The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1882-09-08
.osorr Llow. arsrH u.roas.

Of our conversation, / observed two
men and two woinen coming toward us
across the lawn. They were obviously
New England county folks returning
from the Centennial Exhibition. The
men had the slow, deliberate, rustic
walk, and we're dressed In ill.Gtting
black broadcloth, the very look Of
which made one prsspiro The women,
who wero leading the way, had an ap-
pearsnce Of pluck and enterprise, ~ II
they were determined to conquer the
modest ditidence Of their companions.
Mr. I.onsfrllow was sitting with Lis
back to the street, and did not observe
them until they were within yard Of
Of the piazza ue looked little sur
P,,-sd, but arose and Aalated tie in
truders with his wonted courtesy.
"Be you the poe. Longesllow 2"
asked Que Of the women in voice that
was Incredibly unmelodieus,
"Yes, Am Mr. I.ongfellow." he an
swered.
There was an awkward pause, duting
which she visiIers stared at tho poet
with uhabaGhed sIanOes as IL he Lad
been 4 Centennial relic on exhibition.
"Sow, how oil man might you be- r.
qusrisd tho other female abruptly.
81 am nixty -niLe years old, madam" |"
Pears 10 ms ysu look consid'aLly
older" said one cf the men looking up
sideways At Sic Iongisllo~'s face with
critical air.
my look. may btlie me [; | attn no
older"
could not but wonder at the ex.
treme urbanity with ~hich lac answer
ed these blunt questionsf showing no
annoyance Ia biz face, aud NO resent
ment. And when, finally. At their re-
quest, he conducted tho party through
hia house, he Submitted with the Eame
gentle courtesy to = o@ examination
regarding Sia family anil personal sf-
fairs, which voni.i have trio The Ia
tisnoe Of the areh-angsl Gabriel.
When, at tie end q Lslf an hour 10
returned, Apologi<:.g Tor has stesnce,
I made reaark which was, perhaps,
= little disresps0tful 10 his lat, visitors.
They maant 40 qistssr1ct 70 ms by
tbsls. questions" l,p answered. with
that beautiful gentlsnsss which was 30
characteristic OF his manner. al: is
perfectly proper where they came from
to intsreat ones sAlf in Tie personal sf,
fairs Of evsrybpd,.'
"nnt it mus. be a great inconven-
ienoe to yoa." | observed, "to he SO
frequently disturbed by such excur-
sionist."
"Well, during the present year l
admit it has been n little trying.
Nevertheless, | always dislike sending
. man OF woman away who has come
out here for the purpose OF seeing me
or my house. OF course, have 10 do
il Occasionally, but it is always disA
greea5le 10 me needleasly to disappoint
any one. Those women whom you
saw are . good staunch New England
type, and like them in spite II their
lack Of tact and their abrupt manners,
They are good, hard'working women,
Who make good wives and good moth
ers. And yet, the other day, l 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 af telling me that she had
read fEvangelir.e' from beginning to
end, 'and,' shs added, there ten',
many folks can say that / am con.
vinced 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 'EvsngelIne such dreadful taak
I he question scanned to surprise her
she grew embarrassed, and showec
plainly that she had no recollection o.
having said anything uncomplimen'
tary."
It was, as Ear ] can remember, or
: the same occasion that Mr.. Longfellow
told me ofa young man from somewhere
in New England who wrote to Linn
saying that be was in love with a young
lady whose name WAS given, and a de-
scription Of whose appearance was aist
suhioined. The writer had been do
Veting himself fer lung time to tn,
task Of winning this young iady's af
fection, but she had 50 far given hin
no encouragement and he had arrived
at the conclusion that "nothing bu
= poetry would fetch her, Now, wouls
. Mr.. I.ongfsllow, whom he understood
4 to be poet, write some suitable STUFF
{ for him that wonld appeal to the younl
: lady's heart, and weuld be first le
? him know how much be charged Tor
. poem Of this kind Whether M
, T.....c,Il.,, h,rlasa,,ad a l;ttle thia In