Whittier's Childhood--surroundings Among Which He Was Raised

H'hiltier contributed to the christening reiymonies of one of the littlo lakes close lo Cast Haverhill, among the hills of old New England, where he was bom. by his poiin eotitled, " Kenola Lake." It closes wiih this devout stanza: And wlii'ii the Bummer days grow dim Aud Huilt mili walk the mírale aea. Jlevlve In uk the thoughts In him Who walked on GalÏÏlee. The veritable old home is a two story hoase with a large chiruney iu the center. Tbe sniall square porch at the side of the hoase, and particularly the stone step, must be noticed, for it was on this doorstone gray and rude, that the "barefoot boj," Whittier being hiniself the hero of the poem, enjoyed his Bowl of inlllc aud breiul. The house stands in a hollow and the roads about it form a sort of irregular triangle, and by driving back and forth you can get not only the views given in Bifl'i picture of the place, but others equally attractive. On the drive toward the houi-e and near Kenola Lake, is a short street, wLieh is worth whilo to drive down. Here you will find a picturesque ono-story house, with a door in the center reaching to the roof. I tbink you cannot fail to recognize it trom this description. It was in the home of Mrs. Caldwell, the "eider sister" of the poet, of whom he writes in " Snow Bound:" O heart so tlred! ttaou ïiast the best That Heaven could gve the- rest ¦ Bestrrom all bitter thoughU and thlngs How many a poor one's blesalngs went With thee beneath the low green tent, Whose curtaln never outward swlu,'8 I Oo the return drive you will wish to see the spot where stood the school house of Whittier's childhood, and of the poem, entitled, " In School Days." In tbispoein, you will remember, he has oelebrated the devotion of the little girl with Tangled Kolden curls. And brown eye full of grieving, who said, I'ra sorry that I spelt the word, I hate to go above you ; " Beoause,'T the brown eye lower feil, " Because," you see, "ï love you. " You must take the road as you drive toward Haverhill proper (the homestead is East Haverhill), which will bringthe house on the lef'fand thebarnon the right. Soon atter passing the iatter, and on the same side of the road, you will come to the site of the school house, which was not until within a short time torn down, much to the regret of all tourists. Here, says one of his comnan ons, Whittier used to sit and read bible stories when the other boys were at recess. I can easily believe this of him, for his poems abound in scriptural alluíions that he used with a skill which cquld only be gained by early familiarity with the old and new testaments.