, 1876-06-16
Whittier and the Baptist Preacher,
ColvOr.

NeAN~As
At an evening entertainment at Lib
erty Hall few evenings since, says the
Detroit Tribune, the following snecdote
was told by George W. Clark: The late
Rev. Nathaniel Colver, of the Baptist
University of Chicago, formerly and for
several years preached in the fremont
Temple, Boston. He was a large, up
standing, bold, fearless, energetic, out
spoken man, with a proportionably
small, round face, short, stiff, gray hair,
and little, keen black eyes. The Quaker
poet, John Greenleaf Whittier, is thin.
spare man, rather tall, little stopping
or slightly bent forward. dark-complex-
ioned, open, frank countenance, high
eyebrows, with sharp, piercing black
eyes. The preacher had a large force
of language, and never wanted disposi-
tion or intellectual ability to use it. The
poet is a quiet, unassuming parsonage,
never moved by the spirit, or by the
entreaties of friends to "speak in pub
lic," or "take unto himself a wife"
Once on q time, "soIne moons" ago our
preacher attended an anti-slavery con-
vention at Amesbury, the residence of
the Quaker poet, and, being greatly in
terested in the proceedings, tarried a
little longer than he intended in the con-
vention, and consequently reached the
depot Just in time "to be too late" for
the last train home on Saturday even
ing. Returning to the meeting he was
invited to spend the Sabbath with
Whittier, this Home of the Muses."
While at breakfast on Sunday morn
ing the man of poetry said to the man
of prose:
"Well, friend Colver, wilt thou 90
with me to the Quaker meeting p
"Yes, 1 think will, was the reply.
"Who breaches at the Quaker meeting
to-day ?" said the Baptist.
II do not know" replied the Quaker; ;
"thst will depend on whether the spirit
moves"
what if the spirit should move me
and should get up and preach to your
people ?" asked the Baptist.
"Well," replied the Quaker, " they
might serve thee as they did Beach"
Our preacher, understanding what
they had done TO poor Beach, subsidized,
for they had put this errstic charRter
in Jail for disturbing q religious meet
ing on Sunday" They went to the
meeting, and whether the "sngel of the
Lord came down and glory shone
around" or not, silence reigned around
for the space Of one hour, when they all
arose, shook hands, bid farewell; and de-
parted. When our preacher and poet
had returned TO their room the latter
said to the former:
"Well, friend Colver, how did thee
like the Quaker meeting2" to which the
preacher returned the following lsconic
reply:
well, John. since thou Quaker Art.
Go tO-I1l til thee Al my heart
Quite plan, but neat thy place found,
And solemn BtilinPea reiRned around.
I took . seat and down Eat,
And RAEed upsn Quaker hAti
While al nr0und. In solemn mood,
ween wero thinking somsthing good
But s4iu eyed that Quaker hat
The erUWn WAs low, the briEn va hAtI
Il eAn0pied . noble pate,
Thai iii In solemn atlsncO aate
thought him thinking Of his God,
when lo the hat began 70 nod
Then how lOnged 70 uss my speech;
should, but than thought Of Beachi
l0nged his drOWSy powers 70 v ken,
But Thought 10 best 70 save my bAoon,
And, would you thought me such ehApf
I pys II up, and TOOK . nsPr'