Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-09-13

ing the centennial year we were sitting
together, one beautiful afternoon, on his
piazza, smoking and talking. While we
we're in the midst of our conversation I
observed two men and two women CON
ing toward us across the lawn. They
were obviously New England country
folks returning from the centennial exhi.
bition. The men had the slow, deliberate,
rustic walk, and were dressed in ill ii ting
black broadcloth, the very look of which
made one perspire. The women, who
we're leading the way, had an appearance
of pluck and enterprise, as if they were
determined to conquer the modest diff
dence OF their companions. Mr.. Long
fellow was sitting with his back to the
| street, and did not observe them until they
were within yard of the piazzl He
looked IA little surprised, but arose and sa-
uted the intruders with his wonled c0ur
| tesy.
"Be you the poet Longfellow?' asked
| one of the women, in a voice that was in
| credibly unmclodous.
"Yes. am Mr.. Longfellow,' he ans
wered.
/ There was an awkward pause, during
which the visitors stared at the poet with
unabashed glances. as if he had been II
centennial relic on exhibition.
Now. how old man might you be?
queried the other female abruptly.
II am sixty nine years old, madam"
| Pears to me you look condsid ably
oder" said one of the men, looking up
sideways to Mr.. Longfellow's face with Il
critical air
MY looks may belle me. am no
older"
| could not but wonder at the extreme
urbauity with hich he answered these
blunt questions, showing no annoyance in
| his face and no resentment. And when,
| finally at their request, he conducted the
party through his house, he submitted
with the same gentle courtesy to cross
examination regarding his family and per-
sonal affairs which would have tried the
patience of the archangel Gabriel. When
at the end of half an hour he returned,
apologizng for his absence, | made a
remark which was, perhaps, II little disre-
spectful to his late visitors.
"Thev meant no disrespect TO me by
their questions" he answered, with that
beautiful gentleness which was character
isic of his manner. at is perfectly proper,
where they come from, to interest ones
self in the personal affairs of everybody"
"But it must be a great Inconvenience
to you," observed, "to be so frequently
disturbed by such excursionists."
! swell, during the present year admit
it has been little trying. Nevertheless
always dislike sending man or woman
away who has come out here for tho pur-
pose of seeing me or my house, Of course,
have to do it occasionally, but it is nj.
ways disagreeable to me to needlessly dis
appoint any one. Those women whom
you saw are good, staunch New England
type, and like them in spite Of their lack
of tact and their abrupt manners. They
are good, hard working women, who make
good wives and good mothers, And ye
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 fl
the purpose of telling me that she haC
read 'Evangeline' from the beginning tot The
end, and she added there bent many
folks can say that | am convinced now
that she had no intention whatever Of be
ing rude to me; she was merely awkwar,
and nervous, and said what she did no
mean to say. asked her if she lount
the reading of 'EvaDgeline' such II dread
full task, The question seemed to surpli is
her; she grew embarras sed, and showe'
plainly that she had no recollection o
having said anything uncomplimcntary. y
1t was as near as | can remember, o,
the Same occasion that Mr.. Lo1gfallov
told me Of young man from somewhere
in New England who wrote to him slyins
that he was in love with Il certain youn!
lady, whose name was given and a de
scription of whose appearance was ais
,uhioined The writer had been devotln
Z himself for long lime to the task of win
, ning This young ladys affection, but sh
had so far given him no encouragement
and he had arrived AZ the conclusion ,h'
nothing but poetry would fetch her
Now, would Mr.. Longfellow, whom h
. understood to be poet, write some suta
q bile stuff for him that would appeal to tn
young lady's heart, and would he first lc
y him know how much he charged for
. poem of this kindp Whether Mr.. Long
y fellow burlesqued little this incident i
relating it, am unable to say; but fror
. the gravity of his manner and still NOR
u from his temperamental happiness fo
. burlesque exaggeration, | concluded tina
c the incident had occurred exactly as h
had reported. Prof. Boysen IN The Chris
8 tian ORION.