Providence and other poems...

Dedication

TO THE OFFICEHS AND MEMBERS OF THE

Alumni Association of Franklin College, Georgia*

Gextle3iex — Permit one of your number, from the high veneration he entertains for the objects of your Society, and the great respect in which he holds yourselves, to dedicate to you, the following volume of Poems, He could desire to present you with a better offering ; but, it is such as he has. That your Fraternity may long prosper, and be a means of promoting greatly, the Literature of oar common Republic, is the sincere desire of your fellow-member,

BOOK I. Smaller and Early Productions

Adress to the American Muse, - - - - 23

Southern Literature, - - - 26

The Little Dove and the Two {lawks, - - S2

A Poet's Reflection?, ... 34

The Weeping Bard, - - 39

A Fragment, 41

Verses for the Fourth of July, - . 42

Vanity of Fame, ... 44

Youthful Hope, - - - - 45

The Withered Rose, 46

The Gloomy Spirit, - - - 48

A Comparison, - - . - 52

Man, 52

Vlll

CONTENTS.

Man, a Thought,

Lines Written in Assembly,

An Evening Thought,

Midnight, -

The Tears of Virtue,

There is Joy in Tears,

To a Town Clock,

A Smile,

Sweet Hour of Prayer,

To a Young Friend,

Natural and Moral Beauty,

To a Young Friend. The Bible,

To Melda,

To a Babe,

The Rainy Sabbath,

Africa,

Death of Pliny Fiske,

The Father's Death,

Death of a Child,

My Mother's Grave,

The Grave,

53 53 53 55

56 57 eo

The World is Contemplated Prospectively, and the General

Judgment Described, .... - 325

Preface

The writer of the following Poem?, began to scribble, at an early age, his devotional feelings, in sacred song. Afterward?, the woodland scenery that environs the University of his native State, as it put on its flowery robes in spring, drew from him an cceasicnal verse The earliest of these, of which some were read Lefcre the Faculty and Students, have perished. Of the few preserved, the piece entitled 'The Withered Rose,' is the most ancient. This was written in the spring of 1325. ' The Grave,' was written about the same time. As to other smaller pieces, they were mostly extracted from him hy the demand of the Fair, for their albums. And had it not been for this circumstance, he had probably ceased composing verse altogether ; for, during his collegiate term, he had taken up the idee, that it was unmanly and unphilosophical, to court the Muses.

In reference to ' Providence,' it is the result of a desire entertained by the author after leaving the University, of raising some monument to the B^ing who had controlled his early history in so remarkable a manner. He knew of no other way to raise such a trophy, but by succeeding in Eome brief, immortal verce. And though diffidence might restrain the undertaking, yetgratitude was stronger than diffidence. He be^an. At in* tervals he continued : and the work has assumed its present shape. Not even yet^Jiowever, is it what he designed it to he. The very part which was to have contained his principal object, has been left out. It has, too, been written at such remote intervals of time, that he fears it will lack much of unity, both as to style and sentiment. It is, however, a sincere and grateful effort to illustrate one of the most practical and important of all truths — the Sovereignty of Divine Providence,

Xll PREFACE.

Severn! of these Poems will readily be associated, with that state of hope and despondency, so natural to young authors. There is one of these, however, in which the author seems to lay aside timidity, and to speak in the language of stem rebuke : he alludes to the Satire, 1 nat piece was written, it is confessed, in a moment of poetic ire. lt» however, designs no personalities ; but is meant to chastise that literary apathy, which hangs upon our who'e society, as a mental incubus* The disease is an inveterate one, and the author has dealt in caustic.

The p.^crn, Adolphus, is designed as a faithful exhibition of humanrature. The fictitious and dialojical style his boen adopteJ, to give to the moral truths, suitable interest. The plan was conceived, and the poem executed, during a few leisure hours in the past summer.

That this apparently bold, though really modest effort, at a poetic literary work, may, at least meet the expectations of those not very sanguine in the unde: taking ; and that it may prompt ethers of abler pens and greater leisure, to write something more worthy the country and age, is the sincere ucsire of t'.w author.

INTRODUCTORY ESSAY.

Literature refers to the knowledge contained in books. It is either original or acquired. By original literature is meant, the knowledge communicated to others by means of books. — By acquired literature, the information obtained from books by reading.

There is a general connection between these two kinds of literature. Among a people devoted to reading, there are apt to be some authors — and where there are autl there are apt to be readers.

Original literature again, may be divided into that which is transient, and that which is permanent — Transient original literature is that, which from its ephemera ( character, dies with the circumstances or times which produced it. Permanent original literature is that, v from its intrinsic value, is suited to all times, and be the treasure of all ages.

Each of these species of original literature, has its own peculiar excellence. The former, by a more popular aspect, seizes the multitude at once — instructs, pleases, perishes. The latter, with more real, though less obvious worth, is appreciated, probably, but by few — the discerning, the intelligent, the virtuous — but such, it delights and edifies through successive generations. The one may be compared to Nature's ever rich, though ever transient livery of leaves and flowers — the other, to her more substantial trees, which bloom and fruit, through a long term of years — Though of different, each is of real value.

Between these two kinds of literature, there should be kept up a proper ratio of increase. If permanent literature alone be promoted, the stream of learning will be deep and long, it is true — but then it will flow only in one country, the multitude will not be accessible to its healing waters. On the contrary, if transient literature receive an exclusive attention, the world will be inundated ; but, then it will be with only shallow waters; smaller substances may float upon them, but the larger will be left dry and prominent beyond their influence. If, however, each of them receive a well balanced attention, learning will then resemble the oceans, seas, lakes and rivers upon the globe; it will be deep enough for the greatest, shallow enough for the least, and ample enough for all.

The ancients erred in the former of these methods. With them, learning was peculiar, remote, mysterious, venerable. Science, as government, then distributed its gifts unequally — magnifying the few — degrading the many. With us, the latter is the approachable error. Dilation, universal dilation is the spirit of the present times. The few are sinking — the many rising. But, there is a point beyond which it is not safe to go. As nature has not made of earth one great mountain, so she has not made of it one great plain. A civil, moral and literary diversity, seems absolutely necessary to the good of the species.

The importance of permanent original literature to a country, will appear from the following considerations.

Such literature produces, first, a healthful mental excitement. That it is important to sustain among a people, suitable mental interest on worthy objects, need not be affirmed — a nation swoons without it. It is the very life-blood of the social community ; when gone, death ensues.

But there are some states of mind, even on the same subject, greatly preferable to others. All excitements in reference to literature, may not be equally good : one set may result from a wasting fever ; another may be marked with the spasms of dissolution. What peculiarities ■, then, distinguish the kind of mental interest, to which allusion has been made !

To this I reply, in the first place, that permanent original literature ivtfi insirums and invigorates WJt^mufc' No human production, that has not in itself, the basis of lasting utility, is likely to amalgamate with a nation's learning and to be transmitted to posterity. Now, writers of this character, must and will benefit the mind. They increase its information, arouse its aspirations and direct its energies. Like a venerable sage, presiding over a band of ardent youth, pleasing while he instructs, so do such volumes, charm but to edify, and fascinate but to exalt.

Such writings also exert a decidedly virtuous influence. True it is, there have been such things, as literary vices, and learned monsters. These, however, are not the natural inhabitants of the literary world — they are violent intruders upon its territory. As nothing but truth can stand, so nothing but virtue can be always approved.

Even, however, these exceptions must in the main subserve the interests of morality. Such literary amalgamations stand, if they stand at all, upon the basis of truth and virtue: vice and falsehood are not capable of self-support. Upon the literary field then, what purpose do such writers subserve — but to be held forth in the hands of truth and virtue, as monumental ruins ! A few may be deceived, but a greater number than otherwise, will escape.

The general tendency, however, of valuable literary writings must be, to promote virtue. Who has not felt in his bosom, an unusual glow of admiration, as the fair image of this Heavenly Seraph, has been accurately drawn before him by the philosopher ; or vividh/ recommended by the orator ; or ethereally depicted by the poet !

This kind of literature, also, contributes in nati/mal IiO?U

or. Jt is not her extended soil, her ancient name, her wealth or her soldiery, that constitutes true national glory. It is her civil, social and moral virtue, transmitted to posterity in her literature. The literature, therefore, of a nation, constitutes a celestial canopy over her head, in whose wide compass, are congregated and established forever, the constellations of her great and good. Each living virtue becomes there immortal ; every national decoration is there canonized in eternal brightness.

But the production of such literature, only pays a national debt. Every nation has its own peculiarities. Its sky, its earth, its animals and plants, its inhabitants and customs, differ from others. It is itself — This isolation of character, among other things, furnishes some peculiar advantages for literary effort. The mind, taking the features of things around it, is excited by different impulses, lives under different emotions, and acquires different habits, from the rest of the world. It is slow or rapid, intellectual or imaginative, sublime or lovely ; it is the spirit of its own native scenery.

Now, as there is in the commercial world, an exchange of products, to sustain to advantage the social condition of man : so, ought there to be, in the literary world, an exchange of mental productions, to sustain the general literary state of mankind. The necessity of human condition lays this tax upon every nation. The land that will not pay it is mean. The People that will not receive it are contemptible. He, then, judges far amiss, who, living in a nation obscure or young, despairs of her exalted destiny ; or, who, in the higher places of learning, despises all below him. Such is pride --the opposite true philosophy.

When then the writer of these pages, looking over his own native soil, sees so many towns and villages, that still amid a forest dress of ever living ever extending green, but lift their glad countenances to the early notice of a world — surely he may be pardoned, in directing those brilliant faces, to the road of real greatness and permanent utility. Beholding on the brow T of his own long familiarized heavens, and on the earth around him, the means of immortality, and feeling, amid the sympathies of common hearts, a flame of its fire burning in his own soul, how could he forbear becoming a literary astronomer ; and while wandering over the new fields of 2 *

INTRODUCTORY ESSAY.

his own dear commonwealth, of pointing to those heavens where he fondly trusted, his native land would forever shine amid her own bright skies ! If such a course be right, it may do good — if wrong, it surely can be pardoned.

But how can our country cultivate her literary field ?

First : By public encouragement to literary effort. To establish the literature of any people, it is absolutely necessary that there be mutual confidence between authors and readers, publishers and buyers. No one expects that this is a department of business where riches may be reaped ; yet, would it be a high disgrace, that it should be the only one in which men must starve. But far beyond the mere pecuniary patronage of public sanction, there is a kind of co-operation with an author in the just attentions of the public, which at once satisfy and stimulate. He feels that his labors are appreciated, and he is thus encouraged to render those labors still more conducive to the public good.

That the public, however, may have something to patronize, it is necessary that there should be adventurers in this department of national labor. The patronage of the country must be put to the test, by actual experiment. Who then are fit persons to make such experiment ?

To this I reply, first, men of fortune and leisure, who have sufficient literary acquirements. Such men are numerous in our country — as numerous probably, as in most others. Why, then, may they not employ their advantages to decorate and bless their age ? Why "should they not improve themselves, in the improvement of others ?

But to this I reply again ; that professional men — men of less time and less fortune, than those already mentioned, but of equal endowments and attainments — professional men must contribute something to this noble object. Some of the most valuable literature in the world, has been the result, of the mere gleanings of business-men. A book has beei: written near midnight, after the labors of the day were over — or, before sun-rise, ere they had commenced. Moments have been snatched at intervals, and appropriated to some useful purpose. Thus has posterity and the world been blest, through the rigid economy of time, practized by some of the most laborious and devoted men that have ever lived. May not such things be done again, in our age and in our country?

The Poems, which succeed this Essay, have, in a great measure, been written in this manner. The muse has been courted at midnight, or along a journey ; or, during a few leisure moments, in a very busy life. This, no doubt, will be found to be, in part, a disadvantage : yet, it is hoped, that hours thus spent, will be regarded by the public, as better appropriated, than had they been thrown away.