Miller, Cincinnatus Hiner, “Joaquin” (1841). The most American of all America’s poets. In his youth he took to gold-mining in California, afterwards acting as express-rider, later on drifted into journalism, and began his literary career while judge of Grant county, Oregon. His best-known works are Songs of the Sierras, Songs of Sunland, Songs of the Desert, Songs of the Mexican Seas, and In Classic Shades. He has not written much in a humorous vein, but his “William Brown of Oregon,” “That Gentle Man from Boston Town,” and “Saratoga and the Psalmist,” all humorous verse, have been widely read.
Mitchell, Donald Grant, born 1822. His delicate health compelled him to abandon the study of law, and he has spent most of his time in landscape gardening, writing, and travelling. His first book, Fresh Gleanings, or a New Sheaf from the Old Field of Continental Europe, was published in 1847, and in 1850 his widely-read work, Reveries of a Bachelor, appeared. In the sixties appeared the “Edgewood” series of books from his pen. Most of his humorous work appeared under the pen-name of “Ike Marvel.”
Mitchell, Dr. Samuel Latham (1764-1831), a valuable and voluminous writer on scientific subjects. He was a humorist in his way.
Moore, Clement Clarke (1779-1863). He wrote the famous piece of verse beginning—
“’Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.”
Morris, George P. (1802-1864), began writing for the press when but fifteen years of age, and during his lifetime saw many of his poems attain international celebrity. In 1823, he, in conjunction with Samuel Woodworth, established the New York Mirror, and in 1843, with N. P. Willis, the New Mirror; and in 1845 himself founded the National Press, afterwards the Home Journal. The Little Frenchman and his Water-Lots, a volume of prose sketches, published in 1839, was widely read; but his greatest hits were made by the songs, “Woodman, spare that Tree,” “We were Boys together,” “My Mother’s Bible,” and “Whip-poor-will.”
Morton, Thomas, born in England about 1575; died in America, 1646. During his adventurous life he caused Miles Standish and his Puritan followers a great deal of trouble, being many times imprisoned for misdeeds. He wrote a book, of which the following is a copy of the title-page:—“New English Canaan or New Canaan, containing an abstract of New England, composed in three Bookes. The first Booke setting forth the originall of the Natives, their Manners and Customs, together with their tractable Nature and Love towards the English. The second Booke setting forth, what people are planted there, their prosperity, what remarkable accidents have happened since the first planting of it, together with their Tenents and practise of their Church. Written by Thomas Morton of Clifford’s Inne gent, upon Tenne years knowledge and experiment of the country. Printed at Amsterdam by Jacob Frederick Stain in the yeare 1637.” This book is full of ridicule of all things pertaining to the Puritans.
M Quad. See Lewis.
Mrs. Partington. See Shillaber.