Page:The Writings of John Green Whittier (v.1).pdf/284
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NARRATIVE AND LEGENDARY POEMS.
"For larger life and wiser aims
The farmer is her debtor;
Who holds to his another's heart
Must needs be worse or better.
The farmer is her debtor;
Who holds to his another's heart
Must needs be worse or better.
"Through her his civic service shows
A purer-toned ambition;
No double consciousness divides
The man and politician.
A purer-toned ambition;
No double consciousness divides
The man and politician.
"In party's doubtful ways he trusts
Her instincts to determine;
At the loud polls, the thought of her
Recalls Christ's Mountain Sermon.
Her instincts to determine;
At the loud polls, the thought of her
Recalls Christ's Mountain Sermon.
"He owns her logic of the heart,
And wisdom of unreason,
Supplying, while he doubts and weighs,
The needed word in season.
And wisdom of unreason,
Supplying, while he doubts and weighs,
The needed word in season.
"He sees with pride her richer thought,
Her fancy's freer ranges;
And love thus deepened to respect
Is proof against all changes.
Her fancy's freer ranges;
And love thus deepened to respect
Is proof against all changes.
"And if she walks at ease in ways
His feet are slow to travel,
And if she reads with cultured eyes
What his may scarce unravel,
His feet are slow to travel,
And if she reads with cultured eyes
What his may scarce unravel,
"Still clearer, for her keener sight
Of beauty and of wonder,
He learns the meaning of the hills
He dwelt from childhood under.
Of beauty and of wonder,
He learns the meaning of the hills
He dwelt from childhood under.