KavanaghAh, how wonderful is the advent of the spring!—the great annual miracle of the blossoming of Aaron'srod, repeated on myriads and myriads of branches!—the gentle progression and growth of herbs,flowers, trees,—gentle, and yet irrepressible,—which no force can stay, no violence restrain, likelove, that wins its way and cannot be withstood byany human power, because itself is divine power. Ifspring came but once a century, instead of once ayear, or burst forth with a sound of an earthquakeand not in silence, what wonder and expectationwould there be in all hearts to behold the miraculouschange!But now the silent succession suggests nothingbut necessity. To most men, only the cessation ofthe miracle would be miraculous, and the perpetualexercise of God's power seems less wonderful thanits withdrawal would be. We are like children whoare astonished and delighted only by the second-handof the clock, not by the hour-hand.In the fields and woods, meanwhile, there wereother signs and signals of the summer. The darkeningfoliage; the embrowning grain; the golden dragonflyhaunting the blackberry bushes; the cawingcrows, that looked down from the mountain on thecornfield, and waited day after day for the scarecrowto finish his work and depart; and the smoke of far-offburning woods, that pervaded the air and hungin purple haze about the summits of the mountains,—these were the vaunt-couriers and attendants ofthe hot August.The brown autumn came. Out of doors, it broughtto the fields the prodigality of the golden harvest,—to the forest, revelations of light,—and to the sky,the sharp air, the morning mist, the red clouds atevening. Within doors, the sense of seclusion, thestillness of closed and curtained windows, musings bythe fireside, books, friends, conversation, and the long,meditative evenings. To the farmer, it brought surceaseof toil,—to the scholar, that sweet delirium ofthe brain which changes toil to pleasure. It broughtthe wild duck back to the reedy marshes of the south;it brought the wild song back to the fervid brain of thepoet. Without, the village street was paved with gold;the river ran red with the reflection of the leaves.Within, the faces of friends brightened the gloomywalls; the returning footsteps of the long-absentgladdened the threshold; and all the sweet amenitiesof social life again resumed their interrupted reign.The first snow came. How beautiful it was, fallingso silently, all day long, all night long, on themountains, on the meadows, on the roofs of theliving, on the graves of the dead! All white savethe river, that marked its course by a winding blackline across the landscape; and the leafless trees, thatagainst the leaden sky now revealed more fully thewonderful beauty and intricacy of their branches!What silence, too, came with the snow, and whatseclusion! Every sound was muffled, every noisechanged to something soft and musical. No moretrampling hoofs,—no more rattling wheels! Onlythe chiming sleigh bells, beating as swift and merrilyas the hearts of children.* * * * *
APPENDIX: BIOGRAPHICAL NOTESENGLISH AUTHORSGeoffrey Chaucer, the father of English poetry, was born inLondon in 1340. The colleges of Oxford and Cambridge both claim himas a student. He enjoyed the favor of King Edward the Third, andpassed much of his time at court. In 1386 he was made a knight, andduring the latter part of his life he received an annual pension.He died in 1400. His writings are in a language so different frommodern English that many persons cannot enjoy their beauties. Hisprincipal poems are "Canterbury Tales," "The Legend of Good Women,""The Court of Love," and "Troilus and Cressida."Edmund Spenserwas born in London about 1553. He wasgraduated at Cambridge in 1576, and soon after wrote "The Shepherd'sCalendar." Sir Philip Sidney and Sir Walter Raleigh were his friendsand patrons. In 1598 Spenser was appointed a sheriff in Ireland, andnot long afterward in a rebellion his property was destroyed and hischild killed. He did not long survive this calamity. His best-knownpoem is "The Faery Queen."The reign of Queen Elizabethis often called the Golden Age ofEnglish literature. Not only did Spenser and Shakespeare live then,but a large number of minor poets also rendered the periodillustrious. Among the dramatic poets Christopher Marlowe, Beaumontand Fletcher, who wrote together, and Ben Jonson hold an honorableposition. The most noted lyric poets of the day were George Herbert,Sir Walter Raleigh, and Sir Philip Sidney.William Shakespeare,the greatest of English poets, was born at Stratford-on-Avon inApril, 1564. He is supposed to have been educated at the free schoolof Stratford. When he was about twenty-two, he went to London, andafter a hard struggle with poverty, he became first an actor, then asuccessful playwright and theater manager. Having gained not onlyfame but a modest fortune, he retired in 1611 to live at ease inStratford until his death in 1616. Besides the two long poems,"Venus and Adonis" and "Lucrece," which first won popularity forhim, he has written thirty-seven plays, ranging from the lightestcomedy, through romance and historical narrative, to the darkesttragedy. Whatever form his verse takes,—sonnet, song, or dramaticpoetry,—it shows the touch of the master hand, the inspiration ofthe master mind. Of his plays those which are still most frequentlyacted are the tragedies "Hamlet," "Macbeth," "King Lear," and"Othello," the comedies "Midsummer-night's Dream," "The Merchant ofVenice," "As You Like It," and "The Comedy of Errors," and thehistorical plays "Julius Caesar," "King Henry IV," "King Henry V,"and "Richard III."Ben Jonsonwas born at Westminster, England, about 1573. Hewas the friend of Shakespeare and a famous dramatist in his day, buthis plays no longer hold the stage. His best play is "Every Man inhis Humour." His songs and short poems are beautiful. He died in1637. His tomb in Westminster Abbey is inscribed "O Rare Ben Jonson!"George Herbertwas born in Montgomery Castle, Wales, April 3,1593. He was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge. Later hestudied for the ministry and was appointed vicar of Bremerton. His"Sacred Poems" are noted for their purity and beauty of sentiment.He died in 1633.John Miltonwas born in London, December 9, 1608. He waseducated at Christ's College, Cambridge. Later he spent a year intravel, meeting the great Galileo while in Italy. He was an ardentadvocate of freedom, and under the Protectorate he was the secretaryof the Protector, Oliver Cromwell. When only forty-six, he becametotally blind, yet his greatest work was done after this misfortuneovertook him. As a poet he stands second only to Shakespeare. Hisearly poems, "Comus," "L'Allegro," "Il Penseroso," and "Lycidas,"are very beautiful, and his "Paradise Lost" is the finest epic poemin the English language. He died in 1674.The minor poetsof the age of Milton were Edmund Waller,Robert Herrick, George Wither, Sir John Suckling, and Sir RichardLovelace.John Drydenwas born August 9, 1631. He was educated atTrinity College, Cambridge. His poem in honor of the restorationof Charles II won him the position of Poet Laureate. His best-knownworks are the poetic "Translation of Virgil's Aeneid," "Alexander'sFeast," "The Hind and the Panther," and the drama "The IndianEmperor." He died in 1700.The reign of Queen Annewas rendered brilliant by the writingsof Alexander Pope, Joseph Addison, Edward Young, James Thompson,William Collins, Sir Richard Steele, Jonathan Swift, and DanielDefoe. Not only were the poems of this period beautiful, but prosealso reached a high development.Joseph Addisonwas born at Milston, England, May 1, 1672. Hecompleted his education at Queen's and Magdalen colleges, Oxford. Heentered the diplomatic service and rose steadily, becoming one of thetwo principal secretaries of state two years before his death. Heattained a higher political position than any other writer has everachieved through his literary ability. With Steele he publishedThe Tatler, and laterThe Spectator, at first a dailypaper and afterward a tri-weekly one. He was a master of Englishprose, and his poems are elevated and serious in style. He died in1719.Isaac Wattswas born at Southampton, July 17, 1674. He studiedfor the ministry. He wrote nearly five hundred hymns besides his"Divine and Moral Songs for Children." Many of his hymns are stillfavorites. He died in 1748.Alexander Popewas born in London, May 21, 1688. Sickly anddeformed, he was unable to attend school, but he was neverthelessa great student. His writings are witty and satirical. His best-knownpoems are "Essay on Man," "Translation of the Iliad," "Essay onCriticism," and "The Rape of the Lock." He died in 1744.Thomas Graywas born in London in 1716. He was educated atEton, and Peter-House College, Cambridge. He lived all his life atCambridge, ultimately being appointed professor of Modern History.His most famous poem is the "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard."He died in 1771.William Cowperwas born at Great Berkhamstead, England,November 26, 1731. He was educated at Westminster School, and studiedlaw at the Middle Temple, being called to the bar in 1754. He wasvery delicate and afflicted with nervousness that amounted toinsanity at times. Not until 1780 did he seriously begin his literarycareer. Then for a period of a little more than ten years he workedwith success and was happy. His most famous poems are "John Gilpin,""The Task," "Hope," and "Lines on my Mother's Portrait." In thelatter part of his life his nervous melancholy again affected him.He died in 1800.Robert Burnswas born at Ayr in Scotland, January 25, 1759.He was the son of a poor farmer, and he himself followed the plowin his earlier days. He was about to seek his fortune in Americawhen his first volume of poems was published and won him fame atonce. His style is simple and sincere, with a fire of intensity.His best poems are "Tam o'Shanter" and "The Cottar's Saturday Night."He died July 21, 1796.William Wordsworthwas born at Cockermouth, in Cumberland,England, on April 7, 1770. He completed his education at St John'sCollege, Cambridge, taking his degree of B A in 1791. He wasappointed Poet Laureate in 1843, succeeding Robert Southey. He isthe poet of nature and of simple life. Among his best known poemsare "The Ode to Immortality," "The Excursion," and "YarrowRevisited." He died April 23, 1850.Sir Walter Scottwas born in Edinburgh, August 15, 1771. Hewas educated at Edinburgh University and afterward studied law inhis father's office. His energy and tireless work were marvelous.He followed the practice of his profession until he was appointedClerk of Session. His official duties were scrupulously performed,yet his literary work surpasses in volume and ability that of any ofhis contemporaries. Novelist, historian, poet, he excelled in whateverstyle of literature he attempted. His best-known poems are "The Ladyof the Lake," "Marmion," and "The Lay of the Last Minstrel." He diedin 1832.Robert Southeywas born at Bristol, August 12, 1774. He wasexpelled from Westminster School for writing an article againstschool flogging. Later he studied at Balliol College, Oxford. He wasan incessant worker, laboring at all branches of literature, fromhis famous nursery story, "The Three Bears," to "The Life of Nelson."He was appointed Laureate in 1813. His most successful long poems are"Thalaba," and "The Curse of Kehama." He died in 1843.Thomas Campbellwas born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1777. He waseducated at the university of his native town, and he was regarded asits most brilliant scholar, in his later life he was elected LordRector of the university. His best known poems are "The Pleasures ofHope," "Gertrude of Wyoming," and "Ye Mariners of England." He diedin 1844.Thomas Moorewas born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1779. He waseducated at Trinity College, and afterward studied law at the MiddleTemple, London. "Lalla Rookh," and his "Irish Melodies" have won forhim a lasting fame as a poet. He died February 26, 1852.James Henry Leigh Huntwas born near London in 1784. He leftschool when only fifteen to become a clerk in the War Office, wherehe remained until 1808, when he and his brother publishedTheExaminer. From that time he was occupied as an editor and writer,being connected with different periodicals. He was the intimatefriend of Byron, Moore, Shelley, and Keats. One of his best poems,"Rimini," was written in prison, where he was condemned to remain fortwo years because he had published a satirical article about theprince regent. In his later years a pension of two hundred poundswas granted him. He died August 28, 1859.George Gordon Noel, Lord Byron, was born in London, January22, 1788. He studied at Trinity College, Cambridge, but did notremain to take his degree. While at the university he published avolume of poems, "Hours of Idleness," which he followed shortly bythe satirical poem "English Bards and Scotch Reviewers," which wonhim immediate recognition. He wrote many dramatic poems, but his mostbeautiful work is "Childe Harold." He was the friend of Shelley andLeigh Hunt, and together they publishedThe Liberal. In 1823he joined the Greeks in their struggle for freedom, and the exposureand exertion that he suffered in this war brought on the fever ofwhich he died in April, 1824.Percy Bysshe Shelleywas born at Field Place, England, August4, 1792. He was entered at University College, Oxford, but wasshortly expelled as an atheist. His life was a sad one, his firstmarriage was unhappy, and he was drowned when only thirty years old,in July, 1822. His longest and best works are "The Cenci,""Prometheus Unbound," "The Revolt of Islam," and "Adonais," an elegyon the death of his friend, the poet Keats, near whom he was buried.John Keatswas born in London, England, in 1795 or 1796. Hispoem "Endymion" was criticised severely in theQuarterlyReview. Keats was so sensitive that this criticism is supposed tohave aggravated his malady, and thus to be responsible for his earlydeath. Among his other poems may be noted "Hyperion," "Lamia," and"The Eve of St Agnes." He died at Rome in 1821.Thomas Hoodwas born in London, England, May 23, 1799. Hishumorous verses first attracted attention, but his serious poems havegiven him a lasting place in literature. Among these are "The Song ofthe Shirt," "The Bridge of Sighs," "Eugene Aram," and "Ode toMelancholy." He died in 1845.Thomas Babington, Lord Macaulay, was born in Leicestershire,October 25, 1800. He was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, andstudied law. He disliked his profession, greatly preferringliterature. In 1830 he entered Parliament and was made Secretary ofWar in 1839. He was elected Lord Rector of Glasgow University andwas raised to the peerage in 1857. He died in 1859. His best-knownpoems are "Ivry" and "The Lays of Ancient Rome."The reign of Queen Victoriafrom a literary standpoint issecond only to that of Elizabeth in brilliancy. The Victorian Age isusually applied to the whole century, during the better part of whichVictoria reigned. The literature of this age is rich with the writingsof Robert Browning, Alfred Tennyson, Elizabeth Barrett Browning,Algernon Charles Swinburne, Dante Gabriel Rossetti and his sisterChristina, William Morris, Matthew Arnold, Edwin Arnold, JeanIngelow, Owen Meredith, Arthur Hugh Clough, Adelaide Procter, and ahost of minor poets.Alfred, Lord Tennyson, was born at Somersby, August 6, 1809.He was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge. His first book ofpoems, written with his brother Charles, was published two yearsbefore he entered college; from that time until his death his literarywork was continuous. In 1850 he succeeded Wordsworth as Poet Laureate,and thirty-four years later was raised to the peerage. His poemscover a wide range—lyrics, ballads, idyls, and dramas. His mostimportant works are "The Princess," "In Memoriam," "Maud," and "TheIdylls of the King." He died in 1892.Elizabeth Barrett Browningwas born at Durham, England, March6, 1809. She was highly educated and was proficient in both Greek andLatin. She wrote her first verses at the age of ten, and her firstvolume of poems was published when she was but seventeen years old.In 1846 she was married to the poet Robert Browning. Her first knownworks are "Aurora Leigh," a novel in verse, "The Portuguese Sonnets,""Casa Guidi Windows," and "The Cry of the Children," a poem writtento show the wretchedness of the little children employed in the minesand factories of England. She died at Florence, Italy, in June, 1861.Robert Browningwas born in Camberwell, England, in 1812. Hewas educated at the University of London. He married ElizabethBarrett, the poet, and together they lived much of their time inItaly. They were deeply interested in the struggle of Italy forfreedom, and both wrote on this subject. In his long life Browningwrote many volumes of poems, and it is difficult to choose amongthem. "The Pied Piper of Hamelin" is always a favorite with the youngpeople, as are "How they brought the Good News from Ghent to Aix,""Herve Riel," and "Ratisbon." His most popular poems are "PippaPasses," "The Ring and the Book," "A Blot on the 'Scutcheon," and"Saul." He died in 1889.Marian Evans, who wrote under the name of George Eliot, wasborn at Aubury Farm, near Nuneaton, England, November 22, 1819. Shewas carefully educated and was a most earnest student. While herpoems are beautiful, her best work is in prose, and she ranks as oneof England's greatest novelists. Her most famous novels are "AdamBede," "The Mill on the Floss," "Silas Marner," and "Middlemarch."She married Mr John Cross, in May, 1880, and died December 22 of thesame year.Jean Ingelowwas born at Boston, England, in 1820. She isknown both as a poet and novelist. Her best-known poems are "Songsof Seven" and "The High Tide on the Coast of Lincolnshire." She diedin 1897.Matthew Arnold, son of Thomas Arnold of Rugby, was born atLaleham, England, December 24, 1822. He was educated at Rugby andOxford. In 1857 he was elected professor of Poetry at Oxford. He ischiefly noted for his essays, though his poems are lofty in sentimentand polished in diction. "Sohrab and Rustum" is his most importantpoem. He died in 1888.Dinah Maria Mulock Craikwas born in Staffordshire, England,in 1826. She won her fame as a writer of novels, of which the bestis "John Halifax, Gentleman." She died in 1887.William Morriswas born in Walthamstow, March 24, 1834. Hewas educated at Exeter College, Oxford. Before he was thirty yearsold he founded an establishment for the manufacture of artisticmaterials for household decoration. His work in this direction hasimproved the beauty of all household fabrics, and has affected thetaste in household art in both England and America. Neverthelesshe is best known as a poet. His finest poems are "The EarthlyParadise," a series of Norse legends, "Three Northern Stones,"translated from Icelandic poems, and his translations of "TheOdyssey." He died in 1896.Algernon Charles Swinburnewas born in London, April 5, 1837.He was educated partly in France, at Eton, and at Balliol College,Oxford. He left the University without a degree to spend severalyears in travel. He is a master of English, using a wider vocabularythan any of his contemporaries, and the musical effects of his manyvaried meters have won for him a unique position in poetry. He hasbeen called "the greatest metrical inventor in English literature."His works in French and Latin show him to be a poet in threelanguages. His best-known works are "Poems and Ballads," "Songsbefore Sunrise," and "Mary Stuart." He is the greatest livingEnglish poet.Dante Gabriel Rossettiwas born in London, May 12, 1828. Hestudied art in the antique school of the Royal Academy, and becameknown as an artist before he won fame as a poet. His most widelyknown poem is "The Blessed Damozel." He died in 1882.Christina Georgina Rossetti, the sister of D.G. Rossetti, wasborn in London, December 5, 1830. She ranks as one of the greatestand most spiritual of English poetesses.Sir Edwin Arnoldwas born in Sussex, June 10, 1832. He waseducated at King's College, London, and at University College,Oxford. He was appointed principal of the Government SanscritCollege at Poonah, India, and Fellow of the University of Bombay, andheld these posts through the Sepoy Rebellion. Returning to London in1861, he was one of the editors of theDaily Telegraph, andthrough his influence Henry M. Stanley undertook his first expeditioninto Africa to find Livingstone. Nearly all of his poetry deals withOriental legends, and much of his time was spent in India and Japan.His principal works are "The Light of Asia," "Pearls of the Faith,""Indian Song of Songs," "Japonica," and "The Light of the World."Rudyard Kiplingwas born in Bombay, India, December 30, 1865.He was educated partly in England, but returned to India when he wasonly fifteen, and there began his literary work and first won fame.His writings are mainly in prose, and he is at his best when writingof India. His poems are all short, and "The Recessional" and "TheDove of Dacca" are especially fine. In prose the "Jungle Books,""The Naulakha," and "Kim" are the most popular.Among the minor poetsof the Victorian Age may be mentionedthe following:—John Henry, Cardinal Newman, 1801-1890. Author of many volumes ofsermons and the hymn "Lead Kindly Light."Henry Francis Lyte, 1763-1847. Author of many hymns, the mostpopular of which is "Abide with Me."Alfred Domett, 1811-1887. Author of "Christmas Hymn."Arthur Hugh Clough, 1810-1861. Author of "Bothie of Tober-na-vuolich."Charles Mackay, 1814-1889. Author of many songs, among them "There isa Good Time Coming" and "Cheer, Boys, Cheer!"AMERICAN AUTHORSIn the early days of this country the time and thought of thesettlers were taken up in struggling with the difficulties of theirsurroundings, so that there was little opportunity for theestablishment of an American literature. For art, poetry, and thebeautiful in life, the colonists naturally turned to the mothercountry—to the home which they had so lately left. During the periodbefore the French and Indian War the subject of religion and nicepoints of doctrine filled the minds of the Americans, hence we findthat the first American writer who attained to a European reputationwas the Rev. Jonathan Edwards, a distinguished divine and presidentof Princeton College. His books on "The Religious Affections" and"The Freedom of the Will" are still studied.After the French and Indian War, politics became the absorbing topicof the day, and Benjamin Franklin was the first to achieve fame inthis field of letters. His writings in "Poor Richard's Almanac,"honest and wholesome in tone, exercised a marked influence upon theliterature of his time. Among the orators who won distinction in thediscussion of civil liberty are James Otis, John and Samuel Adams,and Patrick Henry. The writings of John Jay, Alexander Hamilton, andJames Madison inThe Federalistsecured the adoption of theConstitution and survive to this day as brilliant examples ofpolitical essays, while the state papers of George Washington andThomas Jefferson are models of clearness and elegance of style.With the peace and prosperity that followed the establishment of ourrepublic came the opportunity to cultivate the broader fields ofliterature. Relieved of the strain of the struggle for civil andreligious liberty, the people could satisfy their inclinations towardthe beautiful in art and life, and from that time until the presentday the writers of America have held their own in the front ranksof the authors of the English-speaking peoples.Joseph Rodman Drake, the first American poet to windistinction, was born in New York City in 1795. He was educated inColumbia College. He died prematurely when only twenty-five years old.His best-known poems are "The Culprit Fay" and "The American Flag."He was the intimate friend of Fitz-Greene Halleck, the Connecticutpoet, author of "Marco Bozzaris." The last four lines of Drake's"American Flag" were written by Fitz-Greene Halleck.William Cullen Bryantwas born in Cummington, Massachusetts,November 3, 1794. He was educated at Williams College. He studiedlaw and was admitted to the bar. His first poem was published whenhe was thirteen. His best-known poem, "Thanatopsis," was writtenwhen he was only nineteen and delivered at his college commencement.After practicing law for a short time, he became editor ofTheEvening Postand continued this work until his death. When he wasseventy-two, he began his translation of Homer, which occupied himfor six years. He died in 1878.Ralph Waldo Emersonwas born in Boston, May 20, 1803. Hestudied at Harvard College, and after a period of teaching, becamepastor of a Unitarian church in Boston for a short time. Later hesettled in Concord, spending his time in writing and lecturing inthis country and England. He was the founder of what has been called"The Concord School of Philosophy." His best-known poems are "TheConcord Hymn," "Rhodora," "The Snow Storm," "Each and All," "TheDays," and "The Humble Bee." He died in 1882.Henry Wadsworth Longfellowwas born in Portland, Maine,February 27, 1807. He was educated at Bowdoin College and, after aperiod of study abroad, was appointed professor of Foreign Languagesthere. This position he gave up to become professor of ModernLanguages and Literature at Harvard College. At Cambridge he was afriend of Hawthorne, Holmes, Emerson, Lowell, and Alcott. Hisbest-known long poems are "Evangeline," "Hiawatha," "The Buildingof the Ship," and "The Courtship of Miles Standish." He made a finetranslation of Dante's "Divine Comedy." Among his many short poems,"Excelsior," "The Psalm of Life," "The Wreck of the Hesperus," "TheVillage Blacksmith," and "Paul Revere's Ride" are continuouslypopular. He died in 1882. He was the first American writer who washonored by a memorial in Westminster Abbey.John Greenleaf Whittierwas born near Haverhill, Massachusetts,December 17, 1807. He was educated in the public school, working atthe same time on his father's farm or at making shoes. Having leftthe academy, he devoted himself to literature. He was an ardentabolitionist, and many of his poems are written to aid the cause offreedom in which he was so deeply interested. His best-known poemsare "Snow-Bound," "Barbara Frietchie," "Maude Muller," and "Voices ofFreedom." He died in 1892.Edgar Allan Poewas born in Boston, Massachusetts, January 19,1809. The story of his life is as melancholy as was his genius.Wild, dissipated, reckless, he was dismissed from West Point. Healienated his best friends and lived the greatest part of his life inthe deepest poverty, dying in 1849 from the effects of dissipationand exposure. His best poems are "The Raven," "The Bells," and"Annabel Lee."Oliver Wendell Holmeswas born in Cambridge, Massachusetts,August 29, 1809. He was educated at Harvard College and studiedmedicine, spending two years in the hospitals of Europe. He wassuccessively professor of Anatomy and Physiology at DartmouthCollege, a physician in regular practice in Boston, and professor ofanatomy at Harvard College—this position he held from 1847 to 1882.He was nearly fifty before he became widely known as a writer, when"The Autocrat of the Breakfast Table" was published. He was successfulas essayist, novelist, poet, a kindly wit playing through much of hiswork. His best-known poems are "Old Ironsides," "The ChamberedNautilus," "The One-hoss Shay," "The Last Leaf," and "The Boys." Hedied in 1894.James Russell Lowellwas born in Cambridge, Massachusetts,February 22, 1819. He was educated at Harvard College. He succeededLongfellow as professor of Modern Languages and Literature atHarvard. He was also editor of theAtlantic Monthlyand oftheNorth American Review. He was appointed minister to Spainand later to England, where he was our ambassador for five years. Hisbest-known poems are "The Vision of Sir Launfal," "Commemoration Ode,""The Biglow Papers," "The Present Crisis," and "The First Snowfall."He died in 1891.Walt Whitmanwas born in West Hills, Long Island, May 31, 1819.He was unable to go to college. He served in various occupations,teacher, printer, writer, until in the great Civil War he volunteeredas a war nurse. His exertions and exposure in this work destroyed hishealth, so that most of his remaining years he was dependent upon hisfriends. His most beautiful poem is "O Captain, My Captain," writtenafter the assassination of Lincoln. He died in 1892.Cincinnatus Heine Miller, who wrote under the name of JoaquinMiller, was born in Indiana in 1841. While yet a boy he went to Oregonand later to California, where he led a wild life among the miners,fighting the Indians, practicing law, and becoming a county judge.After several years in Europe and New York, he settled down as afruit grower in California. He wrote "Songs of the Sierras," "Songsof the Sun-Lands," and "The Ship in the Desert."Among the minor American poetsthe following are worthy ofnote:—Francis Scott Key, 1779-1843. "The Star-Spangled Banner."Emma Hart Willard, 1787-1870. "Rocked in the Cradle of the Deep."John Howard Payne, 1792-1852. "Home Sweet Home."Josiah Gilbert Holland, 1819-1881. "Bittersweet."Julia Ward Howe, 1819-. "The Battle Hymn of the Republic."Alice Cary, 1820-1871. Phoebe Cary, 1824-1871. Joint authors ofseveral volumes of poems. "Order for a Picture," A.C. "Nearer Home," P.C.Thomas Buchanan Read, 1822-1872. "Drifting," "Sheridan's Ride."John Burroughs, naturalist, 1837-. "Waiting."Edward Rowland Sill, 1841-1887. "The Fool's Prayer," "Opportunity."Sidney Lanier, 1842-1881. "The Song of the Chattahoochee," "TheMarshes of Glynn," "A Song of the Future."John Vance Cheney, 1848-. "Thistle Drift," "Wood Blooms," "EveningSongs."James Whitcomb Riley, 1853-. "Rhymes of Childhood."Eugene Field, 1850-1895. "With Trumpet and Drum," and "Love Songs ofChildhood."