The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1868-08-13
Hens auO 9aiserllonu.
LongreIlow Ills Home and Family.

huu ~ prosperous year, ana u promise OF
still greater popularity we find sketches of
the American Literati at Home" The
paragraphs relating to the poet Longfellow
are pleasant reading:
II is certainly q grand old estate, this
residence Of Longtellow's; almost too
grand, indeed, to harmonic with ones ro-
mantle notion OF what the abode Of rhyme
compelling genius should be. 1t is such a
house rs the untitled family nristocmcy of
America are wont 10 delight i'm. very an
cient ior the new world, built with that
substantial massiveness and mpreteuding
p%}ainness which symbolic the Characters
tics OF pre-revolutionary generations. A
simple, low stone wall, settled q little by
time, separates the square lawn from the
street. Half way rises n high, plain wood
en- gateway. Looking with ease over the
wall. the passer-by may survey at leisure
the residence of the poet aud its surround
ings. On either side OF the walk from the
gate to the house is a pretty simple lawn,
carefully kept, UNMARRIED by trees. In the
center is a fountain which, however, is COW
cred with moss, whether by neglect or
through the lancy of the proprietor, we
know not.
A small terrace surrounds the house.
which is a few feet above the lawn: steps
conduct one mp to the huge, slightly
ornamented door. On either side, aud at
the back Of the house, are some large.
handsome elms. beyond them a neat, but
plain Garden. Around the edge of the
walls which separate this estate from
n%eighboring ones. are groups Of tall lilac
bushes aud other shrubs At the side Of
the house toward the University is n cool
porch, rooted, supplied with benches and
chairs, and looking ont upon q graceful
clump of elms. This porch * one of the
favorite hNunts of the poet; very often be
Is to be seen there toward evening, bare
headed, walking or conversing with his
children. The house itself is of wood,
high, with slightly slanting roof, old
fashioned windows tuucifully decorated at
the top with anuld look which Is charming
TO the lover Of antiquities, and by its home
illness without, seemsto invite tocozy cheer
fitness. to roaring fires, 20 genial welcome
within. IL has long ago been painted yell
low; the paint, mt frequent intervals, has
disappeared still the house looks veneer
able, not at all sloyenly. If it did not pos
sess, in its present occupant, a living and
most interesting attraction Il would still
have a charm 60 all, as n specimen Of the
mansions of the provincial aristocracy,
when Massachusetts, WIS still u province;
aud to Americans, because IL has q history
connected with the events of the revolu-
ton. The spacious old rooms now occu-
pied by the poet, were once, at n memorable
time, the abode of Americas most illustri-
ous son; the writer of lyrics has taken the
place of the actor Of epics. When, Ia the
early days of the war of independence.
Washington was elected by Congress to
the command OF the colonial army, Eng
lish troops had possession of Boston. The
/ siege was formed by concentrating the pm
triot troops in the ~neighboriug towns.
Washington went TO New ENGLAND TO di-
rect their movements IN person, and fixed
hig headquarters IN convenient Cambridge
- in this same venerable mansion where
I Lougiellow now lives. Thence he sent ont
his orders, general and special here con-
veued. in anxious dehberatou. the little
knot Of patriot officers, uusEilled IN war.
collected from iarm-honsos and labratories,
to drill by manual and learn the ant OF
sieges. Within this door passed the
wealthy merchant, Hancock, who had
turned his thoughts to RULES and orders
OF the day gtuf Samuel Adams, n Puritan
Mirubeau, putting his finger exactly on
the pith of the trouble: rewards for the
capture of these two had Just been pro-
claimed over in Boston. In these quiet
rooms, given up now these mnny years TO
the Muse, whence come ont ever and anon
graceiulest gems of the rythmic art, a plan
OF campaign was drawn mp, experienced
eN-royul Lieutenant Washington suporyis-
ing, eX-merchants. doctors, farmers, advise
ing-Hll agreeing, too, and at last succeed
ing; unity, u rare thing IN revolutionary
councils, ever prevailing. Washington
did not stir from this LOngiellow's house
till he could 90 IN triumph. lt IS no
wonder, then, that Americans visit
this old place with mingled feelings
. 1T tl..s Es.l I.Y. "a V.t.f,na..t.. lad. NIL
as au attractive presence; and while gazing
at the home ct the first OF the native poets.
revert 10 that troublesome time when there
was for America but the grim poetry Of
war. Ia srasouaLle hours visitors are adj
mitted 10 see the interior; any one Of
whom yuu may meet on the way viii tell
You that the poets hospitality is proyerb-
ial. In taking advantage of the privilege,
YOU need not despair OF catching n glimpse
of the poet himself Iou may see him
through n half-opeu door, busy nj his
desk; you may find him irolicking with
his children ia the hall; II II not even un-
likely he may come ont and welcome you
though a stranger, and with winning cour-
tesy offer 10 guide you through the rooms
which have a peculiar interest. On the
lett, as You enter, is the poets study; on
the right, the parlors; at the back OF the
study, the dining room. There il little TO
describe; suffice it to say that the interior
is what the exterior has promiaed-home-
like simplicity aud content.
Low studded rooms; a wide, cheerful
looking hall; parlors substantial and cosy,
with certain lit.le indications here aud there
Of the presence OF % scholar, and Of a
homehke womanliud. The study of the
poet is simple and elegantly furnished; a
high desk near the window, where Mr..
Longicllow sometimes writes, standing, is,
it may be couiectured, that piece Of furni-
ture which will be most valuable AZ a relic
ii, as may be the case, ii is thereon that
his poems are written,
The family Of the poet consists OF two
sons, who have arrived 1T manhood, and
/ three bright, merry, charming little daugh-
tiers. The reader has not forgotten the ter
rible accident by which, some years ago,
Mr.. LonRfellow lost n beautiful and uni
versally beloved wite-a lady OF family, of
most graceful culture, and "A kindness of
5 heart which will long be remembered
by the neighborhOod IN which she was
E the most shining, though most mod
/ est of ornaments. Since that frlghtful
syent, the husband has been II changed
e man, Those who remember him in his
happy married lile-wbo r~ecollect the gen
s ial eXhuberance Of his spirits, the cheer
D tulness OF his disposition, the warmth OF
his welcome, the bright wit which flowed
constantly, the buoyancy of a soul upon
10 which shone the sunshine of life, and
I athwart which II cloud never seemed to
i pass-note with grief the expression Of set
T. tied melancholy, the love Of solitude, and
/ the quickly grown white locks which one
1 sees to-day, Still Longiellow is not so i'm
/ changed but that the kindness of heart,
\ the old warmth of friendship, the old love
S of the bright and beautiful things of the
/ world, and OF letters, still exist. At times,
: and not seldom, that noble and now vener-