MEMORIES OF THE PAST. MEMORIES OF THE PAST.* BY JOSEPH M. GREENWOOD, A. M. O'ER the vast waters of the boundless past, "Tis the warm beam of memory's beacon light. It streams from some loved, solitary spot, Where hope was bright, and friendship ever green— Where every zephyr sighed, "Forget me not," And naught but joy was heard, or smiles were seen. Time's ever-changing scenes may hide from view The images once bright on memory's page; But golden thoughts, as drops of morning dew, Yet gild this spot, the best of boyhood's age. We tread again these loved, familiar halls, And turn from the strange throng the filling eye: The sound of giddy mirth unwelcome falls Upon the ear, and drowns the deep-drawn sigh. O, tell me not 'tis weakness now to weep; For fancy's wings my musing soul hath led To by-gone scenes: there let it calmly sleep: Too soon 'twill wake to find that they have fled. I had a dream. The visions of the past Were bright around me. Each familiar tone A listless rapture o'er my senses cast, And forms once loved on earth now heav'nly shone; But one bright, angel form came flitting by, Enrobed in fancy's glittering attire, And on her brow the impress, Memory," Shone as if kindled by celestial fire. She came the leader of a chosen band, What charms around thy spirit twine, Enticing thee to stay! The flowers of youth will quickly pine, And hope's bright planet cease to shine, Cheering the dreary way. Come while hope is brightly beaming In thy young and tearless eye; While thy heart is vainly dreaming That those hopes will never die. Come while thy life's a sinless stream, Unruffled by earth's madd'ning care, And o'er its surface hope's gay beam 217 Falls heav'nly bright, serenely fair. The music ceased; but oft their murmuring song Plays 'mong the trembling chords of fancy's lyre. O, memory! to whom these strains belong, E'er warm this altar with thy kindling fire. Let sorrow's gathering clouds o'erspread the soul, And make it shudder 'neath the threat'ning blast; But hide not from my vision memory's scroll: O, may that picture brighten to the last. The strong, resistless currents of the heart, The ever shifting course of passion's wind, That spurn the feeble guide of reason's chart, And leave naught but a roving wreck behind: Securely staid by memory's magic chain, It spreads over all its deep oblivious gloom. Whose hearts were bound to ours by friendship's The troubled surface of time's rapid stream ties. Ah, Death! how soon he chills the clasped hand! From forms now glowing bright with heav'nly sheen. Methought the stirring music of their lyres Recalled the blissful memories of the past, And roused into a flame the kindling fire So long suppressed beneath death's chilling blast. Welcome to our sacred shore, * Delivered at the annual meeting of the alumni of Amenia Seminary. VOL. VI.-28 Hath closed o'er myriads in the passing year, Falls the remembrance of departed years! But a slight record, dimmed with sorrow's tears. Where now those valiant kings, who, ages gone, Swayed with a mighty arm the conqueror's sword? Where now the myriad hosts, who, brave at morn, At eve were weltering in commingled blood? Where now Jerusalem, whose mighty wall Frowned in defiance o'er the wreck of time? Well might her altars totter to their fall, When stained with human blood, and steeped in crime. A few lone, moss-grown columns now remain Thus do earth's gaudy trappings fade away; And this, vain-glorious victory, is thy doom. Stand by the marble slab that marks the grave He rose, he fought, he conquered, and he fell. Death only could his restless spirit quell, High in the arch of fame, shines one bright sun: No clouds their shadows o'er its splendor cast: Peerless it beams-the orb of Washington. Grant me no greater pride, no higher aim, Than worship at thy altar, Liberty! I strayed among the chambers of the dead, Beside the beggar's weary, tottering frame. Love's diamond brilliants sparkle in her eye- Whose very life was nurtured by its love, The scenes of other years-our schoolboy hours, When hope's false, flattering mirror showed to all A certain future, strewn with joy's gay flowers. Whose eye more dazzled with its inward fire? Where kindled rosy health on warmer cheek? Where swept the strains of love a sweeter lyre, Than in that form we now too vainly seek? What if, at parting, flowed the tears of sorrowWhat though our bosoms heaved the bitter sigh! We hoped, though parting now, to meet to-morrow, And could not dream that they so soon would die. Is there a heart around whose inmost chords Their mem'ries float not like a mournful strain? How deep with feeling were those parting words, The charm that bound us Death's dread scythe hath riven, And they are mingling with the senseless clay. Who has not laid in memory's inmost shrine The name of some beloved, departed friend, Round which the heart's strong chords will closely twine, While life and memory their beams extend? But cease, my muse, thy theme, nor longer sigh O'er the cold grave of long-departed years. The Present beams its light on every eye, Bright'ning at once her joys, and sorrow's tears. Amid time's passing clouds it bright appears, And decks the future with its rainbow light The arch of hope, that high its splendor rears Above the portals of that depthless night. Unending hope! when sorrow's tempests rise, And spread relentless o'er the trembling soul, Thy bow of promise kindles in the skies, And gayly tints the future's mystic scroll. Thy ray can pierce the midnight dungeon's gloom, And brighten to a smile its dark despair, Dispel the deathly shadows of the tomb, And beam in quenchless radiance e'en there. When the soul's dewy sadness fills the eye, And earthly joys shrink tremblingly away, O how it longs on angel's wings to fly, Directed by hope's ever kindling ray. Hope on, my ever-trusting spirit, still, Drink in the music of that heavenly strain, Whose joyful notes the trembling heart-strings thrill, "We'll meet in heaven, to part no more again." THE JUDGMENT. BY REV. T. HARRISON. - THE judgment day will come The last loud trumpet soundThe dead shall rise-the Judge descend, With power and glory crowned. Man's sentence shall be passed Nature's great fabric fallChrist's mediatorial reign shall close, And God be all in all! CONSECRATION OF CHILDREN. 219 CONSECRATION OF CHILDREN. BY MISS M. E. WENTWORTH. BRING them to Christ-what offering is more meet Has fettered fast your thoughts to earthly good, Or would ye bring out from the rust of wealth Where slaves weep tears of blood o'er polished stones, Your hoarded stores, peerless to worldly eyes; Gold for the crown that fades when the fleet pulse Are valleys fair, or wooded hills upreared Then might ye bring for God the wealth of schools: The trace it leaves, as limners sieze the shade Mountains of gold, or glory's proudest name, PARTING. To part with those we fondly love; But Hope speeds Time's more sluggish step, That its bright scenes the heart may cheer: Which greets return. And then the long up-treasured tale, Which till that hour had been concealed, Thus Hope relieves the present pain, I greet thee with a heartfelt glow: I'll ask no more. G. W. THE CHRISTIAN'S HOPE. That revels, as the summer bee, Let heaven-born Hope thy solace be. Sometimes to taste affliction's cup, Perchance may be thy bitter lot; 'Tis then this Hope will bear thee up, And give thee joys that earth hath not. E'en in life's rudest, wildest form, This is the Hope can whisper "peace "Can succor thee amid the storm, And bid the raging tempest ceaseThis is the Hope that can illume The dark, lone chamber of the graveChase from the future all its gloom, And buoy thee up on Jordan's wave. W. N. H. NOTICES. DOWLING'S HISTORY OF ROMANISM.-This is a spirited, well written work, compiled from creditable though not, as we suppose, original sources, and ornamented with very fine steel engravings. Printed on fair type, and on excellent paper, it forms a neat and attractive octavo of some eight or nine hundred pages. It contains some expressions which we should have been reluctant to use, and something of that spirit of censoriousness which characterizes many of the works on this subject. The records of the Roman Church present many black pages; but we should not forget that they are fringed with light. The history of popes is a history of revolting errors; but we must distinguish between the faults of the time and the faults of the men. Calvin burnt Servetus; the Puritans once persecuted Quakers and killed witches. The cardinal principles both of the doctrine and government of the Roman Church we believe to be wrong; yet we cheerfully concede that the former contains much truth and the latter much excellence. Although we are not without serious apprehensions in relation to the increase of Romanism in the United States, we do not entertain as much fear as many. We believe that the spirit of the age will either subvert the institutions of Romanism, or very essentially and beneficially modify them. Who are fiercer or more jealous democrats than the Irish and German Catholics among us? Can they who are accustomed to the exercise of civil rights be long held in ecclesiastical bondage? Can they who enjoy a free interchange of opinion on political topics, and listen to harangues on republican principles, be long blinded and silenced by a priesthood, however ingenious and united? Do we not, in Catholic churches in this country, hear the rumbling that precedes the earthquake, and witness here and there an eruption that indicates pent up and agitated fires, Protestantism is in more danger from Catholic schools than from any other quarter. These, perhaps, indicate design on the part of the Catholic Church more clearly than any other stroke of her policy. She does not found such institutions in Catholic countries, as Spain, Italy, or Ireland. Nor does she establish them here. for her own ignorant youth. If we have been correctly informed, even her orphan asylums are filled with the children of Protestants, while many of her own poor are unprovided for. Her plan of alluring youth to these institutions is indicative of guile; and her policy in proselyting those within them, however insidious, is generally effectual. We have sometimes thought that in this country too much importance was unwittingly given to the Catholic Church, by declaiming against her political designs, and magnifying her political power: the sure way to make her combine her influence, and to cause politicians to bid high for her suffrages. Protestants, who have confidence in their principles, are not afraid to meet Catholics upon a fair field, only give us an open Bible, and an unfettered tongue. How does the Catholic priest tremble when he sees the word of life among his people! If Luther cut his way through hosts of enemies in a dark age, and with only the sword of the Spirit, what have we to fear? It appears to us that any thing calculated to repel the Catholics is fitted to strengthen them; whereas, that treatment which will win their confidence and give us access to them, will surely secure us the victory. And our facilities for this purpose are great. Most of our Papists are laborers, dependent on Protestants, and many of them are living in the bosom of Protestant families. Let them, then, be treated in the spirit of kindness and charity, and they will soon be capable of reasoning and of being reasoned with on all matters pertaining to their faith. There is no resisting the light that is pouring in floods upon the world. The institutions, both civil and ecclesiastical, which originated in dark ages, must be modified or overthrown. Names may be retained, and buildings and garments may appear the same; but in principles and spirit old things must pass away-all things must become new, save truth, which is eternal, and, like God, the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever. Apparently, indeed, the Catholic Church is putting forth unwonted energies, and making amazing advances; but does the appearance correspond with the reality? While she is gaining extrinsic influence is she not losing intrinsic power? The more she increases her centrifugal force, the less becomes her centripetal. How feeble is her hold upon France and England! By how attenuated an attraction does she draw the turbulent masses of the United States! Her recent conquests among us are like the victory of Pyrrhus over the ancient Romans: they will lead her to sue for peace. They have opened a communication to the heart of Austria, through which Protestant, democratic America will pour hot streams of argument that neither her Church nor state can endure. Already has a second Luther arisen in Germany, who is likely to be a consuming fire to Roman despotism. In vain may European governments suppress American periodicals. If this channel be closed, the stream of republican feeling and argument will break over Catholic Europe through private intercourse; for it is not in Germany alone that it is felt: Italy herself sits upon a political volcano. We have wandered, and must return. Dowling's work will be found interesting and useful, and, we doubt not, will be extensively read. Perhaps it is better adapted to the popular reader than the work of Dr. Elliott, but will not, we judge, compare with it for accuracy and depth of research. Dr. Elliott had access to original sources, and his work is a monument of scientific labor. FIRST BOOK OF DRAWING: being Exercises for Chil dren on the Slate and Black-board. By W. and R. Chambers. INTRODUCTION TO THE SCIENCES. By W. and R. Chambers. RUDIMENTS OF ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY. By Dr. G. Hamilton. These are numbers two, three, and four of Dr. Reese's improved edition of Chambers' Educational Course. Published by Sorin & Ball. We are very much pleased with these school books. They are designed to introduce the young mind to an acquaintance with nature, and admirably are they adapted to this end. We hope they will be taken into our schoolrooms generally. They will awaken curiosity, excite habits of observation and inquiry, and store the mind with much valuable knowledge. A YEAR WITH THE FRANKLINS; or, To Suffer and be Strong. By E. Jane Cate. Harper & Brothers. BOARDING OUT; or, Domestic Life. Harper & Brothers. We suppose these tales are well written, and designed to convey a good moral. PICTORIAL HISTORY OF ENGLAND: being a History of the People, as well as the Kingdom, down to the Reign of George III. To be Completed in Forty Numbers. New York: Harper & Brothers.-"The leading design of this work is to present a history of the people as well as a history of the kingdom, pursuing the investigation of the past, and the progress of the country and its inhabitants in various interesting directions, to which the authors of the most popular of English histories have only slightly and incidentally referred." It will form four elegant volumes, imperial octavo, and, we presume, constitute a very valuable { namely, one dollar per annum. to take a quarterly? predecessor. We congratulate the editor upon his commencement, and can, with some confidence, assure his patrons that they will find the work improve under his management. An independent thinker, an indefatigable student, let him but guard well the spirit of his pages, and he will always commend himself to an enlightened and virtuous people. book. On many important subjects we disagree with the THE BIBLICAL REPOSITORY AND CLASSICAL REVIEW has fully sustained its high character under the the able editorship of Rev. Mr. Agnew, and we are sorry to see that he has left his editorial chair for a professor's seat; but we congratulate the University of Michigan on the acquisition of so valuable an addition to her faculty. THE METHODIST QUARTERLY REVIEW is, we think, steadily improving. The last number came unusually well freighted. But it needs no commendation at our hands. JOURNAL OF RESEARCHES INTO THE NATURAL HISTORY AND GEOLOGY OF THE COUNTRIES VISITED DURING THE VOYAGE OF H. M. S. BEAGLE ROUND THE WORLD. By Charles Darwin, A. M., F. R. S.— This is one of that interesting series of books now in process of publication under the title of Harper's New Miscellany. The voyage of the Beagle was performed for scientific purposes, and under the direction of the British government. The author of the book before us, it seems, accompanied the vessel under the sanction of the admiralty. In this work he has given a narrative of the voyage, and a popular sketch of his scientific observations, particularly in natural history and geology. THE WESTERN LANCET AND MEDICAL LIBRARY.This is a monthly journal, published at Lexington, ed-withstanding the numerous richly embellished magaited by Professor Lawson, and devoted to medical and surgical science. The last number, being the first of the fifth volume, is before us, from which we are happy to see that the work has been increased in size, improved in appearance, and elevated in tone. So far as we may be permitted to judge, we have no hesitation in pronouncing it creditable to the medical profession in the west. In turning over the pages of the present number, we thought we discovered a feeling of jealousy flowing through portions of the work, and particularly transparent in the review of Dr. Gross' Elements of Pathological Anatomy; a book which, with all its sins of omission and commission, is an honor to western medicine, as well as to its indefatigable, philosophical, and enlightened author. LITTELL'S LIVING AGE.-This is one of the best periodicals of the times. It consists of selections from the ablest journals and reviews of the English language, chiefly British. Some of its tales are too long, many of its scraps too short, and much of its poetry too flat; but generally its pages are at once beautiful and profound. THE CHRISTIAN INTELLIGENCER AND SOUTHERN METHODIST has become a graceful monthly. It is still edited by Rev. E. Stevenson, and devoted to religion, science, and art. The first number in the new form is before us. It has an air of cheerfulness, an exuberance of fancy, and spirit of independence with which we are pleased. It eschews not the delicate subject of slavery, but discusses it with a manly boldness, yet in meekness of wisdom. These remarks are restricted, of course, to the original department; for the work is partly made up of selected matter. We wish brother Stevenson great success in spreading the truth, and a generous support for his labors. The second number of the QUARTERLY JOURNAL AND REVIEW has been issued, and is as creditable as its THE KNICKERBOCKER has visited us regularly since we came hither; and its editorial table has often alleviated our dyspepsy, by quickening our diaphragm. Not zines which have sprung into existence lately, we still think that the Knickerbocker maintains its place as prince of the periodicals of its class. EDITOR'S TABLE. VALEDICTORY.-My readers are already apprised of my resignation, and the cause of it. I must now bid them farewell. Not being acquainted with the usual form and topics of an editor's valedictory, I am somewhat at a loss. The dictates of my heart lead me, at the outset, to return thanks to friends to whom I am indebted. And first to those who have kindly interested themselves in extending the circulation of this work, particularly brothers Shaffer, Goodfellow, Ward, Weekly, Phillips, and others, of the western conferences. Perhaps the reader may wonder why I feel any gratitude for such services, inasmuch as my salary has not in any degree depended upon our subscription list; but if he should ever become an editor himself, he will readily solve the problem. An increase of subscribers to a periodical encourages the editor, enlarges the sphere of his usefulness, and enables him to ask for his salary with less reluctance. I am very thankful, also, to my correspondents, who have so ably and cheerfully contributed to the columns of the Repository. A few have been paid a paltry sum; but most have written without compensation or hope of reward. In selecting from the numerous offerings presented me, I have no doubt often been partial and injudicious. Let him who is perfect in judgment, and free from the bias of friendship, cast the first stone at my window. That some of the authors of articles which I have rejected have taken offense I am well aware; but the kindness of others, who have taken pains to convince me that my condemnation of their productions has not diminished their friendship, has more than compensated for any pain which the unforgiving have inflicted. The highest favor I |