THE RANDALL FAMILY 11
in this place some record of the appreciation accorded to these poems more than forty years ago.
Mr. Richard Henry Dana, Senior, the venerable author of "The Buccaneers," and one of the founders of the "North American Review" in May, 1815, wrote the following letter to the poet's sister: —
My dear Miss Randall,
When you called at my house and left for me with your name a copy of your brother's volume of poetry, I was ill, and from that time to the present have scarcely for a day been free from more or less trouble, particularly in the head, which has at times prevented my reading at all. I have of course been in no state for reading poetry, espe- cially that which was new to me. I have, notwithstand- ing, read a few of the pieces, and will no longer delay tell- ing you how much I have been struck with their deep thoughtfulness, which does not seem to be so much awak- ened for the time by an object or subject calling it up as to be a state habitual to the mind, and subjecting to its power whatever comes across that mind. Here is also shown an eye most observant of nature, constantly noting what would pass under most eyes unseen, its minuter forms and subtile changes such as the eye of love alone would see. Here are wise thoughts, too, expressed with a close- ness which comes of strength and imparts strength, and the language is plain mother-English, comforting and re- freshing to one wearied of the so prevalent affected and strained and obscure phraseology of these days. I will not now stay to particularise the pieces which I have read, but I cannot pass by " A Spring Morning " — is it . (A friend has my copy.) What a beauty in its tender sadness ! How true in its many and varied objects in nature, follow-
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