vi been rather from ignorance or inadvertence than from any conscious partialities. It has been our aim to give specimens of the writings only of natives of the State. In a very few cases we have departed from this rule in regard to individuals, who have lived so long among us, as to have become identified with the State. It will be observed, that a considerable proportion of the authors in our collection have not spent their lives in the State, but have sought their fortunes in other regions. But their writings may be considered as none the less native and characteristic; for it is the land of one's birth and early breeding, that forms the character and developes the powers. A sufficient reason for the departure of so many citizens from our State, may be found in the want of those large cities, which alone are able to reward brilliant talents. This collection is by no means meagre in poetry. We are able to give a satisfactory answer to the query of a writer in the North American Review some ten years ago, who marvelled that a State, so rich in beautiful and sublime scenery as our own, had given no considerable indication of poetic talent. We refer to our pages for satisfactory proof, that the Muses have dwelt among our mountains, lakes and rivers, and that not only in sturdy enterprise, but in other respects, New Hampshire is not unworthy of her name, the Scotland of America. With these few suggestions, we present our work to the reader, asking for ourselves but the humble credit of compilation, and of course with no claim to the reputation of authorship. Nashua, Dec. 11, 1841. CONTENTS. 13 SONG OF THE PILGRIMS. THOMAS C. UPHAM,... LA FAYETTE'S RETURN. PHILIP CARRIGAIN,. 21 22 26 28 THE BIBLE AS A HUMAN COMPOSITION. EDWARD PAYSON,. 34 36 AGRICULTURE AND COMMERCE. JOSEPH S. BUCKMINSTER, 47 52 54 56 60 SONG OF THE HUSBANDMAN. MRS. EUNICE T. DANIELS, THE TRUE DIGNITY OF WOMAN. SAMUEL WORCESTER, THE GRAVE OF PAYSON. WILLIAM B. TAPPAN,.. DUTIES OF AMERICAN CITIZENS. LEVI WOODBURY,. SONG OF THE ANGELS IN FAUST.' GEORGE W. HAVEN, THE RIVER MERRIMAC. WILLIAM M. RICHARDSON,. DANGERS INCIDENT TO A REPUBLIC. WILLIAM S. BALCH,. 100 102 107 109 A MELTING STORY. FROM THE PICAYUNE.' G. W. KENDALL,... THE WHITE MOUNTAINS. WILLIAM B. TAPPAN,. . . . . . CHARACTER OF REV. DR. PARKER. SAMUEL E. COUES, THE VICTOR'S CROWN. MRS. SARAH J. HALE,.. NIGHT. FROM THE LAY PREACHER.' JOSEPH DENNIE,. THE SUMACH TREE. MRS. ELIZA B. THORNTON, THE MAIDEN AT CHURCH. BENJAMIN B. FRENCH,. 180 181 NAPOLEON AT MELUN. MRS. SUSAN R. A. BARNES, THE STUDY OF THE CLASSICS. EDWIN D. SANBORN,. THE TREASURED HARP. JAMES T. FIELDS,. .... LINES. O. W. B. PEABODY,........ 245 .... RHYMES BY A NORTHMAN. B. B. FRENCH,........ THE FIRST SPRING FLOWER. MRS. EUNICE T. DANIELS,. THE TREASURES OF THE SEA. MRS. CAROLINE ORNE.. THE INDEPENDENT FARMER. THOMAS G. FESSENDEN, 304 305 INSANITY AND CRIME. ICHABOD BARTLETT,. THE BACKWOODSMAN. EPHRAIM PEABODY,... AGRICULTURE: ITS DIGNITY AND IMPORTANCE. FAME AND LOVE. SAMUEL T. HILDRETH,. I WOULD NOT LIVE ALWAY. OTIS A. SKINNER,. THE WATER OF LIFE. W. B. 0. PEABODY,.... LEONORE D'ESTE. MRS. L. J. B. CASE,. CUSTOMS OF OUR FATHERS. ABIEL ABBOT,.. SAMUEL T. HILDRETH,. 343 361 365 66 DO THEY LOVE THERE STILL?' MRS. MARY R. FRATT,. BURNS AND COWPER. O. W. B. PEABODY,..... 370 THE DUTY OF THE JUDICIARY. JEREMIAH MASON,. 378 OUR MOUNTAIN HOMES. MRS. S. R. A. BARNES,.. |