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Rev. E. S. ATWOOD then read the following poem : 



"Poeta nascitur, non fit," they say, 



That is, you cannot make him, any way. 



His song bursts forth in sweet spontaneous swell, 



You cannot draw it from a stoned up well; 



No rude compulsion wakes the sleeping lyre 



To thrill with music through each golden wire. 



The sweet south wind with soft .ZEolian blows, 



Too light to crush the petals of the rose, 



Calls from the strings the rich, low breathed refrain, 



That flings the summer's music back again ; 



But blustering Boreas, with his rude emprise, 



All to no purpose with his roughness tries. 



In vain his swaggering, and his furious calls, 



The frightened harp strings answer back in "squalls." 



When ' must " and " shall " stand at the poet's back, 



And drive him on with many a lusty whack, 



What chance for any melody divine 



To voice itself in smoothly flowing line? 



The strident organ, to Italians dear, 



Is what the listeners are doomed to hear. 



'Tis not the best, nor what we like, 'tis true, 



But when the best is lacking, worse must do. 



We looked for Holmes, and Amesbury's bard to come, 



But Whittier's not, and Holmes remains at home. 



Were they but with us, how the gods we'd thank ! 



Alas, they're not Alphonso, turn the crank. 



You've seen the country maid, new come to town, 

 With quiet mien and simple homespun gown; 

 No beauty's artifice she needs nor knows 

 By which the parchment skin is turned to rose; 

 The pearl of nature shines along her face, 

 And real blushes add their wondrous grace. 

 A modest blossom every charm its own 

 All that delights the eye, not bought but grown. 

 But soon the city's cunning tricks are learned, 

 And honest nature out of doors is turned ; 

 And art comes in, to try with skilful hand 

 To mend what fashion says is badly planned. 

 What wondrous transformations then occur ! 

 Arabian Nights grow commonplace to her. 

 The modiste's scissors and the fashion plate, 

 In sweet conjunction work her u up to date." 



