Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-02-04
Misffllanf0us.


How many Of the boys and girls who
read Golden Days will like to take drive
with me to-day out TO Cambridge. Massa-
chusetts. and call upon the poet, Henry
w. LongfeIlow?
This Is the house. the old Craigie man.
sion, built before the Revolutionary war
As 1t stands here. to-day. large and square.
glowing with yellow paint and white trim
mings, II is not easy 10 believe that at
one time. George Washington used the
house for his headquarters. and received
his generals and made plans under its
root. But 80 it was, and we pass up the
long graveIed walk, and hesitate for
moment 10 wonder whether we shall pull
the door-bell OF blue glass, or lift the
heavy brass knocker.
We decide upon the knocker, because
we are less accustomed to this mode Of
making known our arrival at houses when
we visit. And the thump. thnmp seems
TO echo through the hall.
The pIcasant-faced maid who answers
the summons shows us into the reception
room, at the left Of the hall, while she
carries our cards 10 the poet.
In a minute or two he comes from his
study 10 welcome US. What "A courteous,
graceful gentleman Of the 'old school
he H.. And. after telling us how glad he
is we have come 10 Cambridge. he says
'.Let Us go into my studv. II is plea
anter there, think. =
And VIC cross the hail. and enter the
room where 50 very many of his beautiful
poems were written.
There is an open fireplace in the room.
and we give little shudder a we remem-
her that wife Of Mr.. Longfellow. while
playing with her children before the glow
ing logs, swept her dress into the flame,
and before help could come, was 40 Sc
verely burned that she died.
Drawn up close 10 the fender is the arm
chair that was given tn the great man by
the children Of Cambridge, and he tells
us how deeply he was touched by the gift
and that the subscriptions ranged from
one to ten cents, no child being allowed
to give more than the last amount. The
chair is made from part of 1.-THE spread
ing chestnut-tree, mentioned in Long
fellows poem of The Village Black
smith, which begins. You know,
"Under a spreading chestnut-tree
The village smiihy stands
The chair was ebonized after il was
carved. and that is why the poet, in his
verses OF tn1nkS, SAYS.
"Am king, that | should call my owa
This splendid cbon throne"
The seat is covered with dark green
leather, and about II are carven the
words
"And children coming home from school
Look In ut the open door"
1t was charming tribute to the lovely
old man, for he is very fond of children
Gas indeed all the poets are that have
ever met and have seen Mr.. Longiel-
low dancing about the room with his little
grandchild. and singing Mother Goose"
rhymes to the growing youngster. Just as
"A grandfather would do who couldn't
make poems himself
But turning from the chair, our host
opens wooden cnsket and taking out II
small glass box, puts it into the hand of
one OF our girl companions. saying:
"1his is not n cheerful thing to show
Young lady. but once this bit of wood
touched Dante's body. Ii is a portion of
his coffin -
And you remember that the best the
most literal translation Of Dante that we
have was made by I.ongiellow.
Then he takes up beautiful bronze ink
stand. and tells IA that the poet Crabhe
owned il long ago. and after him it was
used by Tom Moore. who, perhaps. dipped
ink from it when he wrote The Last
Rose of summer" Then Mrs. =. CIIalI.
the English philanthropist and author.
owned the inkstand. and when she died
her husband sent it to Longiellow.
Besides this. he has an inkstand that
was used by Coleridge. and on yellow
and stained piece of paper we read. in fad
ed ink and small. nervous letters;
SAMUEL TAYLOR CoLERIpGE.
His Inkstand"
Here is "A leathern case. and inside il we
find a pen and holder. The holder is made
Of wood from the frigate Constitution.
apd in the gold band around it are set
three jewels from Siberia. Ceylon and
Maine. But the pen. the other pen. was
made from link IN the letters of Bonnie
ward. the Prisoner OF Chillou." whom
byron eelebrated'in verse.
We pass from the study into the hall.
and rs one of our number sees m antique
clock half way up the stairs. he quotes.
The old clock on the stairs
Yes" Mr., Longfellow says. "bat not