"An Invitation to the Country" – By Henry Livingston (1787) - vintage postcard illustrations.

YouTube ^

[mairdie]

This love poem of the simple life was published in the 19 Jan 1786 issue of the Poughkeepsie Journal. The music, "I Love Sue" and "Dawn of Hope" is from Henry's music manuscript.

Another small poem to one of the young ladies in Henry's circle is this "Acrostic to Miss Eliza Hughes," to the music "General Wolfe."

[mairdie]

Every year, Henry would write a poem as a Carrier Address to be given by the local news carrier in exchange for a tip. One of my favorites is from the end of his address for 1819.

Believe me, dear patrons, I have wand'red too far,
Without any compass, or planet or star;
My dear native village I scarcely can see
So I'll hie to my hive like the tempest-tost bee.
Hail home! sacred home! to my soul ever dear;
Abroad may be wonders but rapture is here.
My future ambition will never soar higher
Than the clean brushed hearth and convivial fire;
Here I lounge at my pleasure, and bask at my ease,
Full readily sooth'd, and desirous to please,
As happy myself as I happy can be,
I wish all the circle as happy as me.

But hark what a clatter! the Jolly bells ringing,
The lads and the lasses so jovially singing,
Tis New-Years they shout and then haul me along
In the midst of their merry-make Juvenile throng;
But I burst from their grasp: unforgetful of duty
To first pay obeisence to wisdom and Beauty,
My conscience and int'rest unite to command it,
And you, my kind PATRONS, deserve & demand it.
On your patience to trespass no longer I dare,
So bowing, I wish you a HAPPY NEW YEAR.

For a short description of the Night Before Christmas authorship attribution controversy, see a previous poem announcement.

[mairdie]

PING