Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-04-12
Incidents of LOngfellOw.

N"moo L. Eiclus si1Ss AS 1 uappeQ 10
know Of the birth of many of Lnngfelow's s
poems let me divulge to you few of THE
secrets. The Psalm of Life came into ex-
istence on bright summer morning In
July. 1888. in Cambridge, as the poet sat
between two windows at a small table, In
the corner of his chamber. 1t was voice
from his inmost heart, and he kept 1t un-
published long time; it expressed his
own feelings Mt at that time, when recov-
ering from deep aflliction, and he hid II
in his own heart for many months. The
poem of The Reaper Death came without
effort, crystallized into his mind. The
Light OF the Stars was composed on a
serene and beautiful summer evening,
exactly suggestive of the poem. The
Wreck OF the Hesperus was written the
night after violent storm had occurred,
and as the poet sat smoking his pipe the
Hesperus came sailing into his mind; he
went to bed, but could not sleep, and rose
and wrote the celebrated verses. 1t hardly
caused him an effort, but flowed on with
out let or hindrance. On summer af.
ternoon in 1849. rs he was riding on the
beach. The Skeleton in Armor rose, as out
of the deep. before him, and would not be
laid. One of the best known of all Long
fellows shorter poems is Excelsior. That
one word happened to catch his eye, one
autumn evening in 1911, on torn piece
of newspaper, and stralghtway his imagin-
alton took fire at 1t. Taking up a piece
OF paper. which happened TO be the back
of letter received that day from Charles
Sumner, he crowded it with verses. As
first written down, Excelsior differs from
the perfected and published version, but
1t shows rush and glow worthy of Its
author. The Story Of Evangeline was
first suggested to Hawthorne by friend
who wished him to found romance on it.
Hawthorne did not quite coincide with the
idea, and he handed it over to Longfellow,
who saw in it all tho elements Of deep
and tender idyl."
Many pleasing anecdotes are told illus
trating Mr.. Longfellow's kindly manner
toward strangers. and especially his gen.
tleness toward children, for whom there
was always warm place ia his heart.
The following story told by Prof Luigi
Monti last year is fair example of many
that have been or that might be told. For
many years this gentleman has been in the
habit Of dining with the poet every Sat-
urday. On Christmas day, as he was
walking briskly toward the old historic
house, he was accosted by girl about
twelve years old, who inquired the way
to Longfellow's home. lie 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 can 60 In the yardP"
"Oh, yes" said Signor Monti. DO
you SEQ the rooms on the left? That's
where Martha Washington held her recep-
tions hundred years ago. If you look
at the windows on the right you will
probably see white haired gentleman
reading paper. Well, that will be Mr..
Longfellow."
She looked gratified and happy at the
unexpected pleasure of really seeing the
man whose poems she said she loved.
As Signor Monti drew near the house
he saw Mr.. Longfelow standing with
his back against the 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 sec mo very
much-where Is she!"
He hastened to the door, and, beckoning
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, presented to him by the
Cambridge children and the beautiful pic.
lures and souvenirs gathered in many
years of foreign residence. The child will
carry all her life delightful memories of
her Christmas call at Mr.. Longfellow's.
This little incident shows how deep and
genuine was the love for children. which
found such frequent expression in Mr..
Longfellow's verse. 1t was love which
was cordially reciprocated, for no other
poet Of our day has had more friends and
lovers among the " little people Of God :"
than Mr.. Longfellow.
Probably the last time that Mr.. Long
fellow wrote his autograph be did it for
two lads who visited the poet by his per-
mission on Saturday, the 18th ultimo.
They were received in the kindly spirit
which Mr.. Longfellow always showed
toward young people. and shown over the
lower part of the house, after which he
wrote his name in the album which they
took with them, in clear, firm hand. In
the afternoon of that day his fatal illness
set in