Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1853-11-17
Montgomery, the Poet.

'lrenus, of the New York Observer oixs.
the following description Of an interview with
this venerable Christian poet:
''On the summit bf hill, IN fine house.
commanding spleqdid prospect Of city and
green fields, and forests, such q prospect as a
poet in full communion with his fellow men
would love 10 look dh, we found the name Of
JAMES MoNTeoMERY
on the door. Weh3f heard that the venerable
poet was now SO advanced in life, and so feeble
in health, that he wa not willing 10 see com
pany, and IT was withmany misgivings that
stood at his door, and asked the servant If he
was in. Learning that he was at home,
handed her my card, AID bad her say that three
gentleman from America would be glad to pay
their respects to Mr. Montgomery. Before
had finished my message, he stepped from his
library into the hall and received me with a
greeting that went to my heart. 'You do me
too mnch HONOR he sid. Come in and your
friends He led us AL into his house, and in
sisted on our sitting down.
Nsaid TO him, 'YDu were known, sir, in
America, and loved, before we were born'
He replied, i thank you. 1t is grateful to
me to know that anything have ever written
has been pleasure ID others. Your country
has published many beautiful editions Of my
poems, and am grateful for their favorable
regard. aa
He spoke with omehesitation, and appeared
feeble, though far lessahan had expected
A SMALL thin man, about my size, and slight
ly STOPPING, with bright eye aud sharp face,
he would ROt have APPEARED to me, had met
him in the street, as the man to write The
| World before the Flood,' or the wv Wanderer, Of
Switzerland If there are not in both of these
poems beauties of the highest order, and speci-
mems Of the power Of Pathos equal to the poetry
of any man who has died within the last twen-
| ty-five years, then Wilt confess that / lost
crown in going 10 Sheffield TO see their author.
: Few men, said ioshim, have lived as you
have, to hear the verdict Of posterity.
Yes, he replied, ii have survived nearly
all cotemporaries.
And you have survived the attacks of the
Edinburgh ReUie,C, wfich predicted that you
would moi live at all
The old man laughed gaily at this reminis-
cence Of a slashing review forty years ago, and
said, The Review was young then, and they
Thought they mnst EillAsome one in every mum
ber; and they sought TO make a victim of me,
but | lived through it. Those were early tri-
ais, and had others, but trials are good for
US, and they will soonbe over
May | ask how old you are now, sir!'
i shall be eighty-twO years old on the fourth
day Of November next,
could not refrain from telling him that the
fourth Of November is.my birthday, also, and
'How old will you be, sir 3 he added / was
not unwilling to find another coincidence in
! the fact that should be then just one-half OF
his age. And this led 10 a religious CONVERSE
ton, in which he spoke Of that peaceful but
trembling hope he hadthat he should soon en-
ter upon the promised rest his lips quivered.
his voice broke, and big tears dropped from his
eyes, as ne spoke OI hls unWOrtnlnesS 10 % ac-
{ cepted, but Of his trust in the Saviour, whose
grace IS sufficient for the chiefof sinners. We
rose to take leave, and as we shook hands in
silence, Edwards repeated one of the poets own
! stanzas, from The Graye:'
'There is a calm for those who weep,
rest for weary pilgrims found'
and he had strength TO say, 4 hope we shall
meet in heaven and following Us to the door,
babe us an affectionate farewell"