New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-01
A DAY WITH WHITIIER,
THE LAST YEARS OF A GOOD MAN.


John Greenlcaf Whittier passed his eightieth mile
post amid the bcncdictions of the people and
the house On Oak Knoll on the poets birthday.
gallant Joseph Cortland, of Newburypot, we'll known
College, came out, escortng with true colonial gal
lantry lady TO the carriage in waiting This plainly
dressed woman possessed face not beautiful but sug
gestive, ard she whlrled away and disappeared
among the trees, with merry twinkle In her eyes
ana ringing laugh she waved farewell to the sil er-
the piazza That Elizabeth stuart Phelps, who
came over from Andover to pay her respects to our
"dearcst poet"
Within was scene long to bo remembered. There
was no formally, everybody was happy and yet there
was percepble under of regret for Whittier
was eighty years of age Alas, tho years Of our life
are threescOre years and ten" The spacious dining
room filed with a merry throng Of people many
flowers, good coffee and good things to eat. Jolly
Governor Ames, In pure iurtanlc fashion, stood at
tho Lead OF the table and cut the fruit cake.
And row her- Whittier himself and mlngcs
with the throng-the author OF snow Bound" and
first Of any living American poets. His step Is
surprisingly firm, Ills eye twnkling with gratitude
He and the Governor had some innocent sport which
consisted In rightly repartee in which the good oct
showed himself no mean master. After many fare
wells had been said sat down and talked and what
the deepening gloom which was tcnderly settling
over COAX Knoll" The winds soughed through the
pines. l looked up into that sweet face with tho
wrinkles OF eighty years upon II and said Mr. Whit
tier, You surely are very happy today, surrounded
yes, yes he rep ed. u am happy, bu-but-"
he faltered he turned away TO hide the gathering
ast o@ad w gloom
deeper. How absurd" he added, "to lay such
doDoS \ Mr. winters eacoedng %odcsfy was Of en-
Illustrated during tho day. Some one sent lovely
Of which ss on
as young man, and Is one Of his ia orito pictures.
Tho modest old man observed Ibis crown over the
picture, and when opportunity presented Itself
took the crown down and bid +. His friends after
search found and replaced 1t. but the good Ioet failed
to recognize 1t he second timo.
In the evening ga hcred in the west par
Tor and Mr.. Whittier was In good srirs after day
Of excitement. Charles Coffin had lost his Quaker
Blaine hat and wanted to go home. Finally, at err
long search, somebody intmated that Mr.. Whit Ter
had appro' rated IT for his but he equal
hat he could find In the house, he had too many
n S az V
and elegant souvenirs, he exclaimed How shall tell
hS,S dear friends hsRtu Main w o write
sonted their distinguished patron with llfe-' zed
etching of Mr. Viii tier ncosed within an elegant
frame of polished wood They also sent beautiful
boz quot of choice flowers The Ham ton school sent
painting framed BY the Indian boys, who GU his
na'nc I'm the frame town named after Whittier In
California sent first aper printed on fine silk and
there hundreds OF costly and touching souvenirs
Of respect which Mr. Whittier showed me with evdcn
In the course of a conversation he referred to the
of 'he he went through during the antslavery
struggle. 81 remember distinctly uron OCCASION
That was when the voice of Abbe Fulsome was hoard
| in New England. We we're divided to the means
Of settling the difficulty and there was great con
fusion. fremont Temple presented wild scene or
! that memorable night IL looked as though thtre
would be blood:hed. Upon the Platform, with many
Others sat william LLOYD Garrison. whose head wa
quite bald beside him sat Mr.. Burleigh whose heavy
locks fol upon his shoulders. negro was alst
rresent the Mat form and this negro wanted tc
sreak. At a critical moment man arose I'm the real
OF the house and began to shout Mr. Speaker Mr.
| Speaker Mr. Speaker Finally he got a hearing
and he said Il only wish 10 saw word. want
that negro 10 shave Burleigh and r'ake wig fO
William Lloyd Garrison II was enough Tho hous'
roared with laughter and troub'e was averted vhlt
good humor was restored" The aged poet laughed
| heartily As he told the story bringing 10th hands
| down on his knees
| Finally the subject Of matrimony referred o
| and a cloud gathered over his face "Ah" he said
al was interested In my roetry and in the slavcry
struggle that permitted those golden days to go by
without getting married, and now | am sorry ;" ant
| the old man hung his head In silence