Several short poems are introduced into these pages from Mr. Ballou's pen. They are generally taken at random from his published fugitive pieces, unless designed to illustrate some particular trait of character or frame of mind, some cherished principle of the writer's heart. Though we claim no fame for Mr. Ballou as a poet, yet his productions in this line of composition are numerous. A volume of his poems has lately been collected and published, but these pieces were thrown off in the hurry of an editor's duty, and evince no care on the writer's part. He has left us scraps of verse, however, which show that the power was native in him, and the poet's genius a part of his natural endowment. The verses that will close the last of this volume, though written in old age, compare favorably with those of any production of the kind we have ever met with. As late as the year 1844, he was an occasional contributor of poems to the press, of a character calculated for the times. These verses were given to the public under the signature of "Spectator," and were designed to effect some prominent end, to reform some acknowledged impropriety, or to commend that which was good and useful. These, however, were never attributed to him, nor was it known out of his family circle that he had written them. Some of them were humorous, some pathetic, some patriotic. His poems were always easy and liquid in versification, full of point and meaning, expressing much in a few words, while the ideas are clothed in the sweetest garb of poesy. Witness the following, which is the only one at hand at this time: HYMN FOR FOURTH OF JULY. "Arise and hail the jubilee, The day that set our nation free; In song his honor chant who gave Counsel and victory to the brave. Ye daughters fair, fresh garlands weave, With chaplets strew the warrior's grave; Lo! from the mould'ring sod shall rise Fame's sweetest incense to the skies. Fifty bright summer suns have smiled, And fifty harvest moons beguiled Childhood and youth, since vernal showers First moistened freedom's lovely flowers. Let joy throughout our land inspire Each manly heart with holy fire; And freedom's song, by Miriam sung, Be heard from every female tongue."