The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1878-11-28
BR IANT and THE CHILDREN.

st. Nicholas answers the inquiry of a
little girl, did Bryant write any poem
that would interest us children"
eyes, indeed. You will find in the
collected works of this beloved Ameri-
can writer many songs and poems that
you can understand with ease and
read with delight. A good, pure
hearted man like William Cullen Bry-
ant; a man SO honest, so simple and
earnest, SO truly great, that with a
deep knowledge of the world about
him he worshiped God, honored his
fellow-man, and loved nature as a
child loves its mother such a man
could not be far removed from young
sympathies. He could not be a poet
without singing, sometimes, Just the
the song that little folks would like to
hear.
And childeen, themselves. were
dear to him. More than once in the
course OF an acquaintance that dates
back to our own early youth, we have
seen his eye light with pleasure at
some incident of boy and girl life.
Often his kindly interest and hearty
words about ST. Nicholas have given us
better hope and courage to make the
magazine Just what it should be.
Good" from his quiet lips was well
worth striving for. His standard in
everything was high. Hear ':The Old
Mans ECounsel," which, through his
own verse, he once gave to his own
heart,
Wisely, my son, while yet thy days are
long,
And this fair change OF seasons passees slow
Jatier ana treasure up the good they yield
All that they teach ei virtue OF pure thou phts
And Kind affections, reverence for thy God
And Tor thy brethren; So when thou shalt
come
!nto these barren wears, thou rnayst not
bring
mind UNFINISHED and wi.hered heart ',
But Bryant was not always solemn
IN his teaching. If you like playful.
sprightiy verses that yet are full of
poetry, read his Robert of Lincoln -
where
Merrily swinging on briar and weed.
Near TO the hest OF his little dame,
over the mountains or mead,
Robert OF i.incoinis telling his name:
Doh-o'-L nk, bsb-olink,
spInk, spank, spinS;
snug and safe IN hat nest Of ours.
Hidden among the summer :i4wers.
Ihre. chee, chez"
And while the poet is telling you Of
these Singers Of the air, read 1.-The r.
turn OF The Birds, written In the ear
~ sprlug Of 1864, when, as You know.
the country was In great trouble, and
the birds saw many sorry. sight. II
you like beautiful fairy tale In verse.
all about children and the elves or
sprItes that children love, read his
Little People of The Snow" There
also Is the pretty legend OF ssThe
v hite-footed Deer or if YOU bigger
boys and girls wish something more
weird and exciting, read his tragic
story Of '-The Strange Lady" Then,
on some lovely autumn day, when
1.-THE melancholy days are come and
the procession of flowers has nearly
passed by, read his verses ssTo the
fringed Gentian." There are other
poems in the collection quite as easy
10 understand as these. Some OF the
most admired indeed, that would seem
"hari to many tall youngster at
the head Of the SCHOOLGIRLS. were
written in the posts own boyhood.
lis most famous poem. ssThanatopsis, 2
was composed when he was bu. cigh-
teen years Of age. Wllen you, too, are
eighteen you win more than enjoy il,
If you do not do SO already. But you
viii like song Of his youth.-lines
ssTo Waterfowl, and the beautiful
poem entitled aJune," which has been
very much quoted Of late because Of
the fnllfilment of his wish that when