Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1859-04-02
THE HOME OF WHITTIER.

II was on a bright day of mid. November, last
year, that l saw for the first time The man whose
graceful numbers had so often enchanted NE.
How often are our conceptions entirely erroneous.
l had fancied a man stern in appearance as old
Miles Standisb, but instead of that l found Whit
tier to be most mild in his mien and gentle in his
voice. There was something, however, in that no.
BILE eye, which could not be called mild, and yet it
is not harsh. 1t is a large. dark, deeply penetra,
ting eye, which transfxes you for the moment, and
realizes to me moro of the poets eye than that
Of any other man 1 have ever seen.
/ first met Whittier in O %shoemaker's shop,
where he was engaged in conversation with one of
the workmen He ningles most freely with all
classes, takes q deep interest in all the various
concerns of the villagers, whether it be a town IL
brary, a debating club, a horticultural society, OF
q lyceum, and he is beloved by all. lie ueeds no
mutual admiration society to proclaim either him
or his works. His works praise him.
Al he walked with me to his residence, l per.
ceiyed that be was clad in the dress of his sect,
though not extreme in the Friends fashion. lie
is slim and tall, and his whole appearance indi'
Gates one who does not enjoy vigorous health-one
whose brain and finely strung nervous system
over work the body. He led me into a plain, neat
cottage, the door of which was ornamented with q
little trellis, over which q honey .suckle twined and
interlaced itself. SOM portions Of Whittier's con.
~versation made an impression which will never be
effaced. He speaks with great charity of others
who differ from him in opiniJn, and / have no
doubtit is this spirit of love, pervading every poem
which ne has written, that makes him an accepted
author where his sentiments are Numerically OPP
posite to those of his readers.
The little parlor was simply arranged, and here
and there was an engraving of men of kindred
spirit to John Quincy Adams, On the mattel piece,
were two card holders, each in the form Of q ben.
ding slave, who was imploring aid from above.
There is a picture that now occupies the wall
above that mantle, which was not there last Nov.
smber. 1t is the portrait of that dear mother and
remarkable woman, to whom the poet 30 often in
verse refers with such flial affection. Since the
last autumnal winds, that lovely christian mother
has gone to the bright spirit world.
DR.. Peabody, in bis very able literary discourse
before one of the societies of Brown University,
designated Whittier as that American poet whose
writing s are destined to live. because he based all
that be wrote on immutable moral distinctions
lie feels Wnat ne writes, anu MS Ieolng Is rlgnt
because he has the highest Of motives, TO please
God and bless his fellow men.
II has been suimised from some Of his poem;
that Whittier has also experienced another senti
ment than that of religion, and yet one closely al
lied to it so far as this poor earth is concerned
Some have imagined that no man could paint SC
exquisitely and pathetically the feelings of poor
Maud Muller and the Judge. without. having him
self had some deep and cherished affection which
never ripened into reality. For who has not been
touched in his inmcst heart after perusinE tho LOT
Of the poor maiden and the Judge. To read these
fearful lines is like listening TO the most sad
dsning melody:
"God pity them both !! snd pity US all,
Who vainIy the dreams Of youth recall.
For Of all sad words Of tongue or pen.
The saddsst are these 1t might have been!'
"Ab, well for US all, some sweet hope lies
Deeply buried from human eyes!
"And, in the hereafter, angels maj. ON
Roll the stone from its grave away. essen.
Long may the poet who loves bis fellow men and
bis God. be spared to ineite US to good deeds, and
10 arouse in W pobls emotions.