Page:The Poets and Poetry of the West.djvu/226

 210 AMELIA B. AVE LEY. [1830-40. nent qualities, and her nicety of ear was none the less remarkable in view of the fact that it had never been cultivated by the study of any model. Mrs. Welby's poetry gi-ew more rapidly into public favor, and found admiration and appreciation among a larger number of people than that of any author within our knowledge. Hardly had her fingers touched the lyre ere her strains were caught up by melody-lovers throughout the Union, and sung in every peopled valley and echoed from every sunny hill-side of our vast domain. Her poetry was of a character that could not fail to reach every heart. It was natural, free from all morbidness ; full of grace, of delicacy, and of elegance. While it did not reach beyond the comprehen- sion and the sympathy of the humblest individual, while her range of subjects was confined to the " every-dayness of this work-day world," yet her treatment of them was so absolutely poetic, and withal so naive and original, as to excite the admiration of the most cultivated and refined. The first collected edition of her poems was published at Boston in 1845, and, although a large number of copies were embraced in it, it was readily disposed of within a very few months, and the demand for the work was still unabated. In less than twelve months after the issue of her volume, overtures were made to Mrs. "Welby by some of the best publishers in the country for a new edition. The Appletons were the successful competitors for the prize, and in 1846 they published a second edition. Since that time edition after edition has been issued, till already seventeen editions have appeared and found ready sale, and the demand for the volume is by no means exhausted. Few American writers either of prose or poetry have met with a success equal to this, and very few have found admirers in as many different circles of society as has Amelia Welby. The secret of all this is well explained by Rufus W. Griswold in one of his notices of this lady. He says, "Her fancy is lively, discriminating, and informed by a minute and intelligent observation of nature, and she has introduced into poetry some new and beautiful imagery. No painful experience has tried her heart's full energies ; but her feelings are natural and genuine ; and we are sure of the presence of a womanly spirit, reverencing the sanctities and immunities of life, and sympathizing with whatever addresses the senses of beauty." Mrs. Welby's brilliant success as an author has led many young ladies in the West to emulate her example ; and while here and there is found one who displays talent and capacity, none have as yet compassed any thing like equal popularity, and very few, indeed, have been found equally deserving. In person Mrs. Welby was rather above than below the middle height. Slender and exceedingly graceful in form, with exquisite taste in dress, and a certain easy, floating sort of movement, she would at once be recognized as a beautiful woman. A slight imperfection in the upper lip, while it prevented her face from being perfect, yet gave a peculiar piquancy to its expression which was far from destroying any of its charm. Her hair was exquisitely beautiful, and was always arranged regardless of the prevailing fashion, with singular elegance and adaptiUion to her face and figure. Her manners were simple, natural, and impulsive, like those of a child. Her conver-