New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-09-08
THE POETS LIFE AND WORKS.

Dnrino the last thirty years there has been a
constantly increasing interest in the poems Of
Jobn Greenleaf Whittier Time was when they
1rere admired chiefly in small corner of the
Rennblic and by members of desplSed party
and Of an questionable sect; but now they are
everywhere recognized as the spontaneous utte-
ances of an inspired singer, who was indebted %
no master. and who was perhaps the most I'D
tensely National of all American hards. In'
interest in Whittier man has been even
stron ger than in his verse. His birthplace ane
his residences are visited by enthusiastic tourists
mountains and famous trees are named Tor MN
his letters are objects of eager desire; ana tht
newspapers are constantly printing anecdotes ana
"reminiscences of his life. The Valley OF the Mer
rjmac is already becoming classic ground. fe'-
nile of the neighborhood point to the hVsr
Path to the - Old Burying -Ground. the " SwHt
Powow. and the " Silver Quasicung' or, iron
The ton of Jobs Ill., they ask one TO OWEN
upon the beauty of the rolling slopes oil New
bury and of the woods and Lakes OF HaVermH
and Amesbury The genius of Whittier has con-
secrated this lovely scenery and become part
of il forever. Although the poet ana reiormei
lived in one sense in certain puoicity' anu -
was known and read of all men, yet ne was
IN himself retiring and signally lndivioual-su'
peneris. He was truly Der ElhAger as was
p;cbter. and those Who knew him best and arr
familiar with the frank condolences IN DIS pr ei'iS
will still say that this pure and noble soul naa
fascinating yet battling combination OF rp'S
wholly unlike any previous work OF the Mahei
OF poets.
THE POETS BOYHOOD.
The dates Of principal events in his Tic are
doubtless we'll known to readers, but IL is wen
tnrefer TO them briefly in this sketch. lie Vas
born in Haverhill. Mass, on December II, ioo''
The old Whittier farm is in valley smut III ny
wooded hills and there is no house IN sight ho
visitor feels sense of remotenesS ana scciusIoh
even now; and this must have been much deeper
sixty or seventy years ago. before so many trees
hon felled The house was built about 1898,
and has the usual features Of New-hnsiaha "fo,i-
,oc,nre of that period. The walls are low, the
windows small, the hinges and taste'hg' Vi
iron ,vrouobt by Puritan smiths, the oak beams
of great size and almost impenetraoe' the hpper
chambers omen to the raftcrs, and the chimney
an enormous pile which the mousse see"S ohiS "
surround as an appendage
No noet ever put more of his life and experience
into his poems than Whittier. The Intelligent
student will be able to appreciate the inihences
chat surrounded him. and to trace his develop
mont and his history. merely by following 'he
"sa;,,;sooroos in verso "The Barefoot Boy"
shows him at a time when he received his hrs'
glowing impressions of the life and beauty of the
world. In the simple hnSs pictures taken
IN the camera of youth and the scenes return
as they are read Their repetition never tires
Flight of fowl and habtude
OF the tenants of the wOod
How the tortoise hears ms smell
How the wOOdchuck digs his cell.
And the ground mole sinks his weH'
How the goblin feeds her young
How the orioles nest IS hung
Where the whitest lilies blow,
Where the freshest berries grow
For. eschewing books and tasks,
Nature answers all he asks:
Hand In hand with her he walks;
Face 10 face with her he taiks'
oh. for fcsial daintcs spread
Like my bowl OF milk and bread
Pewter spoon and bowl OF WOOD
On the doorS'one gray and rliae'
Der me lik, regal tent
Cloudy ribbed the sunset bent.
Purple curtsined. frtnged with gold
i.ooped in many a wind swung fold
while for music came the play
OF the pied frogs orchestra
To one who reads poem like this with some
thing behind his optical apparatus the plain and
narrow WAYS Of a New-England farmers life VIII
he sufficiently evident The WbitticrS were
estimablc people, honorcd and loved by oil. but
they were poor They toiled and they scrimped,
but the land was not productive. and they did
not accumulate. Still, there was no privation,
and the future poet had as lively enjoyment
OF life and of all boyish sports as was possible
under the somewhat grave discipline of Quaker
parents. Uncle Moses so anectionately
sketched in Snow Bound was the good genius
Of the family, and especially dear to the boys
being a famous fisherman, skilled as trapper
an6 fond Of the woods.
A READER OF BOOKS
The boy went to school at seven years OF age,
and continued there until he was about sixteen
There were two sessions year Of th.-se months
each. and of course change of teachers with
every term. The sum Of his acquisitions was
neagre but he had learned to read There were