collected on
them, and brushing away a tear, resumed.
“ When she perceived a stranger in the room,her
face and neck were suffused with blushes. After stop-
ping confusedly a moment, she made a slight apol-
ogy, and hastily left the apartment. My young
friend stood as one entranced, gazing upon the spot
where he had last seen the fair apparition.” Never
had he beheld so much loveliness before. But he
was aroused from his dream of love by the sound
of wheels on the graveled walks, and casting a part-
ing glance upon me, he left the room. I will now
pass over the short space of a’ month. Nothing of
interest occurred to me. I found | that my master
was a gloomy, morose man. Ile kept shut up with-
in his house most of the time, never leaving unless
on some particular business. I seldom saw my young
mistress ; but I perceived | that there had been a
marked ahiange i in her appearance. She had grown
more thoughtful than formerly.’ It was at the close
of a bright summer day that I speak of, my mistress
sat in an arm chair, gazing on the setting sun, as it
gilded the horizon with its parting beams. She had
sat thus but a few moments, when.a young. m:
emerged from the shrubbery and hastened Towards
her. He sprang lightly into the room, and imprint-
eda warm kiss upon her rubby lips. It was my
young friend. It seems that they had met often be-
fore,though never in my presence. . It wasa fitting
hour for lovers ; the silence of the room, the beauty
of the landscape, the sighing of the zephyrs among
the branches of the trees, all combined, rendered it
a fit hour to raise the thoughts, and purify the mind
from the gross things of tis earth. I watched them
as they sat there, and my mind was filled with ap-
prehensio: I knew too well the cold, worldly
spirit of the father to doubt for an instant that he
would oppose such a union. After arranging many
brilliant plans for the fature they separated. My
ivings were to be but. too soon realized. The
next morning my master entered the room and
threw himself into a chair. He appeared agitated,
-and after sitting a few moments, ,apparently engaged
in thought, he arose, and hurriedly pacing the
apartment,muttcred to himself, «It must be done!”
Ringing for servant,he bade him tell his mistress
that her futher wished to speak to her, Ina few
moments she entered, and going timidly towards
him, imprinted a kiss upon hid cheek. He handed
5
“ He seemed so melancholly that I knew that he
her a chair, and having seated ghimself by her, re-
mained silent for a few moments, At last he said,
“ Grace, I have a few words of importance to say
to you. . I wish you to be married ; in fact I have
already provided a husband for you,and I trust that
he will meet your approval... He is rich and noble,
and having seen, wishcs to wed you.”
“She heard him in silence; then bursting into
tears, told him of her lover; how poor he was in
worldly goods, but how rich in what is of much
more value, honor and nobility of mind ; and ended
hy saying that if her father knew him as well as she
did, he could not help liking him. He listened in
silence,without etther expressing surprise, or anger,
and when she had finished,said—*I was hoping that
you was not one of those romantic misses that be-
lieve in love, and Ict me assure you, who have seen
more of the world than you, that it is all a vain, de-
lusive dream. You will forget him ina short time,
and will learn to love the husband that I intend for
you as well as you now think youdo him. Let it
suffice. I wish you to forget him,and to marry the
man that I have provided for you.”
_ This was said in a tone that admitted of no dis-
cussion. The shock was so great, seeing all her
brilliant hopes thus dashed to the ground, that she
fainted in her chair ;—and ‘yet he showed no signs
of remorse. Rising, he rang the bell, and merely
telling the maid who entered to look at her mistress,
he left the room.
I will now pass over another short space of time.
Tt was a coolevening in September. .The sounds
of music and merriment resounded through the
house. That night the young lord of C—— was
to wed my young mistress. Isawher but once—
she entered the room where I was, to escape from
the throng for a few moments, but how changed!
In'a few short weeks she was no more the gay,
THRILLING TALE. _
om Eliza Cook's 's Journal.
AN ADVEN' TUREV WITH ‘PIRATES
The West Indian scashave long been infested by
pirates, of savage atrocity and desperate valor—
They are composed of men of all nations,—run a-
way sailors from English, Danish,French and Datch
yesscls,—thongh, probably, the larger portion of
them are men of Spanish race, natives of Cuba, or
of the old Spanish settlements of the Southern states.
of America. The attacks made by these men npon
our merchant vessels have considerably diminished
of late years, chiefly because of the increased activi-
ty of the cruisers of Britain and the United States,
and also because of the general prosperity of the
shipping trade, which renders it easy for any honest
sailor to find remunerative employment in the com-
mercial marine.
I had taken a passage on board the merchant-brig
Mary, at Belize, and we were on our voyage to Liv-
erpool, when the following incident befel me. It
made a striking impression upon me at the time,
and Ishall never forget it.
Thad seen the captain standing on the after deck,
and from time to time, eagerly surveying with his
glass some object in our wake. : I walked upto him
onone of these occasions, and inquired what he
was trying to make out, and whether any vessel was
in sight,—for my own eyes conld detect nothing.
“ There is a strange vessel in. sight, sir,” he an-
swered, “but I ean’t quite make her out.”
“She may be one of those Bristol traders that
were nearly ready to sail when we left port.”
“No; she doesn’t look like one of that sort. She
seems of some Bastard rig 3 but we may make her
laughing beauty that she once was, the healthful
bloom that she was wont to have now gave place
to a deep hectic flush. She was permitted to enjoy
her solitude but a short time. Ter father entered,
and bidding her be more gay on her bridal night,
carried her from the apartment,
A few more wecks passed away, another crowd
collected at my mastcr’s house, but how different !
There were now no sounds of music and revelry,
but the muffled tread and low whisperings, for that
day my young mistress was to be borne to her last
resting place. They bore her away from her home
a corpse, three weeks from her bridal day.”
‘The tears coursed down my old friond’s checks
when he had finished this narrative, and it was
some time before he was able to proceed, so pow-
erful is the force of memory, that it will bring to
mind events that happened years ago, as vividly as
though they were but just enacting. “For a long
time,” he continued, “I was left alone to sad reflee-
tions; it might have been years—the cobwehs hung
in festoons from the walls, every thing seemed fall]
ing todecay. At last there was the sound of a
key grating in the rusty lock—the shutters were
thrown open once more, and the light admitted —
Then strangers arrived, there was much talking in
the house—my master’s property was to be sold at
auction, he, as I learned, baving died in a foreign
land.. Among the purchasers, I observed a man
who seemed bowed down with grief. It was my
young friend. It was some time before I recognized
him, although his features seemed familiar. Ue
purchased me, and had me removed to his. apart-
ment, and there he would sit opposfe, gazing at
me for hours, for my presence recalled vividly to
mind some of the only bright spots in. his life. I
observed that he had a hacking cough, bat he ap-
plied himse If the closer to his business, his cough
grew worse, and at last he was unable to leave the
room. Through many a long night and day he
laid on his couch, unable to rise. One morning
when the nurse entered the room she found him
dead. So calmly and tranquilly had he died, that
he seemed but to sleep. But I will leave this sad
picture, I have passed through many a checquered
scene since, but this left the deepest impression up-
on my mind.” Here methought my old friend’s spec-
tacles fell from his cyes with aloud crash. It was
the loud ringing of the door bell of my next neigh-
bor, who having been at some evening party, had
just returned, and looking at my watch I found that
Thad been asleep but a few moments, although all
of the events that I have narrated had seemed 4 re-
ality.
out by-and-by.”
“ You do not think we are pursued ?" I asked,
feeling alarmed, as Iandsmen are usually disposed
to be at sea, when they encounter anything that
looks mysterious,
“Really, I cannot tell,” was his answer; “but I
suppose it will be time enough to cry out when
we're likely to be hnrt.”
And so saying, he strode forward with his glass,
Night fell, but the air was so hot and stifling be-
low, that I found sleep next to impossible, If I
slept for a moment, I was haunted by dreams of pi-
rates, sharks, and shipwrecks ; so I hurried on my.
clothes, and again sought the deck.
The moon was half-way up the heavens, and not ;
a cloud was in sight; countless stars of wondrous )
beauty and brilliancy gemmed the sky, and the
ovein was flocded with their light. A long line of
quivering rays lay flashing on the bosom of the sea.
like a vein of quicksilver, right under the moon’s
eye. All was quiet, peaceful, and beautiful; it was |
a magnificent night, suck as is only to be seen with-
in the tropics, and not often even there.
‘The winds were almost laid. The gentlest pos-:-
sible breeze filled the sails, just. enough to set
them to sleep, though not to prevent them giving
an idle flap now and -then, when the vessel rolled a .
little heavier than usual on the long swell. Nothing
stirred about the deck. The watch had disappeared
forward; but I found the captain still on the alert,
and again surveying theremote object he had before
observed, through his night-glass, I did not inter-
rupt him again by my questionings; I paced the.
deck in the delicious night air; but my attention
was shortly attracted by the sound of the boatswain’s
shrill whistle callingthe watch, Orders were giv~ -
en by the eaptain,and every stitch of sail was crowd-
ed on the ship. Exch mast bore its fullload. As,
I stood aft, and looked up, the sails scemed, in the
moonlight, like towers of snow sct against the dark -
blue sky. In a few minates all was still again; the
yesscl seemed to make better way through the wa---
ter, from the increasing ripple of the wavelets heart
against her sides. Drowsiness gradaally stole up~
on me, and I went below again to court my pillow.
I was startled from my slumbers towards morn-
ing, by the sound of alarmed voices, and of hurried
trampling on deck. I threw on my clothes, and.
hastened up the companion ladder; on my way up
I met black Sambo, the . Though nature had
put it ont of his power to look pale, the poor fellow
looked the picture of terror. The pallor of fright
seemed positively struggling through his skin, and
his eyes had that expression of alarm, which terrifies
\
