Whitter's First Poem

We Iwve before us in Mr. WhittierY iiaiulwriting the lirst poem of hls thaa was ever puhlished. In lS2ti. when lit was in liis ai] eteenth year, h Lefi ii the dooi of the office oí t I-'i-ec I'ivss. ii weekh paper Uien published by Williani I.ln;,ii Garrwon, in Newburyport. ftarrison had just attalned bis majority, iniiltliis was bis i'ivsi vi-dI mv in mirnalisiu. Itiiüix 'interest yoiing vrritera lor the prese of the present day to heaa! the stocy o iliis liist i i i - 1 - r j i - v effort of a poet aow crownèd with yciirs and with honors. 11 wás niany weeks after yoimg Whitticr lelt liis nianiisciipt to Is fate before Ké licanl lliHii il. e was Uien working apon liis tatlier's ï-ncky iarra in llü ciliill. and liis lalliei' was a pat - van of the Free Press. WJeek by week the paper arriyed, and the heart of tlie yoüilg poet sank within hinias he lH)keürl in vain for bis verses. One day he was at Work with liis ancle Muses repairing theatene fenceby the bightway, be going aloog oo the outsideralacing the s'ones knoekeil lioin the wall hy sheep tlial hail 3craiubled over it. While so engaged the postman caine along on liorsebaek, and, to save going In the house with the paper, he tossefl it to yoiuiji Wliittiei'. It was opened with trembling flngors. Manya writer knows the eai-t. sensalion 0Í hope without etpectatien, so aften expejrienced in regard to the Brstlinga of the brain. The surprise of finding liis ; ' 1 1 1 at tlie "heaa of the corner" was so bewilderéd that he was dazed by it, and he says he stood look int? .it it a long time. and is sure he f liet not i'ead a word. At length bis uacle caJled hini bapk to liis senses by bidding him keep at work. . success in future years lias ever stirred such i tumult of eraotïohs, as may weii be bélieved. Garrisoh wa8 so lmpressed with lus ni'w eontributor'a work that he soughi hifu out, coming up to Ilaverhill on ík u'scl a-k to interview him. When (i.inisou cal led young Whittier was at work in the lield. He wastold a fíent'oman was at the house ini lirinc for li) ïii. Nobody had ever calitd fór hlm lift .]■, and he feit like running trtvay. Blij he rt ï 1 1 1 Uu' licniBe by the lnek dopt, "slieked lip," nul BOOO stuud in the pirscncc ut' tbe. young editor, who encouraged hip to make good use of Uie talent he had displayed. Wliittier's fnther came in diiring their interview, and begged Cratrisoh rnrl to jmt such nol ons into the head oí his son. Bat it was loo ];ile; the cl;iin;ii,'e was done! Thi was the flrsi meeting of the tw men, al'lerwaril so iiitiiniitely associatcil in anli-slavery work.