GEORGE POPE MORRIS 1802-1864 MORRIS lived a long and busy life, writing much in both prose and verse, but his name is kept alive by a single poem. Woodman, spare that Tree may seem a slender thread on which to hang a literary reputation, but the appeal which it makes, though not very strong, is sincere and universal. The cutting down of a tree, however insignificant, invariably awakens lively interest and often provokes heated discussion. Morris was born in Philadelphia, but spent the greater part of his life in New York city, where he died. His life work was journalism. For nearly twenty years he edited the Mirror, which he and Samuel Woodworth, author of The Old Oaken Bucket, had founded together in 1823. He and N. P. Willis also founded the Home Journal. These two journals published much of the current literature of the day, and the editors were no inconsiderable literary figures in their time. WOODMAN, SPARE THAT TREE! WOODMAN, spare that tree! Touch not a single bough! In youth it sheltered me, That placed it near his cot; Thy ax shall harm it not. That old familiar tree, Whose glory and renown And wouldst thou hew it down? Cut not its earth-bound ties ; Now towering to the skies! 5 ΙΟ 15 JUDGE GREENE was born at Providence, Rhode Island, and was graduated from Brown University. While in college he wrote a popular ballad, Old Grimes. He studied law and was for many years judge of the Municipal Court at Providence. His interests, however, were not wholly centered in the law. He drew up the school bill of Rhode Island, and for fourteen years was president of the Rhode Island Historical Society. He was also the founder of the Harris Collection of American Poetry now in the possession of Brown University. His own poems were never published in a collected form. THE BARON'S LAST BANQUET O'ER a low couch the setting sun had thrown its latest ray, The stern old Baron Rudiger, whose frame had ne'er been bent By wasting pain, till time and toil its iron strength had spent. "They come around me here, and say my days of life are o'er, That I shall mount my noble steed and lead my band no more ; They come, and to my beard they dare to tell me now, that I, Their own liege lord and master born, that I, ha ha! must die. 5 "And what is death? I've dared him oft before the Paynim Think ye he's entered at my gate, has come to seek me here? hot, I'll try his might — I'll brave his power; defy, and fear him not. 10 "Ho! sound the tocsin from my tower, and fire the culverin, - An hundred hands were busy then- the banquet forth was spread 16 And rung the heavy oaken floor with many a martial tread, Fast hurrying through the outer gate the mailed retainers poured, On through the portal's frowning arch, and thronged around the board. While at its head, within his dark, carved oaken chair of state, 20 "Fill every beaker up, my men, pour forth the cheering wine; There's life and strength in every drop,- thanksgiving to the vine ! Are ye all there, my vassals true?-mine eyes are waxing dim; 25 Fill round, my tried and fearless ones, each goblet to the brim. "You're there, but yet I see ye not. Draw forth each trusty sword Bowl rang to bowl — steel clanged to steel- and rose a deafening cry 5 That made the torches flare around, and shook the flags on high: "Ho! cravens, do ye fear him? — Slaves, traitors! have ye flown? Ho! cowards, have ye left me to meet him here alone! Down rang the massy cup, "But I defy him: - let him come! NATHANIEL PARKER WILLIS 1806-1867 BORN in Portland, Maine, educated at Andover and Yale, Willis began his literary career in Boston, where his father had founded the Youth's Companion. Later he removed to New York, where he spent the remainder of his life, and became the most prominent man of letters of his day in America. His literary reputation has slowly faded since his death. Much of his work-stories, verses, and letters of travel — lies buried in the files of the Mirror and the Home Journal. It was distinguished by cleverness rather than by power or depth. But no man ever understood the taste of his own age better than did Willis. He fed this taste with sentimental stories, cleverly turned verses, and letters of travel full of personal gossip. His personal qualities, apart from his literary style, also served to increase his power over the men and women of his time. He was tall, handsome, elegant in dress, joyous in spirit, and both amiable in manner and honorable in conduct. He had, too, that deferential attitude towards women which has always been popu lar in America. These qualities made him a social favorite, in Europe as well as in America. So dazzling, indeed, were his personal charms that one Englishman spoke of him as a young man likely to attain the presidency, and a Boston merchant said he guessed that Goethe was the N. P. Willis of Germany. Much of Willis's contemporary fame must, therefore, be set down to the magic of his personality. Readers of to-day, untouched by this subtle wand, easily detect in his literary work much that is false in taste, shallow in feeling, and superficial in thought. A few of his best poems, however, seem likely to survive, and his heroic struggle in the waning days of his strength to support his family in comfort will always appeal to men of spirit and honor. UNSEEN SPIRITS THE shadows lay along Broadway, And slowly there a lady fair Walked spirits at her side. Peace charmed the street beneath her feet And Honor charmed the air; And all astir looked kind on her, And called her good as fair, For all God ever gave to her She kept with care her beauties rare For her heart was cold to all but gold, And the rich came not to woo But honored well are charms to sell If priests the selling do. 5 10 15 |