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a varse…maker； thee must know。〃
This remark jarred upon the susceptible nerves of the poet； nor
could he help wondering what strange fatality had put into this
young man's mouth an epithet； which ill…natured people had
affirmed to be more proper to his merit than the one assumed by
himself。
〃True； I am a verse…maker；〃 he resumed； 〃but my verse is no more
than the material body into which I breathe the celestial soul of
thought。 Alas！ how many a pang has it cost me； this same
insensibility to the ethereal essence of poetry； with which you
have here tortured me again； at the moment when I am to
relinquish my profession forever！ O Fate！ why hast thou warred
with Nature； turning all her higher and more perfect gifts to the
ruin of me； their possessor？ What is the voice of song； when the
world lacks the ear of taste？ How can I rejoice in my strength
and delicacy of feeling； when they have but made great sorrows
out of little ones？ Have I dreaded scorn like death； and yearned
for fame as others pant for vital air； only to find myself in a
middle state between obscurity and infamy？ But I have my revenge！
I could have given existence to a thousand bright creations。 I
crush them into my heart； and there let them putrefy！ I shake off
the dust of my feet against my countrymen！ But posterity； tracing
my footsteps up this weary hill； will cry shame upon the unworthy
age that drove one of the fathers of American song to end his
days in a Shaker village！ 〃
During this harangue； the speaker gesticulated with great energy；
and； as poetry is the natural language of passion； there appeared
reason to apprehend his final explosion into an ode extempore。
The reader must understand that； for all these bitter words； he
was a kind； gentle； harmless； poor fellow enough； whom Nature；
tossing her ingredients together without looking at her recipe；
had sent into the world with too much of one sort of brain； and
hardly any of another。
〃Friend；〃 said the young Shaker； in some perplexity； 〃thee
seemest to have met with great troubles； and； doubtless； I should
pity them； ifif I could but understand what they were。〃
〃Happy in your ignorance！〃 replied the poet； with an air of
sublime superiority。 〃To your coarser mind； perhaps； I may seem
to speak of more important griefs when I add； what I had well…
nigh forgotten； that I am out at elbows； and almost starved to
death。 At any rate； you have the advice and example of one
individual to warn you back； for I am come hither； a disappointed
man； flinging aside the fragments of my hopes； and seeking
shelter in the calm retreat which you are so anxious to leave。〃
〃I thank thee； friend；〃 rejoined the youth； 〃but I do not mean to
be a poet； nor； Heaven be praised！ do I think Miriam ever made a
varse in her life。 So we need not fear thy disappointments。 But；
Miriam；〃 he added； with real concern； 〃thee knowest that the
elders admit nobody that has not a gift to be useful。 Now； what
under the sun can they do with this poor varse…maker？〃
〃Nay； Josiah； do not thee discourage the poor man；〃 said the
girl； in all simplicity and kindness。 〃Our hymns are very rough；
and perhaps they may trust him to smooth them。〃
Without noticing this hint of professional employment； the poet
turned away； and gave himself up to a sort of vague reverie；
which he called thought。 Sometimes he watched the moon； pouring a
silvery liquid on the clouds； through which it slowly melted till
they became all bright； then he saw the same sweet radiance
dancing on the leafy trees which rustled as if to shake it off；
or sleeping on the high tops of hills； or hovering down in
distant valleys； like the material of unshaped dreams； lastly； he
looked into the spring； and there the light was mingling with the
water。 In its crystal bosom； too； beholding all heaven reflected
there； he found an emblem of a pure and tranquil breast。 He
listened to that most ethereal of all sounds； the song of
crickets； coming in full choir upon the wind； and fancied that；
if moonlight could be heard； it would sound just like that。
Finally； he took a draught at the Shaker spring； and； as if it
were the true Castalia； was forthwith moved to compose a lyric； a
Farewell to his Harp； which he swore should be its closing
strain； the last verse that an ungrateful world should have from
him。 This effusion； with two or three other little pieces；
subsequently written； he took the first opportunity to send； by
one of the Shaker brethren； to Concord； where they were published
in the New Hampshire Patriot。
Meantime； another of the Canterbury pilgrims； one so different
from the poet that the delicate fancy of the latter could hardly
have conceived of him； began to relate his sad experience。 He was
a small man； of quick and unquiet gestures； about fifty years
old； with a narrow forehead； all wrinkled and drawn together。 He
held in his hand a pencil； and a card of some commission…merchant
in foreign parts； on the back of which； for there was light
enough to read or write by； he seemed ready to figure out a
calculation。
〃Young man；〃 said he； abruptly； 〃what quantity of land do the
Shakers own here； in Canterbury？〃
〃That is more than I can tell thee； friend；〃 answered Josiah；
〃but it is a very rich establishment； and for a long way by the
roadside thee may guess the land to be ours； by the neatness of
the fences。〃
〃And what may be the value of the whole；〃 continued the stranger；
〃with all the buildings and improvements； pretty nearly； in round
numbers？〃
〃Oh； a monstrous sum；more than I can reckon；〃 replied the young
Shaker。
〃Well； sir；〃 said the pilgrim； 〃there was a day； and not very
long ago； neither； when I stood at my counting…room window； and
watched the signal flags of three of my own ships entering the
harbor； from the East Indies； from Liverpool； and from up the
Straits； and I would not have given the invoice of the least of
them for the title…deeds of this whole Shaker settlement。 You
stare。 Perhaps； now； you won't believe that I could have put more
value on a little piece of paper； no bigger than the palm of your
hand； than all these solid acres of grain； grass； and
pasture…land would sell for？〃
〃I won't dispute it； friend；〃 answered Josiah； 〃but I know I had
rather have fifty acres of this good land than a whole sheet of
thy paper。〃
〃You may say so now；〃 said the ruined merchant； bitterly； 〃for my
name would not be worth the paper I should write it on。 Of
course； you must have heard of my failure？〃
And the stranger mentioned his name； which； however mighty it
might have been in the commercial world； the young Shaker had
never heard of among the Canterbury hills。
〃Not heard of my failure！〃 exclaimed the merchant； considerably
piqued。 〃Why； it was spoken of on 'Change in London； and from
Boston to New Orleans men trembled in their shoes。 At all events；
I did fail； and you see me he