John Greenleaf Whittier was a favourite poet of Helen's because of his rapturous writing and moral rectitude. She was personally acquainted with him and it was the gentle remembrance of their friendship that suffused her with pleasure while reading his works. Whittier lived a quiet life in Merrimac, his gentle courtesy and quaint speech could win over anyone's heart. He had a book of his poems in raised print from which Helen had read the poem 'In School Days'. It had delighted the poet upon hearing how well she could pronounce the words so well and he observed that he had had no difficulty in understanding him. Whittier was a poet greatly admired by Helen as well as her teacher for whom he had given his autograph. The poet died before Helen could fulfil her promise of meeting him again but he continued to live on in his works for Helen.