USA > New Hampshire > Sullivan County > Newport > The history of Newport, New Hampshire, from 1766 to 1878 > Part 11
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HISTORY OF NEWPORT.
Yet what to me are all these puffs and praises, Or streams of fame in foreign lands that lie? But my soft-gliding, native river raises A thousand images of home-felt joy ; And though their names in lofty lays may shine, In sweetness they can never equal thine.
Oh ! may my verse, thy strength and beauty stealing, Flow like thy waters, and thy fame extend ! Thou minglest with the tide of life's young feeling- With thee my earliest recollections blend ;- Thy bank my bower, nor Eden's loss was pondered, Whilst there in infant innocence I wandered.
When strengthened reason woke imagination, My book, my Crœsus wealth, oft borne to thee, In some loved nook was sought a fav'rite station, The spreading hazel formed a canopy ;- The red-breast, sweetest bird that charms our spring, Joined his wild warble to thy murmuring.
Oft from the page mine eye, with rapture glancing, Watched the light-springing trout at sportive play, Or the bright sunbeams o'er thy dimples dancing, Or the blue sky that in thy bosom lay- Here, the broad boughs athwart the dark stream waving, And there, the wild duck's brood their plumage laving.
Nor must be past, while thousand thoughts endear 'em, Thy Falls, my school-day path so often cross'd ; The wonder-hunting traveller would sneer 'em ; Beside Niag'ra's, these, be sure, were lost. Oh ! might I see that Anakim of wonders. And watch its rain-bow'd spray, and hear its thunders !
But then I deemed not there could be a vaster, When anchor-ice (we called it so) had made Thy pent-up waters rage and roar, while faster Whirl'd the white-sheeted foam ; though half afraid, Yet many a time I've paus'd to gaze and listen, Till on my breath congealed the frost would glisten.
Those days are gone, and with them gone forever Are many a lov'd companion, friend most dear ; As float the autumn leaves along yon river,
One moment seen, then eddying disappear,-
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LITERATURE.
So sink the race of men : thou, in thy prime, Still roll'st unmark'd, unmanacled by Time.
But farewell, now, sweet stream ! In after ages, When o'er the world Columbia sits a queen,- Sung by her poets, honored by her sages (An Athens without anarchy),-then seen, And heard, too, shall some bard, though nurs'd on mountains, Strike the loud harp that wakes thy triple fountains. July, 1822.
GROWING OLD.
Growing old ! growing old ! Do they say it of me ? Do they hint my fine fancies are faded and fled? That my garden of life, like the winter-swept tree, Is frozen and dying, or fallen and dead ?
Is the Heart growing old, when each beautiful thing Like a landscape at eve, looks more tenderly bright, And love sweeter seems, as the bird's wand'ring wing Draws nearer her nest at the coming of night?
Is the Mind growing old, when with ardor of youth Through the flower-walks of Wisdom new paths it would try, And seek, not for shells from the ocean of Truth, .
But the Pearl of great price, which the World cannot buy?
Is the Soul growing old? See, the planet of even, When rising at morn, melts in glory above : Thus, turning from earth, we creep closer to Heaven, Like a child to her father's warm, welcoming love.
Does the mortal grow older as years roll away? 'Tis change, not destruction ;- kind winter will bring Fresh life to the germ, and perfect it. Decay Holds the youth bud IMMORTAL, and heralds its spring.
Growing old, growing old ! Can it ever be true, While joy for life's blessings is thankful and warm, And hopes sown for others are blooming anew, And the rainbow of Promise bends over the storm?
Growing old, growing old ! No, we never grow old, If, like little children, we trust in the WORD, And, reckoning earth's treasures by Heaven's pure gold, We lay our weak hands on the strength of the LORD.
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HISTORY OF NEWPORT.
HORATIO HALE, son of Sarah J. Hale, was author of "Wilkes's Expedition Around the World," published in sev- eral large volumes by authority and at the expense of the U. S. government. His peculiar talents as a linguist caused him, while yet an undergraduate at Harvard college, to be selected to accompany the expedition. Since his return his attention has been divided between literature and the law.
[From Allibone's Dictionary of Authors.]
HALE, HORATIO, b. May 3, 1817, graduated at Harvard college, in 1837, where he was so highly distinguished for his aptitude in the ac- quisition of languages, that whilst still an undergraduate he was select- ed to fill the post of philologist to the United States Exploring Expedi- tion, commanded by Capt. Wilkes. The result of his learned investi- gations will be found in vol. vii,-" Ethnography and Philology,"-of the series of works which compose the history of that noble enterprise. Mr. Hale's intelligent labors have elicited warm commendation from highly respectable authorities, both at home and abroad. The distin- guished English philologist, Dr. Latham, in his recent work on the " Natural History and Varieties of Man," remarks that Mr. Hale's work contains " the greatest mass of philological data ever accumulated by a single inquirer." The following lines give perhaps as good an account of this great work as could be conveyed in a brief description :
" The first 225 pages are devoted to Ethnography, or an account of the customs, religion, civil polity, and origin of the natives of the various countries and islands visited by the expedition. The remaining 440 pages comprise the Philology of the same regions. The various dia- lects of Polynesia are treated of under the general head of a comparative grammer of Polynesia, followed by a Polynesian lexicon. The languages of the Fejee Islands, the Kingsmills, Rotuma, Australia, the north-west coast of America, and some dialects of Patagonia and South Africa, come next under consideration. We feel assured that a glance at the work will excite surprise in all at the amount of information collected, and pleasure at the system and perspicuity with which the whole is pre- sented."-American Journal of Science.
An interesting account of Mr. Hale and his work will be found in the North American Review for July, 1846, to which we must refer our readers. It is no slight praise to award to an author that he has " succeeded in giving a certain classical completeness to his work, which makes it a model for future laborers in the same or similar fields of research. The style of this volume is marked by rare ex- cellences, and those of the highest order. It is terse, compact, and
.
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LITERATURE.
business-like to a remarkable degree. * * It is a transparent medium of expression for a richly-informed, clear-thinking, straightforward mind ; it presents the meaning of the writer strongly and directly to the mind of the reader, instructing while it gratifies."-North American Review,-ubi supra.
After the completion of this work, Mr. Hale visited Europe and other portions of the Eastern continent, and on his return was admitted to the bar. He is now engaged in the duties of his profession, but occasion- ally steals an hour from his briefs to contribute an essay on his favorite theme to some periodical in this country or in Great Britain.
REV. THOMAS BALDWIN, D. D., who occupied so prominent a place among the eminent divines of Boston, was once a preacher at Canaan, N. H., and while stationed there often supplied the pulpit at Baptist hill, in this town. Among his many able and charming productions was the hymn, commenc- ing,-
"From whence doth this union arise, That hatred is conquered by love ? "
In after-life the Doctor was often heard to remark that this hymn had its origin and inspiration at a conference meeting at Newport, and was elaborated on his way home, by moonlight, beneath the shadows of Croydon mountain, amid the howling of wolves and other wild animals.
HUBBARD NEWTON, Esq., besides his editorial labors in con- nection with the Farmers' Advocate and Political Adventurer and the Northern Farmer, has written lectures upon various subjects, and has left on record several beautiful poems, which evince both culture and poetical inspiration.
NATHAN TAYLOR, an uneducated man, but endowed with waggish propensities, once wrote some doggerel lines entitled "Lost Benny Wines," on a simple boy who had wandered away and was lost, and was thought by some to have been killed. They were published at the time, and were the source of much amusement.
BENJAMIN B. FRENCH, the first clerk of our court, and for some years editor of the Spectator, had a poetical genius, and from his earliest boyhood, before his runaway marriage with the daughter of Chief-Justice Richardson, until the close of his
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HISTORY OF NEWPORT.
life, indulged his pen in that direction. Two pieces published in the Spectator in 1828, the one entitled " Love and Poetry," and the other "Music and Poetry," had the jingle of the true poet. "Fitz Clarence," an extended and beautiful poem, was published in 1844, while chief clerk at the city of Washington. His most elaborate production, " Earth's Chianges," was deliv- ered before the Chapel Hill Institute, at Washington, D. C., in March, 1845. He wrote a hymn for the Historical Celebration of this town, in 1846, and several others adapted to special oc- casions in this town.
BARON STOW, D. D., besides his ministerial labors, was edi- tor of the Columbian Star, a religious journal published at Washington, D. C., for a year and a half; was the author of several books and pamphlets, and wrote much for the periodi- cal press.
REV. ALONZO KING wrote a memoir of George Dana Board- man, and several Sabbath-school books, which were full of in- terest, and widely circulated, besides a number of charming poems.
REV. LUTHER J. FLETCHER, a native of Croydon, son of David Fletcher, who spent his minority at Northville, in this town, has published a work entitled " Gloria Patria," a service- book, and a series of text-books, which have been quite popu- lar, and has contributed much to the journals of his denomina- tion.
WILLIAM F. YOUNG, after spending most of his minority in town, went to Lowell, Mass., where he became editor of the Workingman's Advocate, and has for several years indulged his pen freely in literature and criticisms.
Gov. RALPH METCALF made frequent contributions to the press, both in prose and poetry. On one occasion he wrote a " Prize Poem." A vein of good humor ran through most of his productions.
GEORGE E. BELKNAP wrote several letters for the press from Hong Kong, China, while on duty in the East Indies, relating to events which led to the capture of the Barrier forts by the U. S. squadron, and also pertaining to a cruise to Siam, giving a description of its capital, the king's palace, a visit to the king,-with whom he dined and breakfasted,-the meek appear-
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LITERATURE.
ance of the king's favorite wife, the religion of the country, and other matters. He also wrote poetry.
EDMUND BURKE. In addition to the large amount of edi- torial matter which he contributed to the columns of the Ar- gus, Old Guard, and Washington Union, while they were un- der his management, he was the author of several reports while Commissioner of Patents, and of others while a member of congress. He is the author of " Bundlecund," and several other pamphlets which have had a national circulation. He wields a vigorous pen, and is surrounded by one of the most extensive private libraries in the state. That he has poetical talent is indicated by the following :
IN IMITATION OF BURNS.
Oh ! if my love were yon bright flower, With perfumes rising on the air, And I myself a tiny bee, To nestle in its petals fair,- Ah ! there, in rapt'rous joys I'd live, And revel in her nectar'd charms, And there a sweeter bliss I'd take Than Cupid's self in Psyche's arms.
Oh ! were my love yon fleecy cloud, That, graceful, floats in yonder sky, And I myself a sunbeam bright, To warm and glow as she flits by,- Ah ! there, from dewy morn till e'en, I'd wanton in each mazy fold, And take my fill of sweet delight, And bathe her form in liquid gold.
Oh ! were my love yon crystal stream That ripples o'er its pebbly bed, And I a flower upon its brink, To bow and lave my weary head,- Ah ! there, the livelong day and night, I'd kiss and quaff her sparkling wave, And on her bosom soft I'd sigh To drown me in so sweet a grave.
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HISTORY OF NEWPORT.
FRANCES A. BURKE, daughter of Hon. Edmund Burke, now wife of Col. George H. Dana, early in life wrote several songs and poems, which were published.
ALICE AUGUSTA DODGE, daughter of Rev. O. A. and Alice Cheney Dodge, and grand-daughter of Col. Wm. Cheney, born Dec. 13, 1835, was a graduate at Bradford Female Seminary, and wielded a ready pen. Among her more important produc- tions were six volumes of Sabbath-school books, her taste and early training admirably fitting her for the work. She also made contributions to the press. Her books were published by the American Tract Society, and were highly commended by the press and public teachers.
HENRY E. BALDWIN, who was for a time editor of the Argus and Spectator, and subsequently of the Lowell Courier, wield- ed a ready pen, and was an agreeable writer. He sometimes indulged in poetry. His "Pencillings by the Way," written during a trip to the West, were in the best of humor, and were republished in several journals.
SAMUEL C. BALDWIN, besides being a man of sound judg- ment and an able editor, wrote several fine poems, which were published, and copied into the leading magazines of the country.
ELIZABETH FARNSWORTH, the youngest daughter of Dea. Joseph Farnsworth, and first wife of Jesse Wilcox, Jr., had a taste for literature, and enjoyed the advantages of early culture. She had a flashing, ready wit, and conversational powers equalled by few, which enabled her to be the star of the circles in which she moved. She wielded a ready pen, and wrote poetry with the greatest ease. From an aversion to appearing as an author, few of her poems were ever published.
ALONZO JAMES FOGG, son of Jeremiah Fogg, Esq., is the author of a work of about seven hundred pages, entitled " Sta- tistical Gazeteer of New Hampshire," published in 1874, which is a work of acknowledged merit. During nearly all the active portion of his life he has been a contributor to various news- papers in different parts of the country, and has lectured be- fore the New Hampshire Antiquarian Society, the New Hamp- shire Historical Society, and the Concord City Board of Trade. He was also a contributor to "Johnson's Universal Encyclope- dia."
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LITERATURE.
JACOB PERKINS, after serving out his apprenticeship in the Argus office, went to Concord, where he edited and published the Olive Branch.
Rev. G. R. W. SCOTT, while in town, wrote and compiled the Newport Advertiser, composed several hymns for special occasions, and made contributions to the press.
AUSTIN CORBIN, JR., published in May, 1847, a tale entitled " The Eagle ; or, The Rover of the Mediterranean." Subse- quently, while residing at the West, he had an interest in the Davenport Democrat, and contributed to its columns.
DR. Willard P. Gibson, a native of Croydon, who practised medicine in this town for several years, and who died at Wood- stock, Vt., in 1837, had a family, most of whom were born here, and nearly all of whom were inclined to literature. HAN- NAH, the eldest, was an excellent scholar, and a genius. She wrote both prose and poetry with ease and elegance. SARAH, now Mrs. THOMPSON, wrote very sweet and charming poems, both before and after her marriage. ELIZABETH, now Mrs. DUBOIS EVANS, also wrote fine verses. MARY, now Mrs. FRANCIS, the youngest daughter, has travelled much, both in this country and in Europe, during which time her thoughts and observations have been constantly given to the press, under the names of "Winnie Woodfern," "Mary Stanley Gibson," and " Margaret Blount." She has always, from a child, been a lib- eral contributor to the magazines and newspapers. The vigor and sprightliness of her pen early brought to her aid influential friends, and a competence. She writes both poetry and prose with the greatest ease and rapidity. The following poem is from her pen :
TOO LATE.
If this love, that is gilding life's summer, Had been mine in life's spring, How my soul would have met the new comer With garment and ring,- With sacrifice offered in gladness, With hope for the beautiful years ! Alas ! from the depths of my sadness, I greet it with tears.
10
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HISTORY OF NEWPORT.
Too late do we stand at the altar ! Too late you rejoice ! Too late do you tremble and falter At the sound of my voice ! The hand that you hold has grown thinner ; The heart has known anguish and fears : I am yours, O victorious winner ! I salute you with tears !
You say that love's golden September Is faithful and strong : You marvel that I should remember Love's May-time of wrong. The sorrow, for you, is all over ; My heart is prophetic in fears, - And so, for your kiss as my lover, I offer my tears.
What! give to the cheek, in its whiteness, Praise lost to its bloom ? What! turn from the eyes in their brightness, And worship their gloom? The rose, in its freshness and beauty, You crushed, in your earlier years,- Will you cherish it, faded, from duty? I answer with tears.
EDWIN M. HALE, M. D., a son of Dr. Syene Hale, was born Feb. 2, 1839, and at the age of seven years removed, with his father, to Fredonia, Ohio. At the age of eighteen he engaged in the printing business, and during the time was a frequent con- tributor to the literary press. Being so much pleased with the prompt action of homeopathic remedies, administered to him in a severe illness, he was induced to turn his attention to med- icine. He graduated at the Homeopathic Medical College, at Cleveland, Ohio, and after a successful practice became a pro- fessor in the Hahnemann Medical College of Chicago. He became an associate editor of the North American Journal of Homeopathy and of the American Homeopathic Observer. He first became known to the world as an author in 1860,- since which time he has published some fourteen volumes,
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LITERATURE.
mostly relating to his school of practice. His most elaborate production, a work of some one thousand pages, entitled "New Remedies," has enjoyed a wide popularity, has run through three editions, and has been translated into the German, French, and Spanish languages.
JAMES HALE, a brother of David and Syene Hale, whose residence was on the Unity road, published, in IS29, a volume entitled " Elements of Geometry and Trigonometry, with an easy and concise System of Land-Surveying."
REV. CHARLES PEABODY, of Chicago, Ills., son of Amini, wrote a series of racy and readable articles for the Argus, in 1844, signed " Rusticandus," and in 1858 contributed a number of interesting communications to the St. Louis Democrat, from Europe, Egypt, and Palestine, where he spent most of the year in travel, giving an account of his adventures. Ile is author of a volume, published by the American Tract Society, New York, entitled " Twenty Years among the Colporteurs"
JOSEPH W. PARMELEE has a fondness for literature, and en- joys a constant intercourse with the best authors. He writes prose, as will be seen in other parts of this volume. He also indulges in poetry.
THOMAS A. GILMORE, a son of T. W. Gilmore, Esq., as " Tallimed," wrote many fine articles for the press. He was for several years a regular correspondent of the Boston Adver- tiser. "A Memorial of Mrs. Frederick W. Leonard," a sister, published by him in 1875, was a beautiful tribute.
AMOS B. LITTLE, while in the patent office at Washington, was a frequent correspondent of the New Hampshire Patriot and the Argus, and wielded a vigorous pen.
S. H. N. B. EVERETT, son of Richard Everett, wrote several tales and brief romances, which were first published in Glea- son's Magazine, and were copied extensively into the news- papers of the day. IIc was editor of The Iris and Literary Repository, at Concord. in 1842, and afterwards of the Litera- ry Souvenir," at Manchester.
MRS. R. II. E. KENERSON, daughter of Richard Everett, had a literary taste, and made frequent contributions to the press. A number of her poems, written and published during her nine years' residence at the West, commencing in 1856, were
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HISTORY OF NEWPORT.
filled with sweet memories of her far-off New England home. She is the author of the following :
MOONBEAMS.
Part the curtains from the lattice, Open wide the cabin door; Let the silvery moonbeams enter, Let them flood the cabin floor.
For I know that they are shining, As of old they used to shine, On that mountain-buried hamlet, On that dear old home of mine.
Let them fall upon my tresses. Let them fall upon my brow ; I am thinking, I am thinking Of another time than now.
Nay, now, do not light the taper ; Do not break the spell too soon ; For, believe me, there would never, In the glaring light of noon,
Such a host of tender mem'ries Throng around my heart and brain, Of the happy days departed, That will never come again.
Half a score of years are falling From this world-worn heart of mine, As I sit and weave these visions Where the pearly moonbeams shine :
And my footsteps seem to wander Mid the haunts of other days, Where a phantom throng is gathered ; And before my eager gaze
Rise the " old familiar" faces Of the cherished ones and dear ; And I meet the olden glances, And the olden voices hear.
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LITERATURE.
Let the silent footsteps enter, Let the haunting faces come ; Let the cadence of their voices Linger round my lowly home :
For my rude and simple cabin Like a thing of beauty seems, - Like Aladdin's fairy palace, Fraught with my fantastic dreams.
EDMUND WHEELER, the author of this history, published "Croydon and its Centennial" in 1867 ; was a contributor to the Granite State Fournal and Aurora of the Valley, pub- lished at Windsor, Vt., in 1870 and 1871, and the Boston Ad- vertiser in 1872. In 1878 a large number of the citizens of Croydon, his native place, entered his residence, and with speeches and other appropriate ceremonies, presented him with a beautiful gold cane, as a token of respect, and in recognition of his services as historian of the town.
JACOB W. WHEELER, a son of Simeon, was a ready writer. Some of his desultory verses evinced a talent for poetry ; and a series of communications, written at different points of the Union during a " jour " tour, and published in the Argus over the signature of " Bourgeois," were composed with ability. He was for a time editor of the Democratic Banner, at Daven- port, Iowa, but in consequence of ill-health returned to his na- tive town, where he died in July, 1853, aged twenty-five years.
MATTHEW HARVEY, besides his many years of edito- rial service, has been the author of many apt and beautiful poems and songs, all written by request and for special occa- sions. Among them might be named " The Memory of Wash- ington," written for the Connecticut River Masonic Union, and recited by the author. Feb. 19, 1875 ; "The Hearth-Stone." a song ; " Dedication Ode"-masonic ; " Centennial Ode," writ- ten for the celebration of the one hundredth birthday of John McCrillis ; "Song of Welcome," written for the reunion of the 14th N. H. Regiment ; and ". My Waterfall."
GEORGE E. JENKS, son of Oliver Jenks, established and edited the " New Hampshire Political Manual," which was published from 1857 to 1872 inclusive.
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HISTORY OF NEWPORT.
EDWARD A. JENKS, also son of Oliver Jenks, is the author of a number of beautiful poems, contributed to some of the leading magazines of the country. Among them are "Helene," " The Return," "The Life Stream," "The Old Man's Yesterday," " The Old Farm-House," " The Discovery," " Going and Com- ing," " The Reaper," "Blue Eyes," " The Biggest Boy," "June Fancies," ". Under the Trees," and " My Favorite Stream." The following poems, selected almost at random, fairly illustrate his poetic ability :
THE RETURN.
"Three years ! I wonder if she'll know me ;- I limp a little, and I left one arm At Petersburg ; and I am grown as brown As the plump chestnuts on my little farm : And I am shaggy as the chestnut-burrs, But ripe and sweet within, and wholly hers.
"The darling, how I long to see her ! My heart outruns this feeble soldier-pace,-
For I remember, after I had left,
A little Charlie came to take my place :
Ah ! how the laughing three-year-old brown eyes- His mother's eyes-will stare with pleased surprise !
"Sure they'll be at the corner watching ; I sent them word that I should come to-night : The birds all know it, for they crowd around, Twittering their welcome with a wild delight : And that old robin with a halting wing,- I saved her life three years ago last spring.
"Three years ! Perhaps I am but dreaming,- For, like the Pilgrim of the long ago,
I've tugged a weary burden at my back Through summer's heat and winter's blinding snow, Till now I reach my home, my darling's breast, Where I can roll my burden off, and rest." *
When morning came, the early rising sun Laid his light fingers on a soldier sleeping Where a soft covering of bright green grass Over two lowly mounds was lightly creeping, But waked him not : his was the rest eternal, Where the brown eyes reflected love supernal.
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