The Poems of Mary Howitt
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m sfint "of :, *«. / /\ "ov* .y "^o* 4. O »• V V ^o^ »°-v <V f » v, 6 .* v ++ ' ^ c%t ,. * ^Vtx^«^r .. ;_^. —./#/.*- POEMS MARY HOWITT. A MEMOIR. Go little book, and to the young and kind, Speak there cf pleasant hours and goodly things. PHILADELPHIA : PUBLISHED BY JOHN LOCKEN, No. 311 Market Street. 1844. "is** Gift Mr*. Hennen Jennings April 26, 1 933 Stereotyped by s douglas wveth, PRINTED BY T. » & P. G. COLLINS. CONTENTS. —+— PAGE. The Poor Scholar .... The Sorrow of Teresa . 27 5TMNS AND FIRE-SIDE VERSES Marien's Pilgrimage : Parti. 56 Part II. 62 Part III. 67 Part IV. 73 Part V: . 77 Part VI. 83 Part VII. 89 Part VIII. 93 Part IX. 98 Part X. 105 Part XI. 112 Part XII. 121 Old Christmas 130 The Twelfth Hour 133 The Blind Boy an d his Siste r 134 The Poor Child's Hynin 138 : : PAGE. The Boy of the Southern Isle Parti 139 Part II. 145 Part III. : . 149 Easter Hymns Hymn I.—The Two Marys . II.—The Angel . Ill*—The Lord Jesus IV—The Eleven . The Two Estates .... Life's Matins A Life's Sorrow ..... The Old Friend and the New . Mabel on Midsummer Day : Parti Part II BIRDS AND FLOWERS, AND OTHER COUNTRY The Stormy Pelerel . The Poor Man's Garden The Oak-Tree . The Carolina Parrot . Morning Thoughts Harvest Field-Flowers Summer Woods . The Cuckoo The Use of Flowers . Sunshine Summer The Child and the Flowers CONTENTS. V PAGE. Childhood .... 212 L' Envoi . 216 SKETCHES OF NATURAL HISTORY: The Coot . 219 The Eagle , 221 The Garden .... 220 The Spider and the Fly . 226 TALES IN VEKSE: Andrew Lee .... 230 The Wanderer's Return . 232 A Swinging Song . 239 Ellen More . 240 A Day of Disaster . 244 • The Young Mourner . 249 The Soldier's Story . 251 The Child's Lament . 257 A Day of Hard Work . 260 The Old Man and the Carrion Crovr 264 The Little Mariner . 268 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES : The Sale of the pet Lamb of the Cottage 274 America . 278 Mourning on Earth . 29,1 Rejoicing in Heaven . 292 An English Grave at Mussooree . 293 A Forest Scene in the days of Wick liffe 297 MEMOIR MARY HOWITT. Mary Howitt was born at Coleford, in Glouces- tershire, where her parents were making a temporary residence ; but shortly after her birth they returned to their accustomed abode at Uttoxeter, in Stafford- shire, where she spent her youth. The beautiful Ar- cadian scenery of this part of Staffordshire was of a character to foster a deep love of the country ; and is described with great accuracy in her recent prose work "Wood Leighton." By her mother she is de- scended from an ancient Irish family, and also from Wood, the ill-used Irish patentee, who was ruined by the selfish malignity of Dean Swift,—from whose as- persions his character was vindicated by Sir Isaac Newton. A true statement of the whole affair may be seen in Ruding's "Annals of Coinage." Charles Wood, 8 MEMOIR OF her grandfather, was the first who introduced platina into England from Jamaica, where he was assay- master. Her parents being strict members of the so- ciety of Friends, and her father being, indeed, of an old line who suffered persecution in the early days of Quakerism, her education was of an exclusive char- acter ; and her knowledge of books confined to those approved of by the most strict of her own people, till a later period than most young persons become ac- quainted with them,, Their effect upon her mind was, consequently, so much the more vivid. Indeed, she describes her overwhelming astonishment and de- light in the treasures of general and modern litera- ture, to be like what Keates says his feelings were when a new world of poetry opened upon him, through Chapman's " Homer,"—as to the astronomer, " When a new planet swims into his ken." Among poetry there was none which made a stron- ger impression than our simple old ballad, which she and a sister near her own age, and of similar taste and temperament used to revel in, making at the same time many young attempts in epic, dramatic, and ballad poetry. In her twenty-first year she was married to William Howitt, a gentleman well calcu- lated to encourage and promote her poetical and in- tellectual taste,—himself a poet of considerable genius, and the author of various well-known works. We have reason to believe that her domestic life has been a singularly happy one. Mr. and Mrs. Howitt MAR if HOWITT. 9 spent the year after their marriage in Staffordshire. They then removed to Nottingham, where they con- tinued to reside until a few years ago, and are now living at Esher, in Surrey. Mary Howitt published jointly with her husband two volumes of miscellaneous poems, in 1823 ; and, in 1834, she gave to the world " The Seven Tempta- tions," a series of dramatic poems ; a work which, in other times, would have been alone sufficient to have made and secured a very high reputation : her \ dramas are full of keen perceptions, strong and accu- rate delineations, and powerful displays of character. She afterwards prepared for the press a collection of her most popular ballads, a class of writing in which she greatly excels all her contemporaries. She is also well known to the young by her " Sketches of Natu- ral History," "Tales in Verse," and other productions written expressly for their use and pleasure. Mrs. Howitt is distinguished by the mild, unaffected, and conciliatory manners, for which "the people called Quakers" have always been remarkable. Her writings, too, are in keeping with her character : in all there is evidence of peace and good-will ; a tender and a trusting nature; a gentle sympathy with hu- manity ; and a deep and fervent love of all the beau- tiful works which the Great Hand has scattered so plentifully before those by whom they can be felt and appreciated. She has mixed but little with the world ; the home-duties of wife and mother have been to her productive of more pleasant and far happier results than struggles for distinction amid crowds; she has made her reputation quietly but securely; 10 MEMOIR OF MARY HOWITT. and has laboured successfully as well as earnestly to inculcate virtue as the noblest attribute of an En- glish woman. If there be some of her contempora- ries who have surpassed her in the higher qualities of poetry,—some who have soared higher, and others who have taken a wider range,—there are none whose writings are better caculated to delight as well as inform. Her poems are always graceful and beauti- ful, and often vigorous ; but they are essentially fem- inine ; they afford evidence of a kind and generous nature, as well as of a fertile imagination, and a safely-cultivated mind. She is entitled to a high place among the Poets of Great Britain ; and a still higher among those of her sex by whom the intel- lectual rank of women has been asserted without presumption, and maintained without display. s ; ! THE POOR SCHOLAR. PERSONS. THE TOOK SCHOLAR. ACHZIB, THE PHILOSOPHER. THE MOTHER. LITTLE BOY. The Scholar'' s Room—Evening. THE POOR SCHOLAR AND LITTLE BOY. Little Boy, reading. " These things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation : but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." Here endeth the 16th chapter of the Gospel according to St. John. Poor Scholar. Most precious words ! Now go your wa^; The summer fields are green and bright Your tasks are done.— Why do you stay ? Christ gave his peace to you: Good nigh't Boy. You look so pale, Sir ! you are worse ; Let me remain, and be your nurse ! 11 ;!—; ; —; ! ! 12 THE £ OOR SCHOLAR. Sir, when my mother has been ill. I've kept her chamber neat and still, And waited on her all the day ! Schol. Thank you! but yet you must not stay; Still, still my boy, before— we part Receive my blessing 'tis my last! I feel Death's hand is on my heart, And my life's sun is sinking fast Yet mark me, child, I have no fear, 'Tis thus the Christian meets his end: I know my work is finished here, And God—thy God too— is my friend The joyful course has just began Life is in thee a fountain strong Yet look upon a dying man, Receive his words and keep them long Fear God, all-wise, omnipotent, In him we live and have our being He hath all love, all blessing sent Creator—Father—All-decreeing ! Fear him, and love, and praise, and trust, Yet have of man no slavish fear; Remember kings, like thee, are dust, And at one judgmen»must appear. But virtue, and its holy fruits, The poet's soul, the sage's sense, These are exalted attributes ; And these demand thy reverence. But, boy, remember this, e'en then Revere the gifts, but not the men Obey thy parents ; they are given ! ! ! THE POOR SCHOLAR. 13 To guide our inexperienced youth ; Types are they of the One in heaven, Chastising but in love and truth ! Keep thyself pure—sin doth efface The beauty of our spiritual life : Do good to all men—live in peace And charity, abhorring strife ! The mental power which God has given, As I have taught thee, cultivate ; Thou canst not be too wise for heaven, If thou dost humbly consecrate Thy soul to God ! and ever take In his good book delight ; there lies The highest knowledge, which will make Thy soul unto salvation wise ! My little boy, thou canst not know How strives my spirit fervently, How my heart's fountains overflow With yearning tenderness for thee ! God keep and strengthen thee from sin ! God crown thy life with peace and joy, And give at last to enter in The city of his rest My boy Farewell—I have had joy in thee ; I go to higher joy —oh, follow me ! But now farewell Boy.