Gents Mag 1820 part 2 p.16
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Gentleman's Magazine 1820 part 2 p.16
to the rest, was omitted. The son of the late Mr. Mitchel, the respectable and able conductor of that Newspaper, says, that his late father was last year employed in the South of England in collecting materials for a volume of Fugitive Poetry, and that this copy of verses was given him by a lady as the production of Miss Susan Blamire (not Blannil, as printed p.290), of Thackwood-nook, near Carlisle, and which authority he never doubting, in consequence printed them as such. I have not, at present, at hand the additional Stanza, otherwise I should have sent it you, as it might, perhaps, lead to a discovery of who was the author of those beautiful lines. I have it in my power to procure a few more of the poetical compositions of Miss B. which, should this seem to afford any pleasure to the generality of your readers, I shall have equal pleasure in communicating. Take the following as a specimen. SONG, On being advised to go abroad for a change of air. Tune - 'Rose-bud still in bearing.' Oh! urge me not to wander, Or quit my pleasant native shore, But let me still meander, On these sweet banks I lov'd before. The heart o'ercharg'd with sorrow, Can find no joy in change of scene, Nor can that cheat 'To-morrow' Be aught but what 'To-day' has been. If pleasure e'er o'ertakes me, 'Tis when I tread the wonted round, Where former joy awakes me, And strews reliques o'er the ground. There's not a shrub or flower, But tells some much-lov'd tale to me, Or paints some happy hour, Which I, alas! no more must see. I cannot quit M.H. without returning my grateful thanks to her for the sincere pleasure which I received from the perusal of her elegant little volume, 'Affection's Gift.' With Mr. Urban's permission I shall transcribe a few observations with which I felt particularly gratified. 'Seriously reflect, my beloved child, before we can enjoy happiness, the mind must be prepared to receive it, - that there is no transmuting power in death, - that unless we habituate the soul to virtue, and to piety here, and endeavour to attain a relish for those enjoyments we are promised in Heaven, even there happiness would be unknown to us.' 'Ever remember that the aggregate of our hapiness is made up of little pleasures, continually repeated: that human misery consists of petty inconveniences constantly recurring.'Speaking of Prayer, M.H. observes, 'That Prayer is the high privilege of frail and weak beings, that only can calm when the tumults of thought arise within, that only can bid the soul be still, and rest upon its God.' 'Recollect how desirable, how essential it is to become better as you become wiser: that, while by study and reflection you improve your understanding, you must also zealously endeavour to improve your heart.' 'The mind cannot endure a vacuum: and if not filled with laudable pursuits, will have a recourse to trifles to fill up the void. Hence the passions of envy and vanity, the frivolities of dress, the rivalship of beauty, which agitate successivley the bosoms of those unemployed beings. These tormentors of peace can never find place in the heart of a girl, who has learned to place delight in the performance of domestic duty and intellectual pursuits.'Yours, &c. OMICRON. |
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