Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1892-09-24
THE FLEETING SHOW.
Some of It's Facts and Fancies.
Written for the JOURNAL AND CouRIKR.1

WTlULo0 LH0 JOURNAL AND COUhlEhsl
WHITTIER NOTES.
A charming story concerning John g.
Whittier is told by Jennie N. Bingham in
an article entitled "Whittier, the Man.
It is worthy of wide circulation. "The
story ia told," says the writer, "that the
poet appeared one winter in a handsome
ulster, clad in which he attended school
examination up among the hills. He was
standing beside the teacher, who was cate
chising a dimpled little dot in geography.
'What are the provinces of IrelandF Con
naught, Leinster, Munster, and-and-'
Here the little girl stuck, put her chubby
fingers in her mouth, and sought inspira-
ton successfully in her toes, the corner of
her apron, the ceiling, and the poet. He
smiled; her face frightened sympathetic
ally. The entente cordiale' had been es-
tablished between them. He patted his
ulster significantly; she looked at him in
quiringly. He nodded, and she burst out
with %, Miss Simmons, I know nowl
They are Connaught, Leinster, Munster
aud Overcoat.'
Thus failed his loving attempt to help
edge, but it must have remained in his
mind, a smile provoking memory, for many
a day. Another story, from the same ar
ticle, narrates his trials with curious and
persistent admirers. When his strength
became overtaxed he would make innocent
little plans to free himself from them. His
sister said to a friend: ''Thee has no idea
how much time Greenleaf spends in trying
to lose those people in the streets Some
times he comes home and says, We'll, sis
ter, I have had hard work to lose him; but
I have. But I can never lose q her."
This half humorous, half pathetic tribute
to the persistency of women is hardly to
be excelled.
The copy of Burns poems which awak-
ened the youthful Whittier's poetic fancy,
is said to have been left at his home by a
travelling preacher, or q peddlar, halting
for nights entertainment. In a short
sketch written by the poets own hand
few years ago and published since his
death. for the first time,1 by The Woman's
journal, he says:
"When I was fourteen years old my
first schoolmaster, Joshua Coffin, the able,
eccentric historian of Newbury, brought
with him to our house a volume of Burns
poems from which he read, greatly to my
delight. begged him to leave the book
with me, and set myself ut once to the
task of mastering the glossary of the
Scotch dialect at it's close. This was
about the first poetry I had ever read
with the exception of that of the Bible, of
| which had been close student-and 1t
| had lasting influence upon me. 1 began
to make rhymes myself and to imagine
stories and adventures. In fact, I lived a
sort of dual life, and in world of fancy,
as we'll as in the world of plain matter of
| fact about me-"
This Joshua Coffin who brought the
poetry of Burns into house where the
| supply of mental food consisted of twenty
! volumes, (most of them Journals of pioneer
ministers of the society of Friends,) an
almanac, and weekly newspaper, is i'm
mortalized by his grateful pupil in "snow-
| Bound" as the
"Brisk wielder of the birch and rule,
The master of the district school"
Young, merry, self-reliant, dofing his
scholars gown to peddle wares, tuning his
violin at rustic party, or reciting mirth-
provoking versions of classic tales until
Bscs%s nssssS o'Y%Hqs nassfsssl1y ct III hill I'LL
Joshua Coffin was one of the most de.
face, fresh-hued and fair" was welcomed
at every fireside. The poet turns the pic
ture and shows grave side to this rich
nature.
cat his desk he had the look
| And air of one who wisely schemed
And hostage from the future took
In trained thought and lore of book.
Large Drained, clear-eyed, of such as he
Shall Freenom's young apostles be-"
Read the whole of this loving, appreci
stiye, spirited character sketch, and b,
thankful for this Joshua who came to leai
a starving soul out of the desert of tn
commonplace and dull into the enchanted
land of Poesy. Then turn to the poem
entitled "Burns," and learn from it
melodious lines how inspiriting was tn
influence of the Scottish PEASANTS mum
bers upon the farm-lad of Haverill.
"New light one home seen nature beamed,
i New glory over Woman;
And daily life and duty seemed
No longer poor and common.
Invoke to find the simple truth
OF fact and feeling better
= Than all the dreams that held my youth
A still repining debtor"
AS has been noticed, there are number
t of Whittier's words, written in praise G
4 others, that apply more appropriately tina
ANYTHING new that can be said to his ow
!, life, character and work. So, In this lai
Q mentioned poem we find the worth An
beauty of his lighter poems summed u
in this tribute to the ''deathless singer
s who gave to his ey es the clearer vision an
j. TO his SOUL tne JOY oI Inytnmic eApro
p sion.
:, "Not his the song whose thunderous chino
Eternal echoes render,-
10 The mournful ruscan's haunted rhyme
And Milton's starry splendor!
But who his human heart has laid
;. 10 Natures bosom nearer?
10 Who sweetened toll like him, or paid
" To love q tribute dearer?
~ PROGRESSION.
q. The ambitions and enterprises Of tho