Washerwoman To A Poet

Surely faw honsewarmings - and a housewarnnug is olie of the most meniorable and significant of domestio cele.brations - are likely to be remembered with more Batisfaotion and pride thau that whioh attonded the flrst occupancy of the dwelling of Mra. Kate Ciioate of Ainesbury. Hhe was the poet Whittier's wasfaerwotnau, and wbeu by persistent industry she had earnod a home for herself and her family he v.as one of the foreïnost among the ueighbora and friends whoorgauized the festivitíes and heightened thedelight of their hostess by leaving substaiuial tokens of their regard, includiug a complete set of furnitnre for the uew parlor. Mr. Whittier was present amoug the guests and made the speech of congratnlatioti, couclnding it with the recitation of a poem which he modestly deforíbed as a piece of machine poetry iutrusted to him for the occasion. It was his own, of course, aud it is given in full in his "Life and Letters," reoently pnblished. The last three verses are as follows: Tlianks. tlit-n, to Kate Chonte! Let the idlo tako note What their fingers were matle for. She, eheort'ul and jolly, Worked on late and early And bought- what she paid for. Xevcr valnly repining Nor befging nor whining. The morning star twinkle (ju no beart that's lighter As she makes the world whiter And smooths out its wrmkle. So long lifu to K:itc! May her hrir.s have to wait Till they're gray In attendanoe. And the rtatiron pr66fl on, ütill teaching its lesson üf brave independe.iice. Mr. Whittier's early poenis accorded, in "Songs of Labor," due poetic honors to tha professions of drover, slioeruaker, shipbuilder, farmer and fishermau. It is pleasant to füid him also gracefully reoogniziug the worth of a professiou uo less useful aud honorable, but less often honored. "Long life to Kate," too, he has doubtless secured, in transferring her fiatiron and all f rom the steamyrealm of the kitcheu to the more romantic atmosphere of verse.