The Sentinel. [volume] (Trenton, N.J.) 1880-1882, 1882-09-09
Longfellow's Queer Visitors.

our conversation I observed two men
ana two women coming toward us
across the lawn. They we're obviously
New-England country folks return
ing from the Centennial Exhibition.
The men had the slow, delibera te.
rustic walk, and were dressed in ILL.
httlng black broadcl 9TH, the very look
OF which made one perspire. The
women, who were leading the way,
had an appearance of pluck and enter
prise, as if they were determined to
conquer the modest diff ence of their
companions. Mr.. Longfelloy was
sitting with his back to the street. and
did not observe them until they were
within a yard of the piazza. He
looked little surprised, but arose and
saluted the intruders with his wonted
courtesy.
"Be you the poet Longfellow Pr
asked one of the women, in a voice
that was incredibly unmelodious.
"Yes, 1 ana Mr.. Longfellow,n he
answered.
There was an awkward pause, dur
ing which the visitors stared at the
poet with unabashed glances as if he
had been Centennial relic on exhibit
ton.
"Now how old a man might Won
be?" queried the other female alb
ruptly.
II am sixty nine years old, madam. "
"Pears to me you look consid'ably
older" said one of the men, looking
up sideways to Mr.. Longfellow's face
with critical air.
my looks may belle me. I am no
older.n
l could not but wonder at the ex-
treme urbanity with which he an
swered these blunt questions, showing
no annoyance in his face and no resent
ment. And when, finally, at their re-
quest, he conducted the party through
! his house, he submitted with the same
gentle courtesy to cross-examination
regarding his family and personal af-
fairs which would have tried the
patience of the archangel Gabriel.
When at the end of half an hour he
returned, apologizing for his absence,
l made remark which was, perhaps,
a little dlsres pectful to his late visitors.
They meant no disrespect to me by
their questions.h he answered, with
that beautiful gentleDess which was so
characteristic of his manner. It is
perfectly proper, where they came
from, to interest ones self in the per-
sonal affairs OF everybody"
but it must be great inconve-
nience to you," 1 observed, "to be so
frequently disturbed by such excurt
sionists."
"Well, during the present year adj
nit it has been little trying. Never
theless, l always dislike sending q
man or woman away who has come
out here for tn purpose of seeing me
or my house. OF course, have to do
it occasionally, but it is always disa-
greeable to me needlessly, to dassp-
point anyone. Those women whom
you saw are good staunch New Eng.
land type, and like them in spite of
their lick of tact and their abrupt
manners. They are good, hard work
ing women, who make good wives and
good mothers. And yet, the other day,
was greatly amused at one of the
same class who came here with large
basket-whether she had anything to
sell did not ascertain-apparently for
the purpose of telling me that she had
read 'Eyangeline' from beginning to
end. and she added, there bent
many folks can say that am con-
WINGED now that she had no intention
whatever of being rude to me she was
merely awkward and nervous, and
said what she did not mean TO say. /
asked her if she had found the reading
of 'Evangeline' such dreadful task.
The question seemed to surprise her
she grew embarrassed, and showed
plainly that she had no recollection of
having said anything uncomplimen-
tary."
1t was, as far as I can remember, on
the same occasion that Mr.. Longfellow
told me of u young man from some
where In New-England who wrote to
him, saying that he was in love with
a young lady whose name was given,
and description of whose appearance
was also subjoined. The writer had
been devoting himself for long time
to the task of winning this young
lady's affection. but she had so far
given him no encouragement; and he
had arrived at the conclusion that
nothing but poetry would fetch her."
Now, would Mr.. Longfellow, whom
he understood to be poet, write some
suitable stuff for him that would ap-
peal to the young Iady's heart, and
would he first let him know how
l.