Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1892-09-08
Whittier's Career.

Whittier's Career.
John Greenleaf Whittier, the gentle
Quaker poet, was born Dec. II, 1907, on the
ancestral farm at Haverhill. He was
brought up ON the farm and had only a
common school education, learning, while
still boy, the trade of shoemaker. When
only eighteen years old he began to con-
tribute verses to the Haverhill Gazette. In
1899 he became the editor of The American
Manufacturer, and year later he took ed
ftorial charge of The New England Weekly
Review. After a few months he returned
to the Haverhill farm, where he remained
for several years. William Lloyd Garrison,
who was editor of the Newburyport Free
Press, has related the beginning of Whit
tiers work as q poet as follows:
"Going up stairs to my office observed
letter lying near the door. opened it and
found it contained an original piece of
poetry for The Free Press. The ink was
very pale, the handwriting very small and
having at that time horror of original
newspaper poetry, my first impulse was to
tear it without reading it, since the chance
of rejection was as ninety-nine to one
Summoning up my resolution, however,
perused it, and was so gratified with it
that gave it place in my journal.
"As l was anxious to find out the writer,
my post rider one day divulged the secret,
saying that he had brought the letter and
that it was written by Quaker lad named
Whittier, who was daily at work with
hammer and lapstone on the shoemaker's
bench at East Haverhill. lost no time in
driving to see the youthful bard, who came
into the room with shrinking diffidence,
blushing like maiden and almost unable
to speak. gave him some words of en-
couragement, but addressed myself par
ticularly to his parents, urging them to
grant him every facility for the develop
ment of his wonderful genius This was
the beginning of lifelong friendship,
founded on familiarity of purpose and prin-
ciples."
A Popular Poet
In 1885 and 1886 he represented his neigh
bors in the lower branch of the legislature
During the latter part of 1896 he became
secretary Of the American Antislavery So
ciety at Philadelphia, and in 1888 and 1889
he was the editor of The Pennsylvania
Freeman and Antisavery Journal. His of
flee was sacked and burned by mob and
finally he came to Amesbury and settled
here in 1910. He was the corresponding
editor of The National Era of Washington,
for several years, and contributed to that
publication many of his best antslavery
lyrics.
Mr.. Whittier never married, but always
lived in the manner of simple Quaker folk
About fifty years ago he sold the family
residence and farm at Haverhill, and moved
with his mother to Amesbury. The
exterior of his house was as severely plain
as any of his Quaker brethren could have
desired, but his study is remembered by
scores of his friends as one of the sunniest
coziest retreats in New England
No American poet, with the exception,
perhaps, of Longfellow, has been more pop
ular than Whittier. This is ascribed to the
noble simplicity of his character, which was
reflected in all his writings, whether in
verse or prose. His first volume in prose
and verse, Legends of New England" was
published in 1881, and since that time col
lections Of his writings have appeared
almost every year. The last edition of his
poetical and prose works was published in
1889 in seven volumes.
Among his best known works are 'Lays
of My Home and Other Poems," published
In 1S43; "Old Portraits and Modern
Sketches" 1850; Home Ballads and Poems,"
1860; "Snow Bound" 1862; "In War Time
and Other Poems,". 1858; 1.-THE Tent on the
Beach," 1867; "Among the Hills" 1868;
"Hazel Blossoms" 1874; 1.-THE Vision of
Echard," "The Kings Missive," "Bay OF
Seven Islands" and Poems of Nature" all
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