Page:The Poets and Poetry of the West.djvu/279

JAMES B. MARSHALL. James Birnet Marshall — a member of the Marshall family of Kentucky, which is distinguished in oratory as well as in song — was one of the early literary edi- tors and publishers of the West. He purchased the Cincinnati Mirror in 1836, and changing its name to The Buckeye, published it for a few months. In 1837 he pur- chased the Western Monthly, which had been conducted by James Hall, and the Lit- erary Journal, which was edited by William D. Gallagher, and merged them under the name of Western Monthly Magazine and Literary Review, The Magazine and Re- vieio was published simultaneously at Louisville and at Cincinnati, William D. Gal- lagher being associated with Mr. Marshall in its editorship. It was unsuccessful, and Mr. Marshall then turned his attention to political writing. He has been connected with several influential political papers in Kentucky and in Ohio. In 1857 he suc- ceeded Samuel Medary as editor of the Ohio Statesman at Columbus. In 1858 he was one of the editors of The Capital City Fact, and was official reporter for the Ohio Senate in 1858 and in 1859. Mr. Marshall now resides in Cincinnati. He is about fifty years of age. Nearly all the poems he has written were published in the Cincinnati Mirror and the Western Literary Journal. TO EVA : IN HER ALBUM. Touch gently with thy taper finger, Tiie string of some lov'd lute, — The cherish'd sound will with thee linger, E'en when the string is mute. And thus I'd have thy thoughts recur, When far away from thee. To him who leaves a tribute here For friendship's memory. Over the azure sky above, Clouds sweep in caravans. But still the star we watch and love, In memory remains ; And even through their dusky forms, O'ei'shadowing earth and sea, As fiercely driv'n by winter-storms, Tliat star is bright to me. Go grave thy name upon the stone O'er which the brooklet hies. And though with moss it be o'ergi'own, And hid to duller eyes. Yet from the eye of love that name Can never be effaced, — Time-covered, 'twill as plainly seem As though but newly traced. Wlien starry night doth wane away Beneath the sun's gay gleam. Do we forget the moon's pale ray Lost in a gaudier beam ? Oh with the stars, I'd have thee keep My friendship's memory, And when I gaze on heaven's blue deep, I'll fondly think of thee. (2631 ^'