Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1882-06-12
alomih' s. Column.
IONGFELLOW AND THE
CHILDREN.

|
had word for them whenever he
met them.
At a concert, going early with her
father, little girl espied Mr.. Long
fellow sitting alone, and begged that
she might go and speak to him. Her
father, himself stranger, took the
liberty of introducing his little
daughter Edith to the poet.
'.Edith?" said Mr.. Longfellow.
tenderly. "Ah! / have an Edith,
too; but my baby Edith is twenty
years DID, And he seated the child
beside him, taking her hand in his,
and making her promise to come and
see him at his house in Cambridge.
"What is the name of your sled,
my boy?" he said to small lad, who
came Juggling up the road toward |
him, on a winter morning.
"It's 'Evangeline' Mr.. Longfel-
low wrote sEvangeline.' Did you
ever see Mr.. Longfellow answered
the little fellow, as he ran by, doubt
less wondering at the smile on the
face of the pleasant gray-haired gen
tleman.
Professor Mont, who witnessed
the pretty scene, tells the story of
little girl who last Christmas inquired
the way to the poets house, and
asked if she could just step inside the
yard and he relates how Mr. Long
fellow, being told she was there,
went to the door and called her in,
and showed her the ssold clock ON
the stairs, and many other interest
ing things about the house, leaving
his little guest with beautiful memo
ries of that Christmas day to carry
all through her life. This was char
acteristic of the poets hospitality,
delicate and courteous and thought
full to all who crossed his threshold.
1t is often said, and with reason,
that we Americans do not think
enough of manners-t politeness
of manners-that politeness of be-
havior which comes from genuine
sympathy and a delicate perception
of others feelings. Certainly our
young people might look to Mr.. Long
fellow as a model in this respect.
He was perfect gentleman, in the
best sense of that term, always con-
siderate, and quick to see where he
might do kindness, or say pleas
ant word.
A visitor one day told him in con-
versation of young lady relative,
or friend, who had sent to Mr.. Long
fellow the message that he was the
d one man in the world she wanted tC
see.
"Tell her," said the poet instant
ly, ''that she is the one young lady
in the world whom | want to see"
/. Some young girls, from distan
part of the country, having beef
s. about Cambridge sightseeing, walk
IS ed to Mr.. Longfellow's house, ant
venturing within the gate sat dow
, on the grass. He passed them there
and turning back, said:
IN "Young ladies, you are uncomfort
81 ably seated. Wont you come int
the house?''
tn They were overjoyed at the invita-
j. ton, and on entering, Mr.. Longfe
o. low insisted on their taking lunc
>, with him. They saw the table wa
Is. set for four, and were beginning
ao be mortified at finding themselve
possible intruders upon other guests
on Ihey so expressed themselves
Is, their host, who put them at ease ;
once, saying that it was only his reg
to ular lunch with his children, and tn;
rs they would be happy to wait.
One of a group of schoolgirl
Use whom he had welcomed to his hous
NV sent him, as token of her gratitlld
an iron pen made from a fetter (
inc the Prisoner of Chillon, and bit I
els wood from the frigate CONSTITUTION
h ornamented with precious stones fro
''' three continents. He wrote b
thanks in a poem which must be We
N precious to the giver,-''Beautif
Re- Helen of Maine, ito whom he sa
all of her gift that it is to him
'.As drop of the dew of your youth
sve' On the leaves of an aged tree"