MR JOHN LA TOUCHE, 1841-1846 



While those around him at the social hearth 

 Are all infected with contagious mirth, 

 Until the very soul of boisterous fun 

 Called forth by him, pervades them every one. 

 And when the evening ends, we all agree 

 Time ne'er was known to pass so merrily. 



Mrs La Touche finishes with the following por- 

 trait of the younger of the three brothers, William 

 La Touche. 



Now let us shift the scene. Come forth thou sage 

 Endowed with wisdom far above thine age, 

 Come forth with stately step and solemn pace 

 Thought in thine eye, and silence in thy face. 

 Thou solid character, too deep and wise 

 For humble bards like me to satirize 

 I know thou wilt forgive my thoughtless lays 

 And heed alike my censure and my praise. 

 Remember I am far too weak to brook 

 The withering fire of thy reproachful look 

 For I do fear thee most of all the lot; 

 I pray thee, dreaded one, despise me not. 

 He comes, the last, not least, of all the three 

 Walking erect in native dignity 

 In his dark eyes strange glimmering flashes glow 

 Like watch fires set to scare away a foe. 

 Now turned to view the turnip fields around. 

 Now fixed in silent thought upon the ground. 

 (Written at Harristown in 1844.) 



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