The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1876-05-04
Whittier and the Baptist Preacher
Culver.


At an evening entertainment at Lib
erty Hall few evenings since, says the
Detroit Tribune, the following anecdote
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 q large, up
standing, bold, fearless, energetic, out
spoken man, with proportionably
small, round face, short, stiff, gray hair,
and little keen black eyes. The Quaker
poet, John Greenleaf Whittier, is a thin,
spare man, rather tall, little STOPPING
or slightly bent forward, dark-complex-
ioned, open, frank countenance, high
forehead, black hair, dark and heavy
eyebrows, with sharp, piercing black
eyes. The preacher had large force of
language, and never wanted disposition
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 public" {"
or " take unto himself wife," Once on
a time, "some moons" ago, our preacher
attended an anti-slavery convention at
Amesbury, the residence of the Quaker
poet, and. being greatly interested in
the proceedings, tarried little longer
than he intended in the convention, and
consequently reached the depot just in
time " to be too late" for the last train
home on Saturday evening. 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 go
with me to the Quaker meeting?"
Yes, think will" was the reply.
"Who breaches at the Quaker meeting
to.day?" said the Baptist.
"I do not know" replied the Quaker
"that 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, subsided,
for they had put this erratic character in
| jail ioi ulS1uiUiiS a iChSiOuo hCOoAh6
on Sunday" They went to the meeting,
and whether the "angel of the Lord
came down and glory shone around" OF
not, silence reigned around for the space
of one hour, when they all arose, shook
hands, bid farewell, and departed.
When our preacher and poet had re-
turned to their room the latter said to
the former:
"Well, friend Colver, how did thee
like the Quaker meetingT to which the
preacher returned the following laconit
reply:
| ." Well. John, since thoua Quaker art,
Goto-I'll tell thee all my heart.
| Quite plain, but neat, thy place found,
| And solemn stiffness reigned around.
| took seat and down sat,
And gazed upon Quaker hat!
| While all around In solemn mood,
ween were thinking somlthing good.
| But still eyed that Quaker hat.
| The crown was low, the brlm was fiat;
| ft canopied q noble pate,
That still In solemn silence safe.
| thought him thinking Of his God,
| When 10! the hat began to nod
Then how longed to use my speech;
| should, but then thought OF Beach!
| longed his dr0wsy power TO waken,
| But thought IL best to save my bacon,
And, would you thought me such chap?
| gave 1t up, and took nap"