The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-09-25
WASHINGTON, d. c..
Gbs &t6is@.

p>oR.v. and other Poems. By John g. Whittier
Boston: Ticknor Fields. 1856.
7Lora have been cases where the poet wa.
II Iv the line for the fruits of his genius
r., indeed il was an object with him to woo
n. mise. and receive her smiles by numbers
Tho size of her poem rather than its thoughts
..o u.aigbt rather than its inspiration, were the
l..;4erofa TO be kept in view. If this volume
rsre 50 adiudged, small would be the need iti
su;hor could claim. But if thoughts could bt
.o;,ed into ingots, and the true spirit of Poe
ofLiberty may be the measure of reward, these
lev pages will not pass unnoticed by any who
srrnaihize with the right, and hate the wrong
l. ;s needless for us to say how high we place
Whittier IN the rank Of American poets. Many
81 the shorter poems of this volume have al
r.,,Iv been greeted by the public first in our
c,lnrnns aud only few weeks since another
. The Pass of the Sierra" which might fitly be
oll.l 10 a future edition OF this collection, lent
Il, luslre to brighten the varying aspect of this
;.rrual. MAUD Muller " has won golden opin.
;.,. rom thousands, as it has been multiplied
bg the presses of our country and abroad. The
b,.k Is indeed Of sterling value, and printed,
too in the neat style of Ticknor & Fields, who
seem to love thus to honor the poets, it will, we
think be favorite with all who love the
braa,Aing pictures which, like an artist, Whit
Tier transfers from life to this sketch book OF
geaias.
The principal poem, and from which the vol
,ue derives its title, "The Panorama" is a
l-Eneatou of the contrast our country pre-.
s-ais rs under the sway of Freedom or Sla-
very, especially applied to the Future of Kan.
81. and our other Territories. Under the figure
Of d. panorama exhibited by Snowman, he
bllly draws the curtain aside, aud the diverse
PICTURES pass before the view. We quote two
scenes, which are apt at this time, when the
J. e.ltest is going on between the two principles
and Rhichwe commend to the reflection Of ouI
/ friends, and all who are engaged for the wea
oi heir country:
Ti-n will. a burst of music, touching all
II TIE kcyS of thr,iiy lr-Ihe mi-siream's fall,
Ta- engines paut along its quivering rails,
The snyI.'s ring. the me assured beat of fails
fa- sweep >cythes the reapers whislled Iune,
Aa,,,rnng the summons Of the bells OF noon,
fa- saululn's nail along the river shores,
Iua steamboats, signal, and the dip OF oars
S0ay The curtain from of a land
Far a. G,d', garden Broad on either hand
r.. golden wheat-helds giimmered in the sun,
Al uir tall maize its yellow tassels spun.
smooth ughvays with heJge-royys living green,
Wfa -rrp.rd towns through shaded visias seem
il~ >cioo house murmuring with its hive-like swarm
The hrcokbank whitening in the grisl-nill's storm,
fa- panied farmhouse shining through the leaves
%, tard orchards bending its caves
Nn-rr live again, around the Western hearth,
fl- Aotur!y od-iime virtues OF The North;
Wn-re !hr hidht housewife rises with the day,
and wrLpnid labor counts his task play
4 Ard grateful tokens OF Bible free,
n And Che free GOSPEL Of Humanity,
'ffjIvef>e aud differing names the shrines
! nlr a. lhrir saith, whateer their outward signs
[ lake varying SirOphes OF the same sweet hymn
From many prairie's swell and rivers brm,
thousand church-spres sancufy the air
90. Hr calm sabbath with their sign fprayer
-I.,r sudden ui ghi-ftll over bloom and green
n The curtain dropT ed and, momently, between
II lie auk OF irtier and the crack of thong,
iif sob hall laughter, music swept along
range refrain, whose idle words and low,
i-le draakrn mourners, kept the time of woei
Al m- jewellers al masquerade
Hfsrd il The distance funeral marches played.
>I-l uu>ic. dssaing all his smiles with tears
iHr t1busltfIl vOyager on Pontchartrsin hears,
ha~rr. through the MONDAY dusk of wooded Shores
IT. l~sro hotttnan, singing to his oars,
VA w.iI pahos borrowed of his wrong
R-.-rEs lle jargon OF his senseless song.
Look, saiJ the Snowman, s;emly, as he rolled
H. >raflsin upward; Pate'S reverse behold
village siragging IN loose disarray
% suisur neTHcss. premature decay;
AiavcTl. crazy with H.. whisky brawls.
Ntih Nqrrs az Adetioht garnishing its walls
Without, surrounded 10y motley crowd,
lie >Hrcwd-eyed salesman, garrglous and loud,i
squire OF colonel in his pride of place,
Aaown al free fights the caucus, and the race,
fompi 10 proclaim his honor without blot
Aaa silence d0uhlers with a ien-psce shot,
N.i"lug the nesTo-driving hully's rant
" ih Piaus phrase and democratic cant.
t~l never scrupImg with a filthy lest
g. sell the infInt from mothers breast
Break through all ties of wedock home, and kin,
slrld shrinking grlhood up Ia gray y-be ard sin;
a >~il all the virtues with his human stock
II The Christian graees OH his aucuon-block
Aud cOoliy count On shrewdest bargains driven
II No hearts rescneratc and in souls forgiven,
II Look Oaee again. The moving canvass shows
A,'ave piaHtaons SIovenly reposc,
Where ln rude cabins rotIing midst their weeds,
The human chaiiel eats and sleeps and breeds;
sao. I-ld a brute, "a practice, a in law,
d-rp,Hes 80 fact the thing he's taken for
ia'rr. early summoned to the hemp and corn,
iHr nursing nolitar leaves her child eyv-born;
il.lr hagcari sickness, weak and deahly faint,
/ AVS "a hi, task. and fears make compiani
AMI >ad-eyrj Rachels, chldless in decay,
II Weep Tor their lost ones sold and torn away!
~ am2ier size the masters dwelling stands,
"a shabby keeping with his haf-ted lands
The gale, uhhinged, the yard with weeds unclesn,
lHr cracked geranda with upsy lean
II NuaouI. loose-s catered like a wreck adrift,
>isas ~ mlsrsle, aud tokens of unthrh;
NEEn. yrciuson lo discomfort Joined,
Tie .fsiL--- nody aud the vaca mind;
ia- i'ss the hate, TIE then, and fasehood, born
lnm-"iil ieari>, of toll, and stripes, and scorn,
'-rI' all the wees, which, ike birds obscene,
"si'.p on Slavery. loaIhsome and uncean,
'''i1 iie foul kitchen to the parlor rise,
FL t"id's ths nursery where the child-heir lies,
II '''ni ilisn lips beyond all after cure,
II "ih ue tcl poison % a breast impure;
'"irh boy hoods passions with the breath OF 6ame,
from srhood's instincts steal the blush Of shame.
- >"el> iron low 10 high, from weak 10 strong,
81" rag'e chorus OF the balefu wrong;
'l'll or suuess, all within its range
''ri The blind justice OF its sure revenge.
n ~ scenes Ike these the moving chart reveals.
III The long western steppes the blghnng steals;
''Nh The Pac,Gc slope the evil Fate
'''> iae a shadow the Golden Gate
''m >ra 10 sea the drear eclipse is thrown,
'''ai sea 10 the Mguraises Tsrres have grown,
'7i 81 curses the New Worlds zone!
The Poet breathes forth an appeal that ougl
10 be poadered:
'' the North! beneath your very eyes
"''H and home, your real danger lies.
m. lald doff c.lI.
h"me-bTei traitors fed within its walls
"Aoin yourselves with vote and purse sustain,
~ PO>'> OF honor, influence, and gain;
''sm OF Slavery to your sons to teach,
'"uli-slde' Gospels in your pulps preach: