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ton. Whittier has a very modest estimate of his own powers, 

 and does not claim even equality with the early English poets. 

 He has been termed with some justice the Burns of New Eng- 

 land — both poets having the flavor of the soil that gave themi 

 birth. 



Whittier's inspiration is always sanctified and ennobled by a 

 love for universal humanity, by a high ideal of the domestic vir- 

 tues, reverence for the home circle, and a desire for the develop- 

 ment of man's better nature. No one puts so much of himself 

 into his poetry. Indeed the poetry is simply the outgrowth of. 

 the man. 



Whittier's peculiarly local poetry of Essex County and its 

 traditions was dwelt upon. In the pro and anti-slavery days 

 for twenty-five years before the war, when the feeling against 

 abolitionists was intense, Whittier joined the cause and became 

 ostracized from polite society — nor did he ever regret it or 

 swerve from his course. The meek Quaker of earlier days 

 gave place to the fiery souled reformer, although his anti-slave 

 lyrics were not altogether to his taste. Long years after the 

 struggle he wrote : "I see a higher value on my name as ap- 

 pended to the anti-slavery declaration of 1833 than on the title 

 page of any book." 



Most poets are famous for their loves, and Whittier seems to 

 have been no stranger to the tender passion — 



"Because," — the brown eyes lower fell, — 

 "Because, you know, I love you.." 



Is it to be supposed he did not reciprocate the sentiment? 

 especially as he can say two score years later — 



"Dear girl I The grass above her grave 



Has forty years been growing, 

 Yet memory to a gray haired man 



That sweet child face is showing." 



In closing a poem in response to Mary for a present of a 

 basket of Mayflowers, be humorously says — 



