Voices of Freedom, in 1849. Songs of Labor, celebrating the homely beauty of fishing, lumbering, and other forms of toil, was issued the next year.

Snow Bound, published in 1866, had a success rivaling that of Evangeline. Woodberry says: "It is perfect in its conception and complete in its execution; it is the New England home, entire, with its characteristic scene, its incidents of household life, its Christian virtues. It is, in a peculiar sense, the one poem of New England-so completely indigenous that the soil has fairly created it, so genuine as to be better than history." It has been justly compared with Burns's Cotter's Saturday Night and Goldsmith's Deserted Village.

3. The Tent on the Beach, 1867, was a series of narrative tales woven together after the fashion of Longfellow's Tales of a Wayside Inn.

4. Whittier's last years were spent in happy enjoyment of his fame. Enemies, made by his anti-slavery productions, had long since forgiven him, and he was universally loved. He kept leisurely busy with his pen, and in 1890 published a small volume of verses for his friends. His last poem was some birthday lines addressed to his dear friend, Oliver Wendell Holmes.

5. We have no writer of ballads founded on Our national history and tradition who can be compared with Whittier either in the range or skillful treatment of his material. He was the first to use the Indian legends, see his Mogg Megone and the Bridal of Pennacook. He was supremely successful with legends of witchcraft, Quaker persecution, and themes peculiar to New England.

6. Whittier's finest poetry was written after he put

off the title of "Freedom's Trumpeter" and became the gentle "Hermit of Amesbury." His main theme is love of home, humanity, and God. He has been called the most religious of all the poets, "preaching always a creed that is broad, generous, and beautiful." John Bright said that the lofty poem, Eternal Goodness, was worth a crowd of sermons.

7. Among Whittier's best known prose writings are Leaves from Margaret Smith's Journal, a pleasing description of old time manners and customs in New England; Old Portraits and Modern Sketches; Supernaturalism in New England; Child Life in Prose; and Journal of John Woolman.

8. The little girl immortalized In School Days was Lydia G. Ayres, who died at the age of fourteen. "RedRiding Hood," in the poem by that name, was Phoebe Woodman. The Lost Occasion and Ichabod refer to Daniel Webster. In The Tent on the Beach, Bayard Taylor and James T. Fields were the poet's companions. The lady in the Tent existed only in Whittier's imagination.

Whittier's first published poem was The Exile's Departure, which his sister Mary privately selected from his packet of poems and sent to The Free Press. Whittier was helping to mend a fence when the paper containing the poem was thrown to him by the postman who was passing on horseback. The poet says: "I took up the sheet and was surprised and overjoyed to see my lines in the 'Poet's Corner.' I stood gazing at them in wonder, and my uncle had to call me several times to my work before I could recover myself."

10. In School Days was first sent to his editorial

friend, Lucy Larcom, with the following characteristic note: "Friend Lucy, if thee thinks these verses too sentimental throw them into the waste-basket." Miss Larcom did not think them sentimental, and was delighted to print the tender verses for Whittier's admiring friends and readers. Memories was another poem so near to the poet's heart that he hesitated about publishing it.

KING SOLOMON AND THE ANTS.

Out from Jerusalem

The king rode with his great
War chiefs and lords of state,
And Sheba's queen with them.
Comely, but black withal,

To whom, perchance, belongs
That wondrous song of songs,
Sensuous and mystical,

Whereto devout souls turn

In fond ecstatic dream,

And through its earth-born theme

The love of flowers discern.

Proud in the Syrian sun,

In gold and purple sheen,
The dusky Ethiop queen
Smiled on King Solomon.

Wisest of men, he knew
The languages of all

The creatures great or small

That trod the earth or flew.

1

Across an ant-hill led

The king's path, and he heard
Its small folk, and their word
He thus interpreted:

"Here comes the king men greet
As wise and good and just,
To crush us in the dust
Under his heedless feet."

The great king bowed his head,
And saw the wide surprise

Of the Queen of Sheba's eyes
As he told her what they said.

"O king!" she whispered sweet, "Too happy fate have they Who perish in thy way Beneath thy gracious feet!

"Thou of the God-lent crown,

Shall these vile creatures dare Murmur against thee where The knees of kings kneel down?"

"Nay," Solomon replied,

"The wise and strong should seek The welfare of the weak,"

And turned his horse aside.

His train, with quick alarm,

Curved with their leader round
The ant-hill's peopled mound,

And left it free from harm.

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121

I. Read the poem carefully. What is the Biblical reference in the second stanza?

II. Write a paraphrase of the poem.

III. Divide the poem into parts or scenes. For illustra

tion:

I. The king, in company with his great war chiefs and lords of state and the Queen of Sheba, rides out from Jerusalem, etc.

IN SCHOOL DAYS.

(This poem is such an old favorite that it is thought unnecessary to give it here. Observe the following suggestions:

I. Commit the poem to memory.

II. Write a paraphrase of the piece; i. e., tell the story in your own words.

III. Make an outline of the piece, as follows:

1.

Position of the school-house:

a. Compared to what.

b. Description of surroundings.