The record-union., 1898-07-23

shire Hills is very good; I am not sure,
however, that it will reach the children
SO readily as older folk THE Robin and
the Violet IS just right: Death and the
be generalized more for children's use:
The First Christmas Tree" Is so good
that nothing could be better. II is
enough to make your reputation. The
Singer Mother is very good; but i would
advise your not naming Death and AM
bltion, describe them. rather, by some
charming; you could not improve it
(.'The Chinese Silk Dress seems TO me
the better title-) The Stars, Slumber
Story is much too good to omit; but
you might rewrite it. perhaps leave out
some of the little songs; not because they
are not good, but because, to my think
ing, songs in children's stories should be
nmited unit TO a quatrain or two at most.
The Oak Tree and the Ivy is again.
your very best work, and, will satisfy
THE Coquettish Doll' is entertaining and
witty. but, to me, it strongly recalled the
style of Hans Christian Andersen; where
suits you better THE Fly-Away Stick
Horse" stories are of unequal merit. l
like the Legend of the Mountain and the
Sea- far the best; it is very good in
OF them; but there are enough and to
spare, | am sure, TO delight all childlike
children from San Francisco to Boston;
and l will not think i'll of my country
people as to believe that they will not
be great success. You must have en-
joyed writing them; they are not only
tender and beautiful, but they carry with
them an aroma of the purest and sweet
est morality. Believe me very cordially
- JULIAN HAWTHORNE.
Eugene Field, Esq.
1t is hardly necessary to say that the
things that appealed to Hawthorne
have since appealed to the world, and
that the fame of Field will rest largely
on the poetry that appeared in other
stories and volumes than the ones men
toned
'One of the best things that Field
ever wrote, not even excepting Little
Boy Blue, said Mr.. Hadley, lis
known as Lines to the Passing Saint
1t happens that / know a great deal
about this and the way Field wrote
such poetry. He was a student of
childhood and of children's games and
minds from the time he was a very
young man, though this part of his
nature would not by any means i'm
press the casual observer. You will
see that all of his poetry that deals
with childhood is of the simplest pos
sible character. He made his name
and his hit in literature by the heart
and simplicity that appeared in all that
he ever did. I can do no better to
make my meaning clear than to quote,
or refer you to the lines"
The following six verses from the
poem in question, which has not been
so generally printed as Little Boy
Blue" which is set to music, convey
the meaning of Mr.. Hadley's words and
show the tenderness and simplicity of
Fields best work:
TO THE PASSING SAINT.
AS tonight you came your way,
Bearing earthward heavenly joy,
Tell me, 0 dear Saint, / pray
Did you see my little boy?
BY some fairy voice beguiled
Once he wandered from my sight
He is such a little child,
He should have my love this night.
If upon your way you see
One whose beauty is divine,
Will you send him back to me?
He is lost, and he is mine.
Tell him that his little chair
Nestles where the sunbeams meet;
That the shoes he used to wear
Yearn TO kiss his dimpled feet.
o. dear Saint, as on you go.
Through the glad and sparkling frost,
Bid those bells ring high and low
For a little child that's lost!
O. dear Saint that blessest men
With the grace of Christmas joy,
Soothe this heart with love again
Give me back my little boy!