, 1882-08-05
A Talk With Whittier.

/ The house is fair, weli-built brick
residence, with a wide piazza on three
sides OF it, close 10 the roadway, but
overlooking an extensive and very charm
ing lawn. The reception room IS esscn-
italy an authors bome-bright, cheerful
and iun Of pretty things that have doubt
less been made by pretty hands A piano
stands in one corner By the ooen fireplace
and I could imagine Mr.. Whittier PEN
! sively listening to the good music which
! somsbady plays for HIN, rs there is a
quantity of II lying at hand near the fine
instrument, by the best campossrs. Mr..
| Whittier is tall, erect and somewhat diff
tident, as bachelors OF his aye are apt TO
De. His greeting is cordial, and his fine
brown eyes say welcome" bsfore his lips
utter the gracious words Our cunversa-
ton drifted into topic common at the
time-the deaths of Mr.. Longfellow and
Mr.. Emerson, both close friends of the
Quaker poet. and both Of whom he uio-
gized II his peculiar way. Naturally, our
talk passed ON TO the meution Of the 9th
er world, and the nearness many persons
experience of the dear one who have en-
tered its rest Il have never felt the in
duence you describe, SAID Mr.. Whittier
''no one who has passed away seems near
to me nov. Life Is such mystery that
do NOT ask TO penetrate the secrets of
eternity; but can imagine that you and
others are conscious Of the unseen pres
ence of those whom you have loved and
lost"
"And who are eternally happy"
added
"Well, am hot certain about that"
he continued, with an expression Of alb
strac;lon Il believe that We may have
troubles there as well a. here If not, the
contrast would not he so sweet The diff
ference Viii b. that We shall be better en-
abled TO bear them Heaven is a place
of harmony everything Will be harmon
ized there
"Then You DO not admire state of
complete bliss I
''No; why should any more than l
like calm, at nigh tide 2 and, after join
ing Inc IN moment Of merriment, said ::
We all have times Of exquisite enjoy
.ne!.t-t,.e more beautiful because SO
tieerina, and it IS :or the contrast in life,
OF pain ard pleasure, that such experien-
ces are prizsd. Turning suddenly, he
asked
when are you the happiest 2
you will laugh, Mr.. Whittier, but it
is when | hear the first note Of a robin In
early spring time
NO, shall not laugh, for | under
stand that pleasure, too"
Then described the meadows of Cen
tral Park-which he said was all new 10
hnn-and he had not supposed that any
one would 60 there to hear robins |
song. A merry twinkle came IN his
eye rs he added
Il like Boston common because they
hung som. Quakers there once upon q
time.
He remarked that ne is seventy-fve
years old and p1etical illusions could not
be- expected from such an old man. But ,
he seemed i'll very tolerabie health, and
his temperament is sill enkindled some
times
In VIVID contrast to this gentle, sweet
tempered, genial old man, is the viva
clous, handsome ana gifted author, Mr..
J. I. Trowbridge, whose ''vagabonds has
been the delight of so many public and
private recitations Mr. Trowbridge re-
sides At Arlington, about twenty miles
from Boston, in pretty, cheerful cot
tage, surrounded by lawn that slopes
down 20 4 little lake. He is a brilliant
conversationalist, keen at repartee and
full of anecdote His story of Horace
Greelev'S absent -miDdeGness at a tea !
party is too good to be lost A cake |
basket being passed TO that gentleman on |
such a vlvical occasion, he hooked it on
one OF his forefngers and consumed its
entire contents. Colonel Higginson, one
Of Bostons brightest ''lights, resides at
Cambridge Ii was lie who wrOte-as you
viii remember-''The procession of Flow |
ers' and "Mal6One House. He is
wealthy, but great worker. He is also
very handsome, having remarkably fine,
curling, cray hair, which surrounds and
softens his furid face He went TO New
York at the time uf Dr. Hollands funeral
and sat close TO the coffin of his dear
friend and brother author, paying this
commendable respect to his memory and
genius -Syacuse Journal