WITH PICTURES AND POETS. the present number of this Magazine go four pictures, bearing each the name of a book from which it has been borrowed. These books are all "grown-up" books, as Grace Greenwood calls the volumes which are meant for adult readers; but still the editors of "Our Young Folks" have obtained the permission of the publishers of these books who are also the publishers of their Magazine — to select and include these engravings, because they so beautifully illustrate poems which are among the best known writings of three great authors, about whom the readers of the Magazine already know something, but of whom they have yet much to learn before they can understand and appreciate them as they ought. The first picture represents a scene from John G. Whittier's poem, "Maud Muller." Mr. Whittier is not a stranger to these pages, and his little friends have probably already guessed some of his characteristics from the stories. he has told them. He lives in the pleasant country town of Amesbury, Massachusetts, and the sweet influences of that rural region may be easily felt in his writings. He is simple and sincere, fond of the works of God in nature, and a faithful lover of the equality and freedom which God ever teaches through the elements of the world as well as in the pages of his holy book ; he writes earnestly and strongly, and tells his story so that the plainest may understand it. This poem of "Maud Muller" is a little sketch of a rich judge and a farmer's daughter, who met once by the roadside and were much interested in each other, but who never met again; very often they used to think of each other, and feel dissatisfied that Providence had caused their lots in life to lie so far apart, so that their short, sad history is a lesson to us to be patient, and to make the best of the circumstances in which we are placed, not wishing discontentedly for what we have not, because the Lord knows what is best for us, after all. The picture shows Maud's children. playing; you see they are poor children, for she was poor, and had to work for her living, —but for all that they seem to be getting on very nicely in their own way. The next picture illustrates a poem by James Russell Lowell, who lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and is the Professor of Modern Languages in Harvard College, which is located in that city. He has never yet written anything for "Our Young Folks," but perhaps some day, when he is not very busy with his learned books, he will do so, and then you will be greatly pleased; for although he is generally very thoughtful, and writes principally for pretty wise people, yet he greatly likes children and flowers, the rivers and great forests, and can sing charming songs about them; he is very witty, too, and when sometimes he writes articles to correct wrong-doers, he makes little sentences which are wonderfully sarcastic, — that is, severe and funny at the same time. When you grow older, you will like him very much, and even now you would enjoy much of his "Vision of Sir Launfal," from which the picture is taken. That poem is about a knight who went in search of the “San Greal,” — the legend of which was repeated in the last number of the Magazine, and who at last, after many experiences and hardships, learned that to be good and charitable was to be most knightly, and would receive the richest reward. So, when he humbled his pride and shared his last crust with a wretched leper, behold, in a vision the Saviour appeared to him, and offered him the cup of the communion for the Christian spirit which he now had. Can you not see the meaning of the story? The other two pictures are chosen from two books by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, something of whose poetry must be known to every one of you. He too lives in Cambridge, and he used to teach the collegians the same foreign languages which Professor Lowell now teaches; for he has a learned head as well as a kindly heart, and is much respected for his scholarship and taste by literary people. His poems are full of tenderness and affection, and he loves to dwell upon gentle subjects, and weave songs of such good, true sentiment as make people feel better and braver-hearted when they read them. The first of the two pictures belongs to the long poem "Evangeline," which tells how many, many years ago many, many years ago—the English drove out a happy French colony from their settlement in Acadia, and carried them away to other places, often separating families and friends forever. Poor Evangeline, for whom the poem is named, lost her beloved Gabriel in this bitter way, and went searching for him all over America, only to find him a dying old man at last. But her life was full of hope, and love, and trust in her Heavenly Father, and she was as a blessing to all around her, so sanctifying her affliction, and setting a beautiful example of patience and resignation. Her old friend, Father Felicien, who was very fond of children, and who taught her in her youth to be pious and good, is shown in the engraving with a group of young people about him. The second picture is that of the "Flower-de-Luce," which gives its name to another volume by Mr. Longfellow, and may give you a hint of the enjoyment he has in observing the features of out-door life and scenery, as well as in studying the finer fancies and feelings of people, while perhaps you may see in it the likeness of a plant which old-fashioned people still are pleased to keep in their gardens and about their doorways. So you can study over these pleasant pictures, which really illustrate or illuminate the passages of poetry with which they are connected, thinking meantime, to yourselves, that they also signify the kind of subjects which these authors prefer, and symbolize in some measure the manner and disposition with which they in their turn touch the themes of their choice, — for when the work has been well done there is a harmony between the subject or the story, the writer, and the artist or illustrator, which you can feel, even though you cannot fully understand and explain it. And by and by, when you happen to see these pretty books themselves, and read the beautiful poems they contain, you will perhaps feel better acquainted with them and their authors by reason of this little introduction. |