Knowest its fulness, as thou dost the dew HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW. HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW is the son of Hon. Stephen Longfellow, of Portland, Maine, and was born in that city on the 27th of February, 1807. At the age of fourteen, he entered Bowdoin College, Brunswick, and was graduated there in 1825. Soon after, being offered a professorship of modern languages in his own college, he resolved to prepare himself thoroughly for his new duties, and accordingly left home for Europe, and passed three years and a half in travelling or residing in France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Holland, and England. He returned in 1829, and entered upon the duties of his office. In 1835, on the resignation of Mr. George Ticknor, he was elected Professor of Modern Languages and Belles-Lettres in Harvard College. Again he went abroad, and passed more than twelve months in Denmark, Sweden, Germany, and Switzerland. On his return to resume the duties of his chair, he took up his residence in the old Cragie House, near Mount Auburn, Cambridge, renowned as having been the headquarters of Washington when he assumed the command of the American army. Here he has ever since resided, though he resigned his professorship in 1854. Mr. Longfellow's literary career began very early. Before leaving college, he wrote a few carefully-finished poems for the "United States Literary Gazette," and while professor at Bowdoin, he contributed some valuable criticisms to the "North American Review." In 1835 appeared his Outre-Mer, a collection of travelling sketches and miscellaneous essays; in 1839, Hyperion, a Romance, and Voices of the Night, his first collection of poems; in 1841, Ballads, and other Poems; in 1842, Poems on Slavery; in 1843, The Spanish Student, a play; in 1845, the "Poets and Poetry of Europe," and the Belfry of Bruges; in 1847, Erangeline; in 1848, Kavanagh, a Tale; in 1849, The Seaside and the Fireside; in 1851, The Golden Legend; in 1855, The Song of Hiawatha; and in 1858, The Courtship of Miles Standish,' of which his publishers sold twenty-five thousand copies in a month from its publication. But it is in hexameter verse, and, though popular for the time from its novelty, it can never obtain a permanent hold of the hearts of the people. "A charming story, which will do more to throw an attractive, familiar light upon the bleak shores of Plymouth, and the grim-visaged Puritan colonists who lauded upon them, than all the New-England Society orations and labored historical eulogies that were ever uttered or printed."-New York Evening Post. 2 Messrs. Ticknor & Fields have published all of Longfellow's works in various beautiful styles, characteristic of their house. It will thus be seen that Mr. Longfellow is a most prolific writer; and the numerous editions of his works that are called for, show that he is also a very popular one. His genius is as heartily recognised in England as in this country; for every thing from his pen is eagerly caught up and republished there. And his popularity he richly deserves; for his poetry, as well as his prose, is marked by great tenderness of feeling, purity of sentiment, elevation of thought, and deep human interest. His genius is versatile, for he has trodden almost every path of polite literature, and gathered flowers from them all; and if his strength has failed to carry him to the topmost eminence, he has the satisfaction of knowing that many of his writings have become, as they deserve, “household words," and have so touched the heart, that posterity will not willingly let them die. A PSALM OF LIFE. What the heart of the young man said to the Psalmist. Tell me not, in mournful numbers, Life is but an empty dream! For the soul is dead that slumbers, And things are not what they seem. Life is real! Life is earnest ! And the grave is not its goal; Not enjoyment, and not sorrow, Art is long, and Time is fleeting, And our hearts, though stout and brave, In the world's broad field of battle, Be not like dumb, driven cattle! Trust no Future, howe'er pleasant! Heart within, and God o'erhead! We can make our lives sublime, Sailing o'er life's solemn main, A forlorn and shipwreck'd brother, Let us, then, be up and doing, THE REAPER AND THE FLOWERS. There is a Reaper, whose name is Death, He reaps the bearded grain at a breath, "Shall I have naught that is fair?" saith he; 66 Have naught but the bearded grain? Though the breath of these flowers is sweet to me, I will give them all back again." He gazed at the flowers with tearful eyes, It was for the Lord of Paradise He bound them in his sheaves. "My Lord has need of these flowerets gay," The Reaper said, and smiled; "Dear tokens of the earth are they, Where he once was a child. "They shall all bloom in fields of light, And saints, upon their garments white, And the mother gave, in tears and pain, Oh, not in cruelty, not in wrath, 'Twas an angel visited the green earth, FOOTSTEPS OF ANGELS. When the hours of Day are number'd, Ere the evening lamps are lighted, Then the forms of the departed He, the young and strong, who cherish'd They, the holy ones and weakly, And with them the Being Beauteous, With a slow and noiseless footstep And she sits and gazes at me With those deep and tender eyes, Like the stars, so still and saint-like, Looking downward from the skies. Utter'd not, yet comprehended, Is the spirit's voiceless prayer, Oh, though oft depress'd and lonely, If I but remember only Such as these have lived and died! THE ARSENAL AT SPRINGFIELD. This is the Arsenal. From floor to ceiling, Ah! what a sound will rise, how wild and dreary, Will mingle with their awful symphonies! I hear even now the infinite fierce chorus, Which, through the ages that have gone before us, On helm and harness rings the Saxon hammer, Through Cimbric forest roars the Norseman's song, O'er distant deserts sounds the Tartar gong. I hear the Florentine, who from his palace Beat the wild war-drums made of serpent's skin; The tumult of each sack'd and burning village; The wail of famine in beleaguer'd towns; The bursting shell, the gateway wrench'd asunder, Is it, O man, with such discordant noises, Thou drownest Nature's sweet and kindly voices, Were half the power that fills the world with terror, Given to redeem the human mind from error, The warrior's name would be a name abhorréd! Would wear for evermore the curse of Cain! 1 Down the dark future, through long generations, I hear once more the voice of Christ say, "Peace!' Peace! and no longer from its brazen portals The blast of War's great organ shakes the skies! The holy melodies of love arise. MAIDENHOOD. Maiden! with the meek, brown eyes, In whose orbs a shadow lies Like the dusk in evening skies! Would that the ninth and tenth verses of this fine poem might be engraved upon the mind and heart of every man and woman, in both hemispheres, that speaks the English tongue! |