Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1906-07-12
Looking Backward
AN UNPUBLISHED POEM BY
JOHN GEEENLLAF WHITTIER

From the Independent.
during Mhittiet's residence in Fnllauel-
rhia, l~S5S-lsiO, a young lady friend, OF that
city. herself ,he writer OF pleasing Ntise'
Miss Elizabeth Nicholson. began a manu-
script collection of his poems. Including
literally everything he had puhlishel az
that time. Tbs collection also ineiuiei
many saortiye and s~atiricai verses, heS hts
published, but circulated among ms
friends. she was helped In securing MS
earliest work, his boyish poems. By W.;
Whl,tier's sister III zabeth. VINO spent
some months in Philadelphia, while ne
was editing the Pennsylvania Freeman.
While the collection WAS making winter
was NOS aware of IL. and gaze no lelp.
lie was naturally annoyed when Il hand
somely bound volume OF neat manuscript
was handed Inn with "A request that he
would write a preface for H.. ~ had
hoped that The vain dreams and follios of
MS early times had been consigned 10
oblivion, and did not relish the raising Of
their ghosts while he was engaged IN Sc
iious work. But at s Was III manuscript
only. and for the porusal of intimate
friends. he consented to furnish thc desired
preface. with the result given below. The
lines have a value as showing the attitude
of the poet III middle life toward the less
'unscllish ambitions of his youth. The
unique volume referred to. with its intro
duction in Whitticr's handwriting. is now
in the possession of Miss Nicholson's rcla-
tivcs. 5. Il. Pickard.l
Sins Of my lucklcss boyhood: Ghosts Of
Vain dreams and folles of my carly times.
Fruits of brief respite from the Students
or connel at intervals Of labor DER
When stretched at ease where oaken shad-
ows lay,
And tho stream winded at my feet.
The unconscious OK that painted at my
The dog tina. fondly his young master
eyed.
Aud ~, ~. lL,,--a r.. ~ r..--. a.
Alone rude snatclles of their measure
Or uttered when the worlds %nchantment
on dazziei eye or kind.iny spirit burst:
When fattery's voice n wonan's g%entlest
tone
Woke thoughts and feelings heretofore
unknown: ,
When halls where wealth and -eauty, wit
and lnirth.
And taste refined. and cloquence and
Felt and iiffused the intellect's high joy.
Opened to wolceme even ii rustic boy;
Or where ambitions lip of flame and fear
Burned like the tempter's at my listening
And a proud spirit. hidde deep and long,
hose up for strife, stern. resolute and
strong,
Conscious Of power. and proudly looking
up
To the high places of the land with hope.
The idle dreams of the enthusiast boy.
lmagination's sorrow and it's joy
Woes upon paper. misery in realns.
Distress in albums. and despair in
The dim world Of the ideal-all the vain
And And shahowy t~ribu.ations Of the brain
Inc Serkieyism OF poetry. which sees
The real dream. and dreams realities
thoughts born of feelings row disowned
and spurned.
Breafh:ngs of hopes for which my spirit
yeaIned-
I look upon ye with no kindly gaze
yS frail Inementos of my boyish days,
! love not now, with manhood soberer eye
To rca. the lesson of your vanity.
Record of time m.sspent, of mind abused,
Of God-given powers in folly's service
used.
oh for the power to dedicate anew
Heart. soul and spirit to the right and
The morning incense of a heart like mine!
But vain the wish. Let the time past suf-
For idle thoughts and worse than vanit,es.
Thy will. Oh Father! hath it not been
Thy gentle teachings nave they not been
Have | not heard amid life's stormy din
The voice of bland entreaiy entering in.
When midst my selfish aims of power and
fame,
The mournful signing of the captive came
And q proud heart through all its triple
steel
Meibu at OlnerS woe, ana learned to feelo
Oh for Thine aid to bend anew the knee:
And turn my spirit wholly unto Thee;
Io.sive UP all-nay cease to claim as mine
In pride of heart, powers which alone are
Thine:
To Thee the abused and wasted gifts re-
store.
Nor dare abuse Thy holy bounty more.
And thou whose partial hand hath kindly
penned
These frail and wayside offerings OF a
friend
Who, cold and calm in outward seeming.
yet
Hath never learned a Kindness to forget
Thou unto whom is given that gift Of
Which. pure itself. delighteth still to find
Beauty IN all things, nXiou to make
known
Another's gifts. while careless of thine
Forgive me, If in gazing coolly now.
With panhood's cautious eye and thought
Worn brow,
Even with a grateful sense of secret glad
ness,
There blends the shadow of regretful sad.
ness.