The Somerset reporter., 1893-04-27
The Story of Winters "Snow-
Bound.
rolp ~ " ARTIST.


II should be an Interesting fact To The
readers of this magazine that one OF
Nhitict's beSt.helovcd poems was
originally intended H. a forcrunuer oi
ST. Nicholas. When the publishers of
one of the fifst Juvenile periodicals,
"ODr Dung Folks were castlGg
about for clever people 10 make strong
their early numbers, John {. Whittier
was one Of the first 10 whom they nude
application they asked him Ia wfite
about his boy-liie. Happening 10 be in
the Office OF the publisher at the TIM,
making arrangements for some illuslra-
tion>. | heard much OF the correspon-
dcucc.
In response IL another letter FROM
MIR. James T. Field about the contrihu-
tiou. the peet replied substantially.
''Oh. the matter has grown beyond all
hounds fhec wanted twelve stanzas.
aud three times that are now written.
and the story has scarcely begun: and
moreover. | fear thee will not like it Mr..
Fields teiegraphrd, "Ncnd it along and
let me Judge for myself" The neNt
morning Mr. Fields thrust the iirst
pages al "Snow Bound" into my haud.
rrmarkiug "N lat do you think OF that
for "a christmas hoo,; There j. n pic
tIrr in every line" and truly ii was
50. The sheets Mere sent back with
lust eight words attached. Make il IL
long a> You can. Splendid 80
Two months later the poem WAS finish
ed. and WAS on my way to Amesbury
for an interview With the poet. and 10
gather material in the locality for illus
tratiOns.
had never met Mr.. Whittier, and
with his usual shyness toward strangers
he received me, rs thought, rather
cody, taking refuge behind his fierce
eyebrows the only thing fierce about
him by the WHY. After few minutes
conversation with him, he advised me
to walk to the top of ncighboring
hill and see the view, instead of vast
ing my time with him Late in the
day, on my way toward his house, !
came upon Il charming effect among the
willows of PowoW River, Numbered
in upon the poet with enthusiastic eX-
CARNATIONS concerning the river and the
sunset sky. He made no reply, but his
eyes flashed for moment, and he handed
me "A volume, turning to Il certain page
and stauza, where found, almost word,
for word, the effect that had described
to him. The ice was broken; we saw II
little alike. And soon found out what
had disturbed his usual serenity.
1t appeared that a talkative woman
had invaded his study and read some of
his own poems to him. and after
boring the poor man for two hours
had added the last straw by requesting
"A lock of his hair. This was too much
for even him to endure. The old poet
rose to his full height, stalkcd to the
door, held it open, and solcmnly re-
marked to the unfortunate visitor "Mad-
am, should think thee could see have
none to spare
For some reason. he seemed very all
verse to my visiting his birthplace;
probably its rundown condition troubled
his loving memory.
Nrhec can make much better pic
turc from thy Imagination and the poem
than by going there. Moreover, il is
guarded by dragon, and Il very untidy
dragon ut that, and thee will not find
the old fireplace that is described, but Il
modern Yankee cooking stove. and Il
general commonplace air that will dis
courage thee.
| could only reply, II am instructed
by the publishers to 60 up to the old
home stead, and make sketches on the
spot, and 90 | must.
The woman in charge, Il foreigner,
justified the poets warning. 1t was
very difficult to make her understand
what | wanted But,,at last, succeeded
in having that objectionable cooking
stove and fire-board removed; and to my
10Y there we're the very cranes and hooks
and chains that had helped to cook the
dinners fifty Years before; and it took
but little Imagination to fancy that be-
tween the andirons' struggling feet
The mug of cider simmered slow.
Being so far fortunate, | requested
that might go up garnet and see if
could find any of the old furniture.
This was strongly objected to, but Ii
naly penetrated to the dark and dusty
old attic, and again tony joy found rem
nants Of old spinning wheels, chairs, and
tables. These | carried down stairs and
proppcd up around the room; and then
| went to work, getting very fair
sketch of the interior as it looked seven
ty-tive years ago, when the The old
rudc-fashioned room, burst, ilowcr-like,
into rosy bloom" by the hcartll's light.
After working till nightfall, making
several other sketches about the place,
| returned to .Amesbury. and found the
poet in his study His bright, black
eyes twinkled in the expectation OF
hearing of my discontinue. said not
word, but opened my skctch-book ut the
page illustrating the kitchen interior.
The effect was startling; his face quiv-
cred; he started to his feet, and hasten
ed around his study table, the sketch
book in his hands, and the tears running
down his cheeks, crying, "IIow did thee
do it how did thee do it: lis Just n
we knew it near "A half-ccntury ago -
JL,,.y, L,.u4, in tbrH ~ \jrLfIts