Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1882-04-20
The GREY POET.
Iong'ellow Talking for Little Folks.
some sweet Stories of His Life.

III
Boston Letter TO the New York Tribune
Many pleasing anecdotes are told
illustrating Mr.. Longfellow's kindly
manner toward strangers, for whom
there was always place in his heart
The following story, told by prof
Luigi Month last year, is a fair cyan.
pie of the many that have been or that
might be told. For many years this
gentleman has been in the habir of
driving with the poet every Saturday.
On Christmas day, as he was walking
briskly toward the historic old house,
he was accosted by a girl about twelve
years old, who inquired the way to
Longfellow's house. He told her it
was some distance down the street. but
if she would walk along with him he
would show her. When they reached
the gate, she said: "Do you think I
can go in the yard?" ooh, yes" said
Signor Month. do you see the room
on the left? That is where Martha
Washington held her receptions a han.
dred years ago. If you look at the
windw on the right you will probably
see a white haired gentleman reading
a paper. Well, that will be Mr.. Long
fellow"
She looked gratifed and happy at
the unexpected pleasure of really see
ing the man whose poems she said she
loved. AS Signor Monti drew near
the house, he saw Mr.. Longfellow
standing with his back against tho
window, his head, of course. out of
sight. When he went in, the kind
hearted Italian said: "Do look out of
the window and bow to that little girl
who wants to see you very much"
A little girl wants to see me very
much? Where is she?" He fastened
to the door, and, reckoning with his
hand, called out: "Come here. little
girl, come here, if you want to see
me-" She needed no second invitation.
and, after shaking her hand and asking
her name, he kindly took her into the
house, showed her "the old clock on
the stairs" the chair made from the
village smithy's chestnut tree, and pre-
sented to him by the Cambridge chill
dren, and the beautiful pictures and
mementoes gathered in many years of
foreign residence. The child will car
ry all her life delightful memories of
ner christmas call at Mr.. Longfellow's.
This little incident shows how deem
and genuine was the love for children
which found such frequent expression
in MIR. Longfellow's verse. 1t was a
love which was cordially reciprocated.
for no other poet of the times has had
more friends and lovers among the
little people of God" than Mr.. Long
FELLOW. This love of the children for
hlm was symbolized in the pretty gift
which the children of Cambridge made
to him in 1877-an armchair made
from the old horse-chestnut tree in
Brattle street, Cambridge, which Mr..
Longfellow had celebrated in his poem
"The Village Blacksmith" The de-
sign Of the chair is very pleasant and
in perfect keeping. The color is dead
black, an effect produced by ebonizing
the wood. The upholstering of the
arms and the cushion is in green leath-
er, and the casters are glass balls set in
sockets. In the back of the chair ia q
circular piece of exquisite carving.
representing horse-chestnut leaves and
blossoms. Horse-chestnut leaves and
burrs are represented in varied COM
blnatlons at other points. Around the
seat. in raised German text, are the
following lines from the poem:
And children coming home fcom school
look In at the open door,
ANA catch the burning SPARKS that fly like
chat from a threshing floor.
Underneath the cushion is brass
plate on which is the following inscrip.
ton: =
ITO the author of the sVilIags Black
smith.' This chair, made from the wood
OF the spreading chestnut tree, is present.
ed as an expression of grateful regard and
veneration by the children of Cambridge.
VINO, with their friends, jim in best wish
es and COMMUNICATIONS on this anniversary.
February 81 1872
While Mr.. LongfeIlow had been
averse to public testimonials and cele-
brations, his birthday, especially of late
years, has been the occasion of many
pleasant demonstrations of the affec-
ton in which he has been held. Par
ticularly was this true of his last birth
day. On the 18th Of last month, when
many schools throughout the country
gave the whole or part of the day to
a study of his writings and essays and
addresses upon his character and life.
His native city of Portland desired t.,
honor him with public reception up
on the same occasion, but failing health
compelled him to decline the honor.
The members of the Maine Historical
society, however, held special meet
ing at which eulogies, critical and per.
sonal essays, and poem were read.
At the asylum for the blind, in South
Boston, there was a pleasing celebra-
ton, In which the pupils participated,
and in preparation for which volume
in raised letters had been printed con-
tanning tributes to Mr.. Longfellow and
some passages from his poems.
Carlyle's posthumous work, "Remin-
sciences of my Irish Journey" will be
begun in the May Century, and COM
pleted in June and July. Those who
y< hoI -