The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-09-25
WASHINGTON, d. G..
Gbs 8tbis6.

,.,.,,,,.. and other Poems. BY John g. Whittier
'' Boston: Ticknor & Fields. 1856
qt.ore have been cases where the poet was
i bv the line for the fruits of his genius.
Then indeed it was an object with him to WOO
u,ose and receive her smiles by numbers.
The size of her poem rather than its thoughts,
4. wa;gbt rather than its inspiration, were the
j..tjerqfa to be kept in view. If this volume
we're so adiudged, small would be the need Its
.,.bor could claim. But if thoughts could be
.o;red into ingots, and the true spirit OF Poet
Liberty may be the measure OF reward, these
.w naces will not pass unnoticed by any who
s,-.na,bize with the right, and hate the wrong
!, : needless for us to say how high we place
v-b;ttier IL the rank of American poets. Many
% The shorter poems of this volume have al.
adv bsea greeted by the public first in our
Columns; aud only few weeks since another,
4. The Pass of the Sierra" which might fifty be
oll.l 70 future edition Of this collection, lent
e.. lasre 10 brighten the varying aspect of this
Journal. Inland Muller has won golden opin.
ion. lfom thousands, as it has been multiplied
II the presses of our country and abroad. The
b.,t !, indeed Of sterling value, and printed,
g., IN the neat style of Ticknor & Fields, who
som 10 love thus to honor the poets, it will, we
think. be q favorite with all who love the
br-aAinr pictures which, ike an artist, Whit
tier transfers from life to this sketch book OF
graius.
The principal poem, and from which the vol
upe derives its title, "The Panorama" is a
J-rueation of the contrast our country pre-
sslls as under the sway Of Freedom or Sla
yery especially applied to the Future of Kan
So, and our other Territories. Under the figure
Of panorama exhibited by Snowman, he
blIg draws the curtain aside, aud the diverse
pictures pass before the view. We quote tive
scenes, which are apt at this time, when th'
contest is going on between the two principles
and shich'we commend to the reflection of GU
friends, and all who are engaged for the wea
Of heir country:
rl-l. wiii a burst OF music, touching all
| TIE Keys OF thrifty hfe-ihe msiream's fall,
Tl- rl-nr's pant along its quivering rails,
I.,- anyI.s rug. the measured beat of fails
Ia weep OF cyihes the reapers whisIed une,
Aa,,,rnus The summons Of The bells of noon,
fa- waolnan's nail along the river shores,
I Ti- Steamboats, signal, and the dip of
SoN,y the curtain from OFF a land
Flr cod, garden Broad either hand
T. golden wheai-Reles glimmered in the sun,
Al thr tail maize It's yellow tasses spun.
nooih highways set with hejge-row's living green,
Ill -l,. Id.
lire >cloO house murmurhg with its hve-like swarm,
The brcok-bank whitening in the grisl-milIs storm,
fh- painted farmhouse shining through the leaves
a. irulrd orchards bending at its caves
Nh-rr live sssin around the Western hearth
TIE hoiuriy old time virtues OF the North;
ngn-rr il- bldhe housewife rises with the day,
and wrl-pn,d labor his task play.
Ard. grateful tokens OF a Bible free,
And t'c free Go.rel Of Humanity,
tifjver>r scris and differing names the shrines,
ulr ~ ihrir tith, wliate'er their outward signs,
lake varying SirOphes OF the same sweet hymn
From many praire's swell aud rivers brim,
A flousand church-Spires sanctify the air
o,lhr calm sabbath, with their sign of prayer
Like sudden IA gh-fall over bloom and green
Il thr curtain dropT ed and, momently, between
re tauk Of frlirr and the crack of thong,
H,.f sob hall laughter, music swept along
range refrain, whose idle words and low,
Ike draIken mOurners, kept the time of woe
A., The jewellers al a masquerade
",srd 20 the distance funeral marches played.
>l-l music, ds-aing all his smiles with tears,
Zoe ,iou.htfll voyager on Pontchartrain hears,
Ni-re. through the MONDAY dusk of wooded shores,
TIE negro 5oitm Staging To his oars,
NHi wild paihos borrowed Of his wrong
R-rrms tIr Jargon OF his senseless song.
'ls'os, said the Snowman, s,enly, as he rolled
H. ain. "a Pit hph
village struggling IN loose disarray
ni Vulgar neyvness, premature decay;
tavern crazy with it, whisky brawls,
Nrh Slrrcs Anetioh' garnishing its walls.
Without surrounded by a motley crowd,
fle shrcwd- eyed salesman, garrulous and loud,i
squire colonel in his pride of place,
hlovn free fights, the caucus, and the race,
Prompt to proclaim his honor without blot
A.I silence doubiers with a ien-pace shot,
H.,rling the negro-drivng buy's rant
Wia pious phrase and democratic cant,
l-i never scrupling, with filthy Jest,
g. sell the infant from its mothers breast,
Break through, all ties OF wedock, home, and kin,
tlrd shrinking girlhood up TO gray beard SIM
>~l all the virtues with his human stock,
The Christian grsces on his aucuon-block,
i Aud cooy count On shrewdest bargains driven,
\ la hearts rescneratc and in souls forgiven.
Look once again The moving canvass shows
II a ,.agr plantations slovenly reposc,
Where. la rude cabins rotiing midst their weeds,
The human chaiiel eats, and sleeps, and breeds;
And. held a brute, IN practice, as in law,
E-,o.aes "a fact the thing he's taken for.
There. early summoned to the hemp and corn,
Ti- nur>in mother leaves her child newborn;
fI.rr hagsard sickness, weak and deathly faint,
'a,v,s IA his task. and fears TO make complaint;
And >ad-eycd Rschels, chidless in decay,
Weep Tor their lost ones sold and torn away,
Of ampler size the masters dwelling stands,
81 shabby keeping with his half-iilled lands
The gales unhngcd, the yard with weeds unclean,
The cracked yeranda with upsy lean.
II Wuaoui. loose-se altered like wreck adrft
II >igl, Of msrsle, and tokens of unthrih;
Nsain. prcfusion 10 discomfort joined
II TIE li<il.s- D5dy aud the vacant mind;
iar i"ss. the hate ise tleft, and falsehood, born
]" 'n~nisl hearis, OF toll, and stripes, and scorn
'arF,. all tlr vices, which, like birds obscene,
'a'gn On slavery, loaihsome and nnciean,
j t'o'4 the foul kitchen To the parlor rise,
F'ide the nursery where the chid-heir lies,
'An' iaisil lips beyond all after cure,
With he fell poison OF a breast impure;
i"len boy hoods passions with the breath Of fame,
ion girlhood's instincts steal the blush of shame.
II - sTell> from low to high, from weak TO strong,
III 'lc tragic chorus OF the baleful wrong;
ii ''u'll or suness all within its range
irri ihe blind Justice OF its revenge
N1i' scenes ike these the moving chart reveals.
The long western steppes the blighting steals;
N'Nh The Pac,Gc slope the evil Fate
ii 'A1eS Ike a shadow "a the Golden Gate:
II rom -es 10 sea the drear eclipse is thrown,
ii i'oni sea 10 sea the MauraiSes Tsrres have grown,
\ belt Of curses the New Worlds zone.s
The Poet breathes forth an appeal that ouI
10 be pondered:
''" "i the North! beneath your very eyes,
''"''h and home, your real danger lies.
w." Jay by day HE hold of freedom falls,
H'olgi home-brel traitors fed within its walls
e' whom yourselves with vote and purse sustain,
~ posts of HONOR influence, and gain
e 'Shi OF Slavery 10 your sous to teach,
-u Noulh-slde' Gospels in your nnlps preach;