John Greenleaf Whittier (1807–1892). The Poetical Works in Four Volumes. 1892.
Appendix II. Poems Printed in the ‘Life of Whittier’To Lucy Larcom
A brief unpedantic
Review of Miss Phelps’ book,
Which teaches and helps folk
To deal with the offenders
In love which surrenders
All pride unforgiving,
The lost one receiving
With truthful believing
That she like all others,
Our sisters and brothers,
Is only a sinner
Whom God’s love within her
Can change to the whiteness
Of heaven’s own brightness.
For who shall see tarnish
If He sweep and garnish?
When He is the cleanser
Shall we dare to censure?
Say to Fields, if he ask of it,
I can’t take the task of it.
P. S.—For myself, if I ’m able,
And half comfortable,
I shall run for the seashore
To some place as before,
Where blunt we at least find
The teeth of the East wind,
And spring does not tarry
As it does at Amesbury;
But where it will be to
I cannot yet see to.