The Good Part, that Shall not be Taken Away
By the Great Kenhawa, a woman teaches village girls, reads to them of a savior who liberates slaves, and foretells freedom for all. Once wealthy, she gave up everything to free those who served in her household and worked her lands. They sailed beyond the Southern Sea; she now earns her bread in poverty, practices charity, and receives their prayers and blessings.
By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow · Genre: Abolitionist Literature, Narrative Poetry, Religious Poetry · 314 words
First lines
She dwells by Great Kenhawa's side, / In valleys green and cool; / And all her hope and all her pride / Are in the village school.
Her soul, like the transparent air / That robes the hills above, / Though not of earth, encircles there / All things with arms of love.
Genres
- Abolitionist Literature — The woman frees those who served her household and worked her lands, and teaches the hope that all people will become free.
- Narrative Poetry — Nine rhymed quatrains recount the woman's teaching, her earlier surrender of wealth, and the departure of those she freed.
- Religious Poetry — The woman's charity follows her beloved Lord, while the prayers and blessings of those she freed are presented as sustaining her grace and peace.
Tags
abolition · slavery · village schools · Christian charity · voluntary poverty · emancipation
What this Textopian page supports
The Good Part, that Shall not be Taken Away is listed on Textopian as a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, dated Date unknown.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
- Date: Date unknown
- Language: English
- Genres: Abolitionist Literature, Narrative Poetry, Religious Poetry
- Length: 314 words
- Structure: 1 section, 9 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Good Part, that Shall not be Taken Away by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph