Omaha daily bee., 1915-03-07

vina's fructlle Imagination peopled the
streets with pursuing government agents
and filled 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 round robin and
made Arthur Collins dismiss her for the
protection of the Houses OF Parliament.
IL was this news, which she read in the
papers, coupled with the incidents of
particularly embarrassing week that had
driven Malvina to talk to the benevolent
bust OF Longfellow in the Abbey.
But Malvina was no swaytng Fern to be
blown into exile-and even into apologies
by the winds OF hostility. Malvina had
come to the fame-hallowed spot to plan a
campaign, and when she said ''My word"
she had already half her forces in the
field. She had as has been said, suddenly
realized that 1t was not a 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 q
softly cadenced voice behind her.
Malvina turned the Doric pillar of her
throat TO let her celebrated eyes fall upon
a neat little gray woman who was oe-
slowing upon her the first smile she had
met in London.
Yes" said Malvina.
ton. My son"-she indicated a younGster
in coruscating clothes who had fingered
dejectedly behind hers studying for
the ministry. ! bring him here 20 instil
into his mind a reverence for the twin i'm
mOrtalities-fame and the soul Whittier.
come here; / want you TO look with pa.
triOtic pride upon the features OF a native
bard-the only American poet ever hon
ored at this shrine-Henry Wadsworth
Longfellow."
'Longfellow your grandfather" calculated
the youth. Know all about him; hated
his face ever since owned a third reader.
Household poet-New England group,
visited upon helpless American school
children In place of real literature. Never
had an idea except that It's good to be
good and it's bad to be bad. Longfellow
your grandfather"
Malvina gazed upon the young man with
mingled apprehension and gratitude. His
words had crystallized her thoughts. She
had crossed the Valley of Decision.
mo. he was my granduncle," she
breathed reverently.
"oh. my child! Whittier, what have
you done?"
Apologies" said Whittier. "Abject
apologies. Meant every word OF II. but
take 1t ali back like a gentleman. Come
along, mother"
Gayiy from the compelling clutches OF the
little gray woman escaped Malvina-
Longfellow. The die was cast, the gaunt.
let thrown. Now TO take the aggressive
against her enemies! Now for actioni
Strategy vile No. Move to another
hotel.
No. Buy a copy of Longfellow's
poems
No. s-summon the trusted American
friends and whisper for the first time In
cons TO ears that could be tickled by a
Joke.
Diminishing her secret agents, MalVinA
sat down to read the pages Of her new
relative. She would need several sweet
little things to quote. or perhaps even 70
recite. She examined the index. Here
was a harmless one Untitled Flowers
Malvina whisked over the pages;
"Spake full well in language
quaint and olden,
One who dwelleth by the
castled Rhinei"
"Whew!" gasped MalVina. and turned Il
The Wreck OF the Hesperus"
There appeared In the Bond stree