Western Sun & General Advertiser, Volume 13, Number 49, Vincennes, Knox County, 4 January 1823 — Page 4
sr,u;r,TKi) puktuy. Fn.n the Genius of Liberty. Mr. Sowkk. In handing you the follow ini; v mii; for p iMic.Uion, I do not wish you to bvlicvc that 1 think it a nnster-picce of composition, or tint it can pass through the ordeal of criticism uninjured. On the contra
rv, 1 think, it vcrv inferiour to many pieces of
the same cast ; and in my opinion it talis ve-
MT far short of" Iibbik," the production oi that immortal bard Bums. Hat still as every d-iy's experience proves to us that the author's ideas on this subject are founded on fact, I think it is entitled to a place in the
columns of the Genius. Now, Mr. Editor, as
randour is to be admired whenever it is seen.
1 tell you frankly, that the first time I heard
this sum: I heard it breathed in the mellow
tones ot one who was blessed, in my opinion,
with the ait of making; even dull monotony
the most impressive eloquence. Yours X. surrounded by the gloomy vapours of his own brain. Lecsbun;, 'a. Sept. 21, IS J 2. TIIUE-FLOYVFIt in the glen, All the lads are wooing at her ; Twa the Hut, and twa the Hen, Foui -and-foi ty wooing at her. YHng at her, bowing at her, Socking her, and canna get her ; iSdly elt, 'tis for her pelf That all the lads are wooing at her. She has ear rings in her cars, Silken gowns, and pearls in plenty, (itn the 1 ass be four-score years, All the lads will call her twenty. Wooing at her, etc.
Ten came east and ten came west, Ten came rowing down the water ; Ten came down the long Dyke sydc. Four -and -forty wooing at her. Wooing at her, etc.
V
'Gen the la be e'er so brown So she but ha' a plenty silla, Set her up on tinder-top,
The wind nil! blow a suitor tilla. Wooing at her, &c. 'Gen the lass be e,er so fair, And she wants a plenty m'At, Slu m iv live to four -score year, Ere there'll come a suitor tilla. Wooing at her, vkc. MIS G E L L A NEOUS. From the Tales of Ileal Life,
THE ROBBER.
Family affairs obliged mc to
undertake a journey to the moun tainous region of Bohemia, and I arrived without the slightest aeei dent at the estate of my uncle in that kingdom. There I used generally to spend the evening in walking. In one of these peram Inflations, night overtook me in a wood bordering on my uncle's domain, and extending on the con-
-trary ride to a chain of mountains
V iuy imagination was so occupied with the idea af my native land, and the dear objects I had left behind, that I wandered unconciously from the path. On awaking from this delicious dream, I found that I had totally lost my Wav, all my endeavours to regain the right track were unavailing, ami such wa my situation, when 1 heard a sudden rustling near me in the thicket. On raiding my eves, a man stood bv my side and inquired whither I was going? 1 replied that I had lost my way. and at the same time mentioned the name of uncle's mansion, requesting to conduct me by the nearest road to it. He paused for ( a lew seconds and then answered: ' "Tis a great way, and I cannot possibly conduct you now ; but if you will accept of a night's lodg inginmv house, follow me." I hesitated not a moment to accept this proposal, lie walked a long by my side in profound silence, answered none of my questions, and appeared to be quite ab sorbed in thought. At length he said: You have not been long in this kingdom ' No replied 1. but who made von acquainted with my situation? M Yourself. " I stood still, and looked at him with the utmost astonishment. u Myelf,v cried 1 in amize " Yes, yourself ; this wood is fre
quented by robbers, and you seem
not to be afraid. " "Why should
1 be afraid, 1 have nothing about
me that can be of any value to
robbers ? " He now grasped my
hand with eagerness. " Young
man, said he, you have nothing
to fear ; the robbers in this wood never commit murder. "
Amidst this conversation we
arrived at the door! of a habita
tion, concealed in a eleep recess of
the wood. My comjVinion knoc
ked three times ; a rough voice
cred from within who is there t
A son of night,' was the reply of
my conductor.
The door opened ; I saw my
self by the light of the lamp, in
a spacious apartment painted
black ; the walls were decorated
with arms ; a few chairs and two
tables, composed the whole of the
furniture. One of them stood be
neath a looking glass, was covered
with a white cloth, and upon it
lay a human skull.
4 Jacob, ' said my companion
to a man with frightful physiog
nomv. k make a tire in the chim0
ney and bring provisions for my
wv. v . t . ,
In a few moments a fire blazed
on the hearth ; betook me by the
hand, and we seated ourselves be
fore it. I had now, for the first
time, an opportunity of cxamin
ing this extraordinary man, I must candidly confess that
I never beheld a more perfect mo
del of manly beauty, but never
werethe cbaractersof the profound
sorrow and affliction so legibly
inscribed on any brow. No sooner did our eonversa
tion commence, than esteem and astonishment took possession of
my soul. Meanwhile a clock that
stood in the next room struck
twelve, and at the same time 1
heard the report of a gun from . . . ! . I . .a. i a . i rwii .
wminui i bianeu. nat is
the signal for dinner,' said my
host ; 'we turn day into iight.
and night into day You Vill
sit down with the refuse of mankind, with a band of robbers, but
you have nothing to fear. At the
table of kings- you may often cat with greater villains. c the rights of hospitality are with us sacred and inviolable.' He took me
by the hand ; a tabic was spread
beneath a mos gray oak in the
front of the hut, I eeated myself
beside my host ; eighteen other
persons partook of the simple re
past, seasoned only by the narraa' 1 . I t . 1 I
lives oi the leader. All listener attentively to him ; there wVs no
thing that could be construed into
the slightest breach of decorum
but the conversation was such as you scarcely expect to find in the
most polished private house. rm. a. i. r i i w
i iic ie nasi ueiug umsncd. i re
turned with my former eompan
ion alone to the apartment we
had quitted. Our eomersation
was renewed, but not ith the
same vivacity. My host raid In
come more grave, and all that lu
now said bore the character o!
gloomy misanthropy. I was stuck with the unusual colour of his room, and at length asked : 'Why did vou choose black? that colour makes one sad, and it is our duty to be cheerfiM.' You are right if you speak ofwmrself, but as for me I know joy ojly by name , to me that sensation has
11..
ikl
-
so to you. With a black heart T1 was flattering to that nr
had perhaps been happy, now I Such was my sir nation ; l am wretched! All my riches dod with brilliant pi os;. ciconsist inyonder skull(at the same logant bow imagined that
time pointing to it with a terrific read the book of tutunrv. ;
look and distorted leatures.) It tul that the wisest ot men cano-t
is my all,' continued he ; when in predict with certainty tie er.is I r ... i. r .t -
me uours oi serious meuuauon l oi tne next minute. I saw a
tand before it. and the thought vounr female hpInr.o-iiMr to the
that I too shall cease to exist, a- lower class of the people That
rise in my soul, then alone ami inexplicablepassionwhich has pre
rich, richer than your princes, or
the greatest of fortune s favourites. They lose. I gain ; to them death is terrible, to mcit is a blessing. Oh, there are moments in which it would be happiness to be deprived of reason, a truth, which in the days of prosperity I could not have believed. ' The clod: now struck two. My host shuddered. 4 Already so late?' said he. and added in a milder tone : Pardon me, stranger, for having so long deprived you of your rest; in that room my bead is prepared for you ; sleep and be not afraid.' I cordially grasped his right hand, You have told mc too much. ' said I ; you have excited my curiosity ;may I entreat you to communicate to me your history.' ' My history,' replied he, with a ghastly smile, would not lull you to pleasing dreams it would cause you to repent your request, and never will I violate the rights of hospitality. I wish my guests to sleep in peace beneath my roof But to morrow, before you de
part, you shall hear the history of
my hie short but not as agreea ble as a moment of pleasure I went and threw myself upon the bed, but was unable to sleep From time to time I heard a
noise in the hut, and then again profound silence. At last the clock struck live ; I could not restrain myself any longer, sprung up from the bed. opened the door of the chamber. My host was still seated before the chimney, with his eyes fixed on the extinguished ashes. You have not slept, ' said he,' Is this dwelling doomed to chase sleep from every eye ? ' He then made me sit down beside him. and a simple rustic breakfast soon made its appearance. Our conversation was of considerable length. It was about seven o'clock when I prepared to depart ; for I would not for the wealth of both the Indies have reminded him of a promise which seemed to give him so much pain. 'Then you are going,' said he. k I must,' replied I ; k at home all my friends will be under apprehensions on my account. ' You are right ; for they know that this is the retreat of robbers : 4 but wait a few moments.' He then ordered a couple of horses to be saddled, and led me back to my seat. 4-Young,' man said he in a grave and solemn tone, i I will keep the promi--e ! ;r ive you, and you shall k:iov ;:v litorv of my life. I am ii.e o.,!y son of a man of hi Th
rani; i.i thi? kingdom; my father ; who was very rich expended large sums on my education, and I (latter myself they were not tin own away. I shall pass over the earlv years of my life, which cannot have any interest for you and shall begin my narrative with my leaving the academy. Jn
my return l received promotion
long been a stranger. You look at and in a few years had the fairest
j these walls; their colour excites prospects of being called to conyour surprise. It is the color of duct the helm of the state, lnsat-
mv fate, and Oh ! that it were also lable pr ide swayed the bosom of
the color of myheart 1 'An extra- mv lather ; he loved me only beordinary wish !' 4lt only appears A cause my progressive elevation
iK;; i
t i t :L
eipitated many an useful states
man, many a valiant wairior, from the pinnacle of glory, took ei tire possession of my heart. At first 1 employed every passion expedient to subdue her virtue, bhc repulsed mc with contempt, and the fire burned still more fiercely. I threw myself at the feet of my father, and implored his consent; to our union " Arc you mad ? thundered he, spurning me tn m him, a drab from the sdum of the; people, my daughter-in-law! rather could I see you and her at ihc gallows than at the altar. ' Vhac room had I now for hope ? li.-lf a year passed away; 1 siw her seldom, but my pa-sion daily increased in violence in nie tranquil hours I certainly advanced every possible objection tear could be made against such a;i union; but what influence iuni cold reason over a heart i.',ri( with glowing passions. V qushed at length in this eonl:: I fled with her to one of the rei.. test provinces of the kingcifn where the hand of the p; i st united us. With the little moon F had taken with me I had piucl is-
ed a small larm Ken
and myself lived by ti e I. :)?ir nur bauds Tho-e. were ;u
cyan days ol my lii'e ! Be-
the lowly roof uf my c.n?it' enjoyed greater bappine.- !
the prince wuh his diadmi. c hero crowned with l:uie;. let us hasten over these :- , At the expiration f a .
pressed a pledge of uur
my bosom, and for wwi mora blissful years, continued to t;: ui the delight of conjugal and oarernal love, out of the cup oi nnmau felicity One evening on mv return from the chase. 1 lound father at home with my v. i!e Jl This spectacle excited sensaK ns which it is impossible to express Kosalia, penetrated with gratitude, was embracing his ki res; my little boy was bathing his hand with tears of infinite love. .,y threw me senseless on his ho-.m, for his consent was a!'ne w;img to complete the mea-ure of my happiness In a word, it w is j.e greatest festival that filial loe tnd gratitude ever celebrated. i ;t pardon mc stranger, I scan t ly know how to proceed. In time days my wife and child died of poison given them by my father and on the fourth died that father by the dagger of his ton ! Adieu stranger ! " lie pressed my hand at parting; the copious tears tiinkltd Iroin his large blue eyes and attested the truth of his narrative kAdieu ! that was the skull f my wife.' 1 departed ; at the door I stopped, and once more turned towards him. Will you never return to the socieiy of men ? 4 Never, all that could impart felicity is consigned to the grave ; and besides, 1 am more servicea ble here th in I should be among you, I am the captain of a hand of lohhers, now they only venture to plunder, whereas were it not for me they would assurdly murder too ' C iVsr first column injlrotfizge.)