Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1880-08-27
Scenes of Whittier's Childhood.

A little more than a mile out of |
town we pass three beautiful sheets
of water, the most noteworthy of
which formerly bore the name of
'sGreat Pond" to distinguish it from
it's smaller neighbors, but not many
years ago it was re-christened
sKenoza,' the Indian name for pick
erel, with which it abounds. Whittier
contributed to the christening cere-
monies the sweet and musical poem
which, in his published collection,
bears the title of "Kenoza Lake" 1t
closes with the following exquisite
and devout stanZa:
And when the summer day grows dim
And light mists walk thy mimic sea,
Revive in US the thought of Him
Who walked on Gslilee.
Keeping by the beautiful lake, with
it's lofty and irregular shore, wooded
on the side opposite us to the waters
edge. we take road to the left which
soon brings us to the veritable old
home, two-story house with large
chimney in the centre. The small
square porch at the side of the house,
and particularly the stone step, must
be noticed, for it was con this door
stone, gray and rude" that the
Barefoot Boy. Whittier being him
self the hero of that poem, enjoyed
his
| Bowl of milk and bread.
Near the house and crossing the
road is the little stream, ''the buried
brooklet," of ''Snow Bound" which
in summer ''laughed" for the s'Bare-
foot Boy" and whose constant ripple
was eve Through the day and through
the night whispering at the garden
wall" Here, between house and barn
is the road which became ga fenceless
drift" in the "Snow Bound" winter,
and here the old barn to which,
after tunnelling the drift, they went
to the relief of the ''prisoned brutes,
and where
The oxes dashed their tails and hooked,
And mild reproach of hunger looked.
The house stands in a hollow, anC
the roads about it form q sort of If
regular triangle, and by driving bacl
and forth you can get not only thu
views given in Hills picture of the
place, but others equally Attractive
On the drive toward the house, anc
near Kenoza Lake, is short street
which it is worth while to drive
down; you can easily return to TIT
main road. Here you will find /
picturesque one, story house, with
door in the centre reaching to tn
roof. I think you can not fail t.
recognise it from this description. [
was the home of Mrs. Cardwell, tn
''elder sister" of the poet, of whomh'
writes in 'ESnow Bound"
o heart sore-tried! thou hast the best
That Heayen itself could give thee-res
Il st from all bitter thoughts and things.
How many poor ones blessings went.
With thee beneath the low green tent,
Whose curtain never outward swings!
, On the return drive you will wis
to see the spot where the schoolhous
of Whittiers childhood and of th
, poem entitled ''In School Days
stood. In this poem, you will remen
I Der, he has celebrated the devotion
> the little girl with
Tangled golden curls,
iE And brown eyes full of grieVlng.
who said,
I'm sorry that / spelt the word,
4 hate to go above you;
Because" the brown eyes lover fell,
ct Because" you see. II love you"
+ You must take the road as you dri7
q toward Haverhill proper (the HON
j. stead is in East HaverhilD, whie
o. will bring the house on the left, ar
the barn on the right. Soon aft
passing the latter, and on the san
side of the road, you will come to Il
schoolhouse, which has within
. short time been torn down, much
Il the regret of all tourists. Here, sa,
one of his companions, Whittier use
q to sit and read Bible stories whe
] the other boys were out at recess.
can easily believe this of him, fl
his poems abound in scriptur
illusions that he uses Wi
~ a skill which could only be gained
to early familiarity with the Old al
Id New Testimensts-H Mass
IN Letter to the Providence Or. /