Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1877-11-27
JOHN 6REENLEAF WHITTIER,

The recent issue by II. o. Houghton X
Co. of Cambridge. Mas proprietoss OF
the Atlantic Monthly magazine, Of a lite
size crayon likeness OF Whittier, the best
OF our lyric poets, will be welcomed in
thousands of American households. where
bi- writings are read aud appreciated.
Our readers 1ill thank us for giving them
some particulars OF the lite and character
OF ta.s good man ias, row touching MS
three score years and ten.
Whittier hss often been called the
Burns of America. The same simplicity
Of language. the almost exclusive use OF
common Anglo S,x0n words he desorip-
.'oe- % losly life and tho humblost
scenes in nature, the same whole-hear,ed
ard generous appeals 20 whatever is bes;
i'm Lomenity, Pervade The writings Of
both. Born in poverty and reared a, the
r'ougt-handle, as was Burns; without
o,her education ihsu that obtained a. tne
roadside school.house and by an attend
srce OF two years at an academy, but
vi,b happier surroundings OF home and
society than fell to the 10, OF his Scottish
prototype; with An unyie idirg, lifelong
adherence TO temperance in all things,
sincerity, and love OF his kind, this good
man, lust now versirg upon his three
score wears and ten, has made for himself
4 % ace in the hearts of his cOunrymen.
and in those Of The best of all English
speaking countries, like that which Burns
has held tor 3 century past on the banks
OF AYR aud in bonnie Dundee. His love
OF Burns, implanted early and growing
with his growth, and his first acquaint-
auce with bis writings, are pleasantly
told in the following account from his
own PEN
Burns is to me The noblest poet OF our
race. He was the hrst poet l read, and
he will be the last. One day one OF our
preachers came to stay all night, and no.
scirg, as we sat by the fire, that l was
intent upon a book. he said, Il will read
10 thee, il thee likes. some poems by
Robert Burns. l have copy with me.
So he got the book and began to read
1t was the first | had heard OF Burns, and
my wonder and delight over what heard
are as fresh still as if it were yesterday.
l hsd heard nothing up to that moment.
it seemed to, me, that had any right to be
called poetry; and | listened as long as
the old man would read. noticed be
left the book on the table; so l rose at
cray dawn next morning, and read for
myself. l was hanging over the book
when the Friend came down, and then be
told me be was going farther to visit such
and such meetings, would be back st
sucn time. and. it liked. would leave
me oooS with me- Thee may be sure
| / gratefully accepted his offer. | read
Burns ev,ry moment l had 10 spare and
,nis was one great result 10 me OF my
communion WITH him: | found that the
tlirgs out OF which poems came were
not. as had always imagined, some
where away of 10 world and lying out
side the edge of our New Hampshire
ssv; they were right here about my feet,
and among the people 1 knew. The
common things OF cur common lite 1
found were luli OF poetry. /. was a new
nd perfect revelation
Winters father was OF s. tail, gigantic,
Ioug.lived race. able to cope with bears
OF Iodiaus, both. Of which were not un-
frequently encountered on the banks OF
the Merrimac. where our poet was born,
and where most OF his life has been spent ;
a non-resistant by principle and 10 prac-
tice, as-except 10 the case OF wild
beasts-are ali Qlakers; good, we'll
meaning, useful man in his day and gen
Grafton. He, however, could not sec in
mis- BOY anything more than he himself
was, or more than we're bis ancestors be
fore him, 8 promising ploughmau; but
the boys mother, with keener insight,
recognized the divine spark. and happily
encouraged and ministered to it, until it
1 broke forth into flame which has burned