The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1853-09-23
MONTGOMERY. THE POET.

AHOtNA
The foreign correspondent of the New
York Observer gives the following descrip.
tion of an interview with this venerable
Christian poet:
On the summit of hill near Sheffield, in a
fine house, commanding splendid prospec,
of city and green fields and forests, such q
prospect as poet in, full communion with
his fellow-men would love to look on, we
found the name Of
JAMES MONTGOMERY,
on the door. We had heard that the vener.
able poet was now so advanced in life and sc
feeble in health that he was not willing to
see company, and it was with many misgiv.
ings tina, stood at his door and asked the
servant i he was in. Learning that he was
at home, handed my card, and babe her say
that three gentlemen from America would be
glad to pay their respects to Mr.. Montgom.
cry. Before had finished my message he
stepped from his library into the hall and re-
ceved me with greeting that went to my
heart. "You do me much honor" he eaid.
"Come in and your friends" He led us all
into his study, and insisted on our sitting
down.
I said to him, "You were known, sir, in
America, and loved before we were born"
He replied, 81 thank you. 1t was grateful
to me to know that any thing have ever
written has given pleasure to others. Your
country has published many beautiful editions
of my poems, and am grateful for their fa-
vorable regard"
He spoke with some hesitation, and appear.
ed feeble, though far less so than expected
A small thin man and slightly STOPPING, with
bright eye and sharp face, he would not
have appeared to me, had I met him in the
street. as the man to write "The World be.
fore the Flood" or the "Wanderer of Swift.
zerland." If there are not in both of these
poems beauties of the highest order and spe.
cimens of the power of pathos equal to the
poetry of any man who has died within the
last twenty-five years, then will confess
that los, my trouble in going to Sheffield
| to see their author. "Few men," | said to
him, shave lived you have, to hear the YER
dict of posterity."
"Yes" he replied, 81 have survived nealy
all contemporaries"
And you have survived the attacks of the
Edinburgh Review, which predicted that yol
wouldnot live at ALL"
The old man laughed gaily at this remin
scence of a slashing review forty years ago
and said: "The Review was young then, ant
they thought they must kill some .one il
every number; and they sought to make
victim of me, but | lived through it. Thos,
were early trials, and had others; but trial
are good for us, and they will soon be over.
"May L ask how old you are now, sir!
"Shall be eighty-two years old on the fourtl
day of November next,
! could not refrain from telling him tina
the fourth of November is my birthday also
and SHOW old will you be, sr!" he added
was not unwilling to find another coinc
dence in the fact that should be then jus
one-half of his age. And this led to re
ligious conversation, in which he spoke of tha
peaceful but trembling hope he had that h
should soon enter upon the promised rest
His lips quvered, his voice broke, and tear
stood in his eyes as he spoke of his unworth
ness to be accepted, but of his trust in the 81
viour, whose grace is sufficient for the chieft
sinners. We rose to take leave, and as W
shook hands in silence, Edwards repeated on
Of the poets own stanzas, from "The Grave:
\ "There is n calm for those who weep.
A rest for weary pilgrims found"
and he had strength to say, 81 hope we sha
meet in Heaven" and, following us to tn
, door, bade US an affectionate farewell.