Among the Hills, and other poems / Part 5 From Volume I of The Works of John Greenleaf Whittier

A collection of narrative and lyrical poems portraying rural life and legendary incidents, blending vivid natural description with moral reflection. Pastoral sketches and ballads evoke quiet rural landscapes, everyday characters, moments of loss and compassion, and recollection of the past. The verse alternates direct storytelling with meditative lyrics that consider faith, charity, and the small duties that ennoble labor. Language favors plain, musical lines, often concluding with a moral or consoling vision. Scenes of domestic simplicity, neighborly pity, and religious feeling recur, while occasional historical or legendary narratives expand the scope beyond private experience.