THE POEMS OF MARY HOWITT. WITH A MEMOIR.

Go little book, and to the young and kind, Speak there of pleasant hours and goodly things.

PHILADELPHIA: PUBLISHED BY JOHN LOCKEN, No. 311 Market Street.

1844.

Stereotyped by S. DOUGLAS WYETH. PRINTED BY T. K. & P. G. COLLINS.

[Pg iii]

CONTENTS.

[Pg v]

[Pg 7]

MEMOIROFMARY HOWITT.

Mary Howitt was born at Coleford, in Gloucestershire, where her parents were making a temporary residence; but shortly after her birth they returned to their accustomed abode at Uttoxeter, in Staffordshire, where she spent her youth. The beautiful Arcadian 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 descended 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 aspersions 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,[Pg 8] her grandfather, was the first who introduced platina into England from Jamaica, where he was assay-master. Her parents being strict members of the society 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 character; 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 acquainted with them. Their effect upon her mind was, consequently, so much the more vivid. Indeed, she describes her overwhelming astonishment and delight in the treasures of general and modern literature, 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,

Among poetry there was none which made a stronger 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 calculated to encourage and promote her poetical and intellectual 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[Pg 9] spent the year after their marriage in Staffordshire. They then removed to Nottingham, where they continued 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 Temptations,” 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 accurate 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 Natural 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 humanity; and a deep and fervent love of all the beautiful 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;[Pg 10] and has laboured successfully as well as earnestly to inculcate virtue as the noblest attribute of an English woman. If there be some of her contemporaries 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 calculated to delight as well as inform. Her poems are always graceful and beautiful, and often vigorous; but they are essentially feminine; 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 intellectual rank of women has been asserted without presumption, and maintained without display.

[Pg 11]

THE POOR SCHOLAR.

PERSONS.

THE POOR 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.

[The Poor Scholar sits for some time as [Pg 14]in meditation, then rising and putting away all his books, except the Bible, he sits down again.

[A slight knocking is heard at the door, and the Philosopher enters.

[He covers his face for a moment, then, rises up with sudden energy.

[The Philosopher goes out, abashed. The scholar falls back into his chair, exhausted; after some time recovering, he faintly raises himself.

[He opens his Bible and inscribes it.

[He lays a small sum of money with the Bible.

[He writes a few words, which he incloses with them, and making all into a packet, seals them up.

[Shortly after this is done, he becomes suddenly paler—a convulsive spasm passes over him; when he recovers, he slowly rises, and kneels upon his pallet-bed.

[He falls speechless upon the bed. His mother enters hurriedly.

[Pg 25]

[Pg 27]

THE SORROW OF TERESA.

PERSONS.

OLAF. TERESA, HIS WIFE. PAOLO, THEIR CHILD. ACHZIB, AS A NORTHERN HUNTER. HULDA, AN OLD WOMAN.

SCENE I.

A little chapel in a gloomy northern forest—Teresa on her knees before the image of the Virgin.

[Pg 28][She bows her head, kneeling in silence—as she prepares to leave the chapel, enter PAOLO, with a few snow-drops in his hand.

[She again bows herself before the Virgin, then taking the child’s hand, goes out.

SCENE II.

Night—the same forest; the pine trees are old and splintered, and covered with snow; it is a scene[Pg 29] of desolation—at a little distance a small house is seen through an opening of the wood.

Enter ACHZIB, as a northern hunter.

[He goes farther into the forest.

[Pg 31]

SCENE III.

The following morning—the interior of the house in the forest—Teresa sitting near the fire—Paolo kneeling upon a footstool at her side.

[She sings in a low recitative.

[He goes out.

Enter OLAF, muffled in his hunting dress.

Enter PAOLO; he runs to his mother’s side.

He goes out.

SCENE IV.

Near sunset—a dreary, desolate region, surrounded with ice-mountains—the Hunter drives a sledge rapidly forward, in the back part of which sit Olaf and Paolo.

[He fires.

[He puts his last charge into his piece.

[The horse in dashing forward, breaks from the sledge; the wolves fall upon him instantly.

[They turn among the ice-mountains, and soon are out of sight.

SCENE V.

A chaotic wilderness of icebergs.

Enter the HUNTER, and OLAF carrying PAOLO, who appears faint.

[The wolves surround them; and the hunter snatching up Paolo throws him among them.

[He dashes among the wolves with his hunting knife, and then springs forward after the hunter.

SCENE VI.

Night—the interior of Olaf’s house—Teresa alone—a bright fire burns on the hearth—refreshments are set out, and clothes hanging by the fire for Olaf and Paolo.

[She puts fresh logs on the fire.

Enter HULDA, with a very dejected countenance; she takes down PAOLO’S clothes, and folds them up.

Enter the HUNTER, hastily.

[Teresa clasps her hands, and stands in speechless agony.

[She falls insensible to the floor.

[She bears Teresa out.

[He goes out.

SCENE VII.

The following day—the interior of the chapel—Teresa on her knees before the image of the Virgin.

[She bows her face, and after a time of silence, rises.

[Pg 49]

[She goes slowly out.

SCENE VIII.

Many weeks afterwards—a chamber of Olaf’s house—Olaf near death, lying upon his bed—Teresa sits beside him.

[Olaf remains perfectly quiet, and after some time a light slumber comes over Teresa, during which she hears dream-like voices singing.

[She bends over the body for a few moments; then kneeling down and covering her face, she remains in silent prayer.

[Pg 53]

HYMNS AND FIRE-SIDE VERSES.

TO CAROLINE BOWLES, AN HONOURED FELLOW-LABOURER, THIS LITTLE BOOK, THE DESIGN OF WHICH IS TO MAKE THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTIANITY AN ENDEARED AND FAMILIAR FIRE-SIDE GUEST, IS AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED.

[Pg 54]

L’ENVOI.

[Pg 56]

MARIEN’S PILGRIMAGE.A FIRE-SIDE STORY.

Christianity, like a child, goes wandering over the world. Fearless in its innocence, it is not abashed before princes, nor confounded by the wisdom of synods. Before it the blood-stained warrior sheathes his sword, and plucks the laurel from his brow;—the midnight murderer turns from his purpose, and, like the heart-smitten disciple, goes out and weeps bitterly. It brings liberty to the captive, joy to the mourner, freedom to the slave, repentance and forgiveness to the sinner, hope to the faint-hearted, and assurance to the dying.

It enters the huts of poor men, and sits down with them and their children; it makes them contented in the midst of privations, and leaves behind an everlasting blessing. It walks through great cities, amid all their pomp and splendour, their unimaginable pride, and their unutterable misery, a purifying, ennobling, correcting, and redeeming angel.

It is alike the beautiful companion of childhood and the comfortable associate of age. It[Pg 57] ennobles the noble; gives wisdom to the wise, and new grace to the lovely. The patriot, the priest, the poet, and the eloquent man, all derive their sublime power from its influence.

Thanks be to the Eternal Father, who has made us one with Him through the benign Spirit of Christianity!

PART III.

[Pg 73]

PART IX.

[Pg 105]

PART XII.

[Pg 130]

OLD CHRISTMAS.

[Pg 133]

THE TWELFTH HOUR.

THE BLIND BOY AND HIS SISTER.

[Pg 138]

THE POOR CHILD’S HYMN.

[Pg 139]

THE BOY OF THE SOUTHERN ISLE.AN OLD SEAMAN’S STORY.

PART II.

[Pg 149]