OCR Text |
Show KNEW HIMSELF TO BE A POET. Whlttler Came Early to Recognition" of His Genius. John Greenleaf Whlttler used to declare de-clare that at a very early age he knew himself to be a real poet, and would often relate, writes Mrs. Abbey J. Woodman in her "Reminiscences of Whlttlor's Life at Oak Knoll," an amusing experience when he was a student at the Haverhill academy. Mrs. Woodman gives it In Mr. Whlt-tler's Whlt-tler's own words: "There Js but little doubt that at the age of 20 I felt myself to be a real poet, somewhat unknown to fame, but sufficiently acknowledged as such by the committee directing the dedication dedi-cation of the new academy for them to invito me to read an original poem on that occasion. "Robert Dinsmore, an old Scotch farmer in Windham, and a writer of rhyme and doggerel verse, was also Invited to do the same. The honor of leading the procession which marched through the streets of Haverhill to the new academy was given to the two poets. "I often laugh, when I recall the scene to memory. The hale old Scotchman, short and plethoric, his uncertain step and bearing slightly exhilarated ex-hilarated by a generous draught of old Scotch whisky before we started, was Bomewhat of a contrast to me, a rather tall and slender Quaker lad, in Quaker hat and coat, and half frightened fright-ened out of my wits by the honor heaped upon me. "However, we deHvered our poems all right; and I am 'thinking that must have been the time when I was dubbed 'The Quaker Poet'" Youth's Companion. |