Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-07

vtna's fructile Imagination peopled the
streets with pursuing government agents
and tlled the fog with phantasms OF doom.
She was in this state Of mind when the
kindly company at the Drury Lane Theatre
heard poor little Fern Rogers say that she
liked Germans. signed a round robin and
made Arthur Collins dismiss her for the
protection OF the Houses OF Parliament.
1t was this news. which she read in the
papers. coupled with the incidents Of a
particularly embarrassing week that had
driven Malvina to talk 10 the benevolent
bust OF Longfellow in the Abbey.
But Maivina was no swaying Fern to be
blown into eXile-and even into apologies
by the winds OF hostility Malvina had
come 10 the fame-hallowed spot to plan a
campaign. and when she said MY word"
she had already half her forces in the
held. She had, a. has been said, suddenly
realized that it was not long, long way
from Longfelder TO Longfellow.
All beg your pardon-but / see that
you are an admirer OF our greatest bard
perhaps yourself an American" said
softly cadenced voice behind her.
Malvina turned the Dorc pillar OF her
throat to let her celebrated eyes fall upon
a neat little gray woman who was 7)e-
slowing upon her the first smile she had
met in I.cndon
Yes said Malvina.
"Oh, isn't that nice? We are from Bos
ii
In coruscating clothes who had fingered
dejectedly behind her-"is studying for
the ministry. | bring him here TO instil
into his mind reverence for the twin i'm
morta!itles-fame and the soul. Whittier,
c0me mere; I want you to look with pa
triotic pride upon the features OF native
bard-the only American poet ever hon
ored al this shrine-Henry Wadsworth
Longfellow"
'Longfelow your grandfather" calculated
me youth. Know all about him; hated
his face ever since owned third reader.
Household poct--New England group,
visited upon helpless American school
children in place OF real literature. Never
mad an idea except that it's good to be
good and us bad to be bad. Longfellow
your grandfather,"
Malvina gazed upon the young man with
.-!n g!ed apprehension and gratitude. His
words had crystallized her thoughts She
1ad crossed the Valley of Decision.
No. ne was my granduncle," che
c-eathed rcverently.
on, my child! Whittier. wha, have
you done"
apologies" said Whittier. "Abject
apologies. Meant every word of it. but
take it all back like gentleman. Come
along, mother"
Gayly from the consoing clutches OF the
ltt!c graz woman escaped Malvina--
I.ongtellow. The die was cast, the gaunt
q
against her cncmies Now for action!
Stratcg? vile No. Move to another
hotel.
80. Buy copy OF Longfcllow's
poems
30. Summon the trusted American
friends and whisper for the first time In
cons 10 ears that could be tickled by a
Joke.
Diminishing nor secret agents, Malvlna
sal down 10 read the pages OF her new
relative. She would need several sweet
little things 10 quote, or perhaps even TO
vecit". She examined the index Here
was a harmless one Untitled Flowers"
Ma!vina "hisked over the pages:
"Spake full well in language
quaint and oden,
One Who dwelIeth iby the
casilod Rhine!"
'"hew saspcd Malvina, and turned to
The Wreck OF the Icsperus"
mere appeared in the Bond street