Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-09-13

As the lady relative above referred to had
informed us that Mr.. whittier's health was
extremely delicate. and that he vas then snffer-
ing from one OF his distressing headaches. we
were but too thankful for the mere privilege Of
grasping his hand and Of expressing our great
pleasure i'm 80 doing, as We babe adieu 70 the
grand man who had gained in his youth. from
nature, "a ..knowledge never learned in
''pomp and Joy
Waited on the Barefoot Boy;"-
the man who in virile manhood caught the
distant echoes OF 80.
1.-The sweetest Of all music
The pipes Mt Lucknow played"
and who, in the evening OF his life. no
calmly sings:
And SO the west winds play,
And all the windows Of my heart
open to the day"
Long may it DO ere we shall mourn concern-
ing this nobieman OF nature. that
1.-THE warmest Of hearts il frozen.
The freest of hands il still;
And the gap In our picked aud chosen
The long years may not FL"
Mr.. Winters cousin and her younp niece
accompanied us about the beautiful grounds.
comprising eighty acres of varied landscape as
fuii OF surprises in quiet groves and blooming
gardens, In verdant elevations and stretching
swards. as ever the eye OF lover of nature
could delight to rest upon. while directly in
surmounted by the grand oak called by DR.. o.
W. Holmes The Poets Pagoda" Resting a
INC moineht IN the arm chair so much occupied by
whittier, placed directly opposite the knoll
ana upon the rear porch. we babe adieu to our
kind entertainers and wended our way by many
changes to Beverly Farms.
AT BEVERLY FARMS.
Again upon leaving the steam cara we
wandered by pleasant paths to find the resi-
Ir H.l,~
prevalence Of jutting rocks was noticeable and
sometimes the most snowy houses were perched
upon them In a fantastic sort Of way, with even
rocky columns to sustain the porches Indeed
the ROCKS seemed to be actually irrepressible-
even genial in their habits-for one met them
alongside the paths on entering the gateway
standing there like good seryitors, with barred
head as If to salute the entering guest
We were received by DIR. Holmes with cor
diality extremely delightful. After the frs
words OF salutatiOn he said Ladies' YOU find
my study in good order today-unusually good
order-for my secretary has just arranged my
books" And indeed the room was pleasan,
picture of order and good taste in its furnish
ings while the few decaying embers on the
hearth attested to the sensitiveness of its dis
tingulshed occupant to the penetrating chill
from rock and shade without.
Dr. Holmes is slight of stature. and appar
entity not In firm health. His eyes are dark ant
good-humored even to ROBUSTNESS in theil
expression, and the few lines which time ha.
SET In MS interesting face seem to carry with
them a merry twinkle.
Dr. Holmes told us of the many visits he hat
received from Grand Army men of the nortl
and south, aud said: You almost caught me OF
my birthday-it will be next friday
We spoke OF his interesting papers lover
the Tea Cups" when he remarked with a toucl
OF sadness i'll tone and manner. .;They ar,
almost finished" Upon our mention of :'Th,
Broomstlck Iraln'--his recent noted fascinat
ing poem-he told US OF the train of though
which produced it, of the witches banished 30,
years or so ago" to the lower regions who
having gained through an Essex Deacon
VINO mad dropped in to CALI some lpsorma
ton concerning their former earthly haunts
begged permission of their Boss to return
TO earth. Permission being granted eacl
witch mounted her broomstick aud few to
Essex In search Of her old black cat.
"Ah black; one could hardly tell which wa
which,
But every cat knew his own old witch,
And she knew hers as hers knew her.
All. didn't they curl their tails aud purrr'
But, as OF old. the witches soon went .ramp.
ing around" at their same old tricks. ..Ant
the Essex people had dreadful times" till b,
'of the cloven hoof' threatened 1.-The Goddess
crew" that they should have stirring work Il
do, whereupon they were fastened astrids
their broomsticks to an electric train, but with
this comforting promise verified:
You may keep your old black cats to hug,
But the loaded train you've got to lug"
And this is why in the whirring OF the electr Il
rain one hears the ''black cats purr," and in
Its flash one sees the wicked eye of the resur
rected witch"
DR.. Holmes talked of Writers health with
sympathetic interest, and as we spoke of THE
Poets pagoda," he mentioned his own grea
love for trees, and it is peculiar fancy Of hi,
that the head Of the tree is below the ground
inteiiigentiy seeking proper nourjshment
while its tail is above ground whisking sky
ward with the passing breeze. The genia
poet desired us 70 visit his favorite elm but VIZ
were obliged to forego this pleasure for lacl
of time. =, -
Feeling that the physical strength of our ad
mired host had been most severely taxed b,
many recent visits, we reluctantly Withdrew
from the attraction Of his presence with tea
in the eve and a tear in the heart. HNR