It is easy to gain the impression that the Puritan age in Massachusetts was one of unrelieved sombreness; that the ministers, at least of the early churches, thought only of Jenathan-Edwards-like themes. One does not read long in the literature of the period, however, to realize that there were also lighter elements. The life of Mather Byles (1706-1788), for forty-three years pastor of the Hollis Street Church in Boston, would in itself relieve one of this impression. So inveterate a wag was he that a contemporary described him thus: There's punning Byles provokes our smiles, A man of stately parts. He visits folks to crack his jokes, Which never mend their hearts. With strutting gait and wig so great, And throws out wit, or what's like it, 5 He was a poet of more than local reputation, his work being mentioned even by Pope. He was generally accepted by his own generation as the leading American writer of his century, New England even placing him in the realm of the great classic writers of the world. One contemporary rhymer declared that Harvard's honor and New England's hope His stately, Pope-like verses, however, have perished, but a few of his lighter efforts still are remembered, notably those called forth by his constant jovial clash with his Harvard classmate and rival wit, Joseph Green (1706-1780). Green undoubtedly was the most brilliant humorist of pre-revolutionary America. A business man, a distiller, a man of wealth and manifold activities, yet he always found time for poetry. His pen was ever ready, at a moment's notice, to make an epigram, a satirical epitaph, an inscription for a picture, or any other jeu d'esprit that might be timely. At one time Byles, whom he followed constantly in wit combats, was inveigled by his friends on ship-board, and sorely against his will taken on a voyage to Maine. Making the best of it, he insisted on regular worship, and finding no hymn books, composed a hymn for the occasion. This gave Green a chance for a lampoon to which effort Byles instantly responded. Green was a satirist with a bitter pen, and most of the abuses of his time, especially those coming from abuse of power, he rebuked in scathing stanzas. On occasion he could be as serious as could Byles, but such occasions were not frequent. In 1743 one of his friends composed this quatrain to be used as his epitaph: JOHN WOOLMAN (1720-1772) The journal of John Woolman, the Quaker, has in it a simplicity and an unaffected genuineness that are rare in literature. Charles Lamb said of it: "Get the writings of John Woolman by heart," and Henry Crabb Robinson wrote in his journal: "An illiterate tailor, he writes in a style of the most exquisite purity and grace. His moral qualities are transferred to his writings. Had he not been so very humble, he would have written a still better book; for, fearing to indulge in vanity, he conceals the events in which he was a great actor. His religion was love." Woolman was a native of New Jersey, was born on a farm, learned early the tailor's trade and lived by it all his life, though his real profession was scattering far and wide the doctrines of love. He travelled widely among the Friends, preaching constantly, and exemplifying in his own life the religion which he professed. He stood ever against oppression; his was one of the first voices in America to plead for the rights of dumb animals, and he stood uncompromisingly against the institution of human slavery. It was on this latter account that in 1871 Whittier prepared a centenary edition of the Journal, an edition now recognized as the standard one of the work. Woolman died of smallpox shortly after his landing in England after the voyage recorded in the accompanying selection. THE JOURNAL OF JOHN CHAPTER XI EMBARKS AT CHESTER, WITH SAMUEL veyance; and as my concern was principally towards the northern parts of England, it seemed most proper to go in a vessel bound to Liverpool or White5 haven. While I was at Philadelphia deliberating on this subject I was informed that my beloved friend Samuel Emlen, junior, intended to go to London, and had taken a passage for himself in the cabin of the ship called the Mary and Elizabeth, of which James Sparks was master, and John Head, of the city of Philadelphia, one of the owners; and feeling a draught in my mind towards the steerage of the same ship, I went first and opened to Samuel the feeling I had concerning it. Having been some time under a religious concern to prepare for crossing the seas, in order to visit Friends in the northern parts of England, and more particularly in Yorkshire, after con- 15 sideration I thought it expedient to inform Friends of it at our Monthly Meeting at Burlington, who, having unity with me therein, gave me a certificate. I afterwards communicated the same to 20 our Quarterly Meeting, and they likewise certified their concurrence. Some time after, at the General Spring Meeting of ministers and elders, I thought it my duty to acquaint them with the re- 25 ligious exercise which attended my mind; and they likewise signified their unity therewith by a certificate, dated the 24th of third month, 1772, directed to Friends in Great Britain. In the fourth month following I thought the time was come for me to make some inquiry for a suitable con 30 My beloved friend wept when I spake to him, and appeared glad that I had thoughts of going in the vessel with him, though my prospect was toward the steerage; and he offering to go with me, we went on board, first into the cabin, -a commodious room,-and then into the steerage, where we sat down on á chest, the sailors being busy about us. The owner of the ship also came and sat down with us. My mind was turned towards Christ, the Heavenly Counsellor, and feeling at this time my own will subjected, my heart was contrite before him. A motion was made by the owner to go and sit in the cabin, as a |