The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-06-18
Elizabeth Stuart Phelps RscelIactlans Of
Lungfellow, Whittier and AoInss.
THE FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN THE THREE.
Charrning sketches OF che Inner Lives
or Three OF Americas Greatest
Poets-The Desolation OF the Lasf
Years of Whftsier's Iire-The Auto.
Gratis Life tn Pleasant Contrast.
CIV Eal1abeth stuart Phelps.)


"a r ,a,,a-n1er one dull cold daY--it was
4 a Sunday-when, being entertained at
the home of Governor and Mrs. Claiil.'
where Mt. Whittier was also a GUEST,
& the suggestion arose that we snuuiu
drive out to see Mr.. Longteilow. rms
we dia--Mr. Whittier, Mrs, aI.u
tnyse,lf. Mr. Whittier was at his bright
est on that drive to Cambridge; full OF
good stories ond good appreciation OF
chem; more than usually cneertui, anu
inclined to talk happily.
HI we drove up 20 Longfellow's door;
there seemed an unusual silence ABOUT
she calm and gentle place. Mr.. w mt
z tier went on alone and rang the bell.
IT was our purpose TO remain in the
s carriage. think leaving the two poets
10 their own great selves undistuibea
by our smaller personalities. we were
therefore. astonished TO see Mr.: WHIT
tier returning in n moment Hu ran
down the steps and sprang in with eX-
cstement, hitting his tall hat. l remem-
Der on the carriagG door, and entirely
unconscious that he had done so. He
was more agltated than had ever seen
& him.
.tLongfellow is sick! he cried, VERY
sick! They are very anxious" He
leaned back OH the carriage cushions,
much perturbed.
at Is long time since have seen
him!" he said. drearty. His agitation
remained. The drive back to Boston
was a gloomy one. His viVacfty was
quite extinguished.
Tla scarcely spoke to either OF us, all
& the way; but stared solemnly our OF the
window with eyes that seemed 10 see
nothing nearer than the worid 10 whlch
his great friend was called, EVERY one
who knew nam can uhuerslana M"hl
look upon at such a time. We rode
home. and he went up at once to his
ius So' VIZ st,i5 .o sha1,ar,G r,nn, oil
ss,, ne ..I, innnSa1Iar dia, -
Posslpte illti - 81,
n, ut, a., 60, a. COO hin, noesinr
~ thro,,aS ~ saar,s loci, In yybihIar,s
avas
.It NO. q disonnoint,n,n. " no vrota
s.not ~ he a1oIe IN saa i,on%ra,iow then
and much more aStar his death. hut I am
GLAD I went on that Last Sabbath. and
K that thee was with me. All. WE'LL
as Wordsworth asked. after commemor-
a,ting the frineds who had left him: Who
next shall fan and disappear | await
the answer with awe and solemnity. and
yet with mistaken trust in the mercy of
the All Merciful"
Whittier was shy and salnty visit
or; and new interior was an insur-
mountable trouble to him in his later
years. 1 think he cultivated in him
self q kind OF chronic expectation of
3 SUItle time running MS conditional pro-
mise to come and see me; but in point
Il OF fact he never did l saw him at the
houses of one OF two old friends in town.
2 where he acquired a habit of fitting In
and out; or else ait his own home. And
he wrote, when he could Sometimes
long silences fell between the letters.
Sometimes they succeeded each other
quickly. This was as 1t happened To
me. my broken acquaintance with him
was one of the inspirations OF my life
He was full of frolic, in a gentle way:
no one OF the worlds people ever had a
keener sense of humor. From every in
terview with him one carried away n
good story, or a sense of having had n
good time. He never darkened tho anv
or Swallowed the heart. He inspIrstod
He invigorated. II like" he wrote To a
friend. the wise Chinese nrowarh. W.,
cannot prevent the birds of sadness from
flying over your head. but Won may nre.
vent them from stopping TO buIld their
nests in your hair"
With what boyish delight he ahsorhaa
a new anecdote. IL It ba, tho right 10
to IL, and how tepderlv ba aconnnoi.ns
the best of the old ones,
Most Of the more amusing ,no,s..r
of his personal experience ba,,a 49,
long ago published Inv the 4r,a,,a 49,.
whom he used ia share shsn, Win
Perhens the story ahow, T
a. ono Of tbam. hut ,,a,,.,s baleoln
~ aa one which ho. ,,,,,s,,. ~ repeat
rna s'ayeu ny
ca,,er ONE ., .,b,
+hrorr tha. ,,oyasn ihiuneraole