1851.] 
A DESCRIPTION OP JAVITA. 
261 
Of pleasure and of knowledge books afford ; 
The constant change of ineident and scene 
That makes us live a life in every year ; — 
All these the savage knows not and enjoys not. 
Still we may ask, “ Does stern necessity 
Compel that this great good must co-exist 
For ever with tliat monstrous mass of ill ? ^ 
Must millions suffer these dread miseries, 
While but a few enjoy the grateful fruits?” 
For are there not, confined in our dense towns. 
And scattered over our most fertile fields, 
Millions of men who live a lower life — 
Lower in physical and moral health — 
Than the Red Indian of these trackless wilds ? 
Have we not thousands too who live a life 
More low, through eager longing after gold, — 
Whose thoughts, from morn to night, from night to morn. 
Are — how to get more gold ? 
What know such men of intellectual joys ? 
They’ve but one joy— -the joy of getting gold. 
In nature’s wondrous charms they’ve no delight, 
The one thing beautiful for them is — gold. 
Thoughts of the great of old which books contain, 
The poet’s and the historian’s fervid page, 
Or all the wonders science brings to light. 
For them exist not. They’ve no time to spend 
In such amusements: “Time,” say they, “is gold.” 
And if they hear of some immortal deed. 
Some noble sacrifice of power or fortune 
To save a friend or spotless reputation, — 
A deed that moistens sympathetic eyes. 
And makes us proud we have such fellow-men, — 
They say, “Who make such sacrifice are fools. 
For what is life without one’s hard-earn’d gold ? ” 
Rather than live a man like one of these, 
I’d be an Indian here, and live content 
To fish, and hunt, and paddle my canoe. 
And see my children grow, like young wild fawns. 
In health of body and in peace of mind, 
Rich without wealth, and happy without gold ! 
Javita, Marcliy 1851. 
A. W. 
