382 JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER. 



was at Washington in 1845. Apart from that, his knowledge 

 of actual slaves must have been derived chiefly from fugitives, 

 whose versions of their experience must wholly have confirmed 

 his most extreme views. But what mattered that? When one 

 knows a thing evil, one need not study it in detail to know that 

 right and justice demand its extinction. From such fanatical, 

 heroic logic there is no escape. We have seen, I said, what 

 his actual conduct was. For thirty years and more his words 

 supported, defended, urged on such lines of conduct. Occasion- 

 ally, in his own words, 



" The cant of party, school, and sect, 

 Provoked at times his honest scorn, 

 And Folly, in its gray respect, 

 He tossed on satire's horn." * 



But he lacked humor or wit to make his satire really powerful 

 or trenchant. His words that really did their work, the words 

 that still tell the story of the great public movement in which 

 he was a foremost figure, were those simple, passionate utter- 

 ances that came straight from his heart. 



There is room here to quote only a few. But a very few will 

 suffice, I think, to give some taste of the quality of all. At 

 twenty-six he wrote, for the meeting of the Anti-Slavery Society 

 in New York, a hymn.f Here are a few stanzas: 



" When from each temple of the free, 

 A nation's song ascends to Heaven, 

 Most Holy Father ! unto thee 



May not our humble prayer be given? 



" Thy children all, though hue and form 

 Are varied in Thine own good will 

 With Thy own holy breathings warm, 

 And fashioned in Thine imacfe still. 



"to"- 



*' For broken heart, and clouded mind, 

 Whereon no human mercies fall ; 

 O be Thy gracious love inclined. 

 Who, as a Father, pitiest all. 



"And grant, O Father! that the time 

 Of Earth's deliverance may be near. 

 When every land and tongue and clime 

 The message of Thy love shall hear." 



* Poetical Works, Vol. II. p. 120. f Ibid., Vol. III. p. 29. 



