Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-05-31
LOngfellOw and the Children.

Longfellow loved all children, and had a
word for them whenever he met them.
At concert, going early with her father,
little girl espied Mr.. Longfellow sitting
alone, and begged that she might go and
speak to him. Her father, himself stranger,
took the liberty of introducing his little
daughter Edith to the poet.
edith 7" said Mr.. Longfellow, tenderly.
" All / have an Edith, too but my baby
Edith is twenty years DID," And he seated
the child beside him, taking her hand in his,
and making her promise to come and see
him at his house in Cambridge.
"What is the name of your sled, my boy?"
he said to small lad, who came Juggling
one up the road toward him, on a winter
morning.
"It's Evangt line Mr.. Longfellow wrote
'Evangeline.' Did you ever see Mr.. Long
fellow ?" answered the little fellow, as he ran
by, doubtless wondering at the smile on the
face of the pleasant gray-haired gentleman.
Professor Monti, who witnessed the pretty
scene, tells the story of little girl who last
Christmas inquired the way to the poet s
house, and asked if she could Just step
inside the yard and he relates how Mr..
Longfellow, being told she was there, went
to the door and called her in, and showed
her the "old clock on the stairs" and many
other interesting things about the house,
leaving his little guest with beautiful men,
cries of that Christmas day to carry all
through her life. This was characteristic
of the poets hospitality, delicate and cour-
teous and thoughtful to all who crossed his
threshold.
1t is often said, and with reason, that we
Americans do not think enough of manners
that polteness of behavior which comes
from genuine sympathy and delicate percep-
ton of others feelings. Certainly our young
people might look to Mr.. Longfelow as a
model in this respect He was a perfect
gentleman, in the best sense of that term,
always considerable and quick to see where
he might do kindness, or say pleasant
word.
A visitor one day told him in conversation
of young lady relative, or friend, who had
sent to MIR. Longfellow the message that he
was the one man in the world she wanted
to see.
"Tel her." said the poet, instantly, "that
she is the one young lady in the world whom
| want to see."
Some young girls, from distant part of
the country, having been about Cambridge
sightseeing walked to Mr.. Longfellow's
house, and venturing within the gate, sat
down upon the grass. He passed them there,
and turning back, said:
Young ladies, you are uncomfortably
seated. Won't you come into the house ?"
They were oyerjoyed at the invitation,
and on entering, Mr.. Longfellow insisted
upon their taking lunch with him. They
saw that the table was set for four, and were
beginning to be mortified at finding them
selves possible intruders upon other guests.
They so expressed themselves to their host,
who put them at ease at once, saying that it
was only his regular lunch with his children,
and that they would be happy to wait.
One of group of schoolgirls whom he
had welcomed to his house sent him, as
token of her gratitude, an iron pen made
from fetter of the prisoner of Chillon, and
bit of wood from the frigate " Constitution"
ornamented with precious stones from three
continents. He wrote his thanks in poem
which must be very precious to the giver,--
Beautiful Helen of Maine,"-to whom he
says of her gift that it is to him
As a drop of the dew OF your youth
On the leaves OF an aged tree"
IS. Nicholas.