The Washington weekly post., 1900-12-18

l.H on Dr. Holmes, she declined with
.s.-t. and lsft Julia free to invite Edith.
.e tss rVo friends walked up the short
e-sf u stone steps TO the front door.
~ tssrts saEk little. To make a call
g-r roe. was really a rather Formidable
-sa-s and they pressed each others hands
o.. ff.y heard the maid opening the door
10 s5n.t them.
.I1.r wait here FOR a moment" said the
nsG after they had inquired for the mas
al Oh th. house, and she showed them
rta o small room at the left OF the en-
trance 10 seemed 70 DC merely a reception
room bst it was very pretty with its white
woodwork and large Powered yellow pa
y-r There was a carved table IN the cen
I.T With writing materials and inkstand,
Ir3 Htle other furniture besides a few
handsome chairs. Tall bookcases match
Ir -ae woodwork occupied the rccesses,
80 they were filled with books In SUBJ
GaHtaI bindirgs.
Iu a moment the maid had returned and
tske- them 10 follow her At the head of
tE. broad stairs they saw the poet himself
ftlrdlug 20 meet them with outstretched
hand. " hen Julia mentioned Edlth's
came. "Ah," he said. that IS a good old
Boston Hane, and. II / mistake not,
sstd % know your grandfather" and then
Ehen Edith had satisfied him on this point
1c turned 20 Julia. and in banterlng way
spoke of the service she had done him
.aat windy day. Then he made them sit
Ipwn beside him. one on each side. while
De- occupied a large leather armchair
.rtwn up before his open fire, and asked
Them one or two questions about their
studies and their taste in literature. AS
he talked Julia's eyes wandered 10 the
bronze figure OF Father Time on the man
telpiece, and then to the little revolving
bookcase on which she could not neIp
noticing a number Of volumes Of Dr.
Holmes own works. The old gentleman
following her glance. said
They make a pretty fair showing for
one man. but my publishers are getting
ready 10 bring out complete edition of
my works, and that we'll. that makes
me realize my age" After a moment. as
II rejecting. he asked quickly, Does either
Of YOU write poetry%'
'Oh, no, sir" answered Edith. quickly
"We couldn't"
why, II isn't so very hard; ar least
! should Judge not by the numbers Of COP
lrs " verses that are sent to me TO exam
l1e Poetry deals with common human
emotion. and almost any one with a fair
'o-"DL-ary thinks that he can express
"-'-ssN IA verse But nearly everything
worth saying has been said. Words and
expressions seem very felicitous 10 the
writer, but he cannot expect other persons
TO see his work as he sees it."
II depends, | suppose" said Edith, shy
~ on whose work il is"
am afraid, replied the poet. that
theTe Is no absolute standard for verse
makers IL has always seemed TO me
Ihat lhe writer Of verse Is almost In the
position OF a man who makes a mold for
plaster cast or something OF that kind
Whatever liquid mixture he puts into that
mold will surely lit it, So the verse is the
mold into which the poet put his thought.
ana from his point OF view It is sure 10
nit" -
Ihough Edith may not have grasped the
4u' ioice OF the poets meaning. Julia was
suIe mat she understood him.
DO you really have a great deal of noe
Try sent you 10 read?" she asked
Every mail" he answered ..brings me-
et'erS from strangers, from every corner
or the globe. Some contain poems in my
huhof' as specimens Of what the poet can |
40 Others are accompanied by long man
uscripts on which my opinion is asked. I
am chary now about expressing any opin-
Ion. Tor publishers have way of quoting
very unfairly in their advertisements. If
l write your book would be very charm
ing were II not SO caTeIessly written the
publisher quotes merely very charming
and prints this in large type"
Both girls smiled at the expression of
tiou sorrow that came over the poets
face - ne spoke.
ana l am SO very unfortunate my
sell ne added, when / try To get an |
autograph of any consequence Now. II
1r
III which l thought he would be interest |
eu' lie returned the compliment with /
copy of one of his books But" here ne |
paused, The wrote his thanks on a post- |
card! Again the girls laughed. Dear
NE. ne concluded, this cannot interest |
Stuhs creatures like you; do you care for |
On yes, indeed we do" cried Julia, |
ana We Just love your poetry"
Wen, well, said the poet, with a twin |
h-e IN MS eye perhaps you would like |
L. hear me read something?"
i-e DeAInlng races that met his glance /
were sufficient answer, and taking a |
Volume from the table, he began. I'm a |
Voice that was trife husky, though fun |
%. expression,
I-s h The ship OF pearl which, poets feign.
st.'s lhe GHshgdoBed main
l-s Neuturesomv bark that hings
Ga the sweet summer wind its yenturesoue wings
in guiis enchanted, where the siren sings
And coral reefs lie bare
Where The cold sea maids raise ;e sun their stream
iug hair.
When he had finished the stanza. he
looked mp inCuiringly.
'''1e Chambered Nautilus" murmured
Julia.
'Ah, You know it, then?'' said the poet.
.uh, YES ! love H." she answered.
Then with a smile % appreciation. adj
j-sung his glasses. Dr. Holmes read 10
The end OF the poem in his wonderfully
musical voice When II was finished, the
girls would have liked 10 ask for more,
tat tar poet rose TO replace the volume
Come" he said, ''you have listened 10
'he poem which Of all ! have written /
lar the best. now / Wisf 10 show you my
iayorle view" Following him To the
deep hay-window, they locked cut across
the river IL was much the same view TO !,
which Julia was accustomed In her un-
oo.s house. and vet IL was looking at the
IlFer with new eyes 10 have the poet
pointing out an the towns. seven or eight
o. number, which he could see from that
window. SomervIle, MedfOrd. Belmont,
Arlington. CEarlestuWn. BroOkine. and
oue or two others perhaps, besides Cam
bridge with It's spires and chimncys.
"lH winter" said Dr. Holmes there is
not much go see besides the tugboats and
tle guils But in the early spring II Is a
delight 20 me 10 watch the crews rowing
by, and aa occasional pleasure-boat- All!
! remember" but what II was he ala
not say, Cor as Edith turned her eyes to-
ward au Oh painting on the wall near by
Doc said, "Of course you know what that
lsi o. course you recognize the famous
Dorothy q NOM look al the portrait
closely and tell me what you think OF
lAai cheek. Gould you imagine any one
s' cruel as % have stuck a swcre into
ltt Yet there. II your eyes are sharp
enough you VIII see where a British SOL
o.eT o' JAe Revolution thrust his Fapier."
M ..u L.Ln .-Lrla ulrnItt.a -. -. |