Of dark-blue lake and mighty river,

Of mountains reared aloft to mock

The storm’s career, the lightning’s shock;

My own green land forever!

O never may a son of thine,

Where’er his wandering steps incline,

Forget the skies which bent above

His childhood like a dream of love.


John G. Whittier attended a reunion of his schoolmates at Haverhill, Mass., on the 10th of September, 1885. He was of the Class of ’27. He wrote a poem for the occasion, which was read by a cousin of his. It is entitled “1827-1885,” and is as follows: