Often，thenightswereverycold，andasIreturnedhomefromCraigieHousetothecarpenter’sboxonSacramentoStreet，amileortwoaway，Iwasasifsoul—bornethroughtheairbymyprideandjoy，whilethefrozenblocksofsnowclinkedandtinkledbeforemyfeetstumblingalongthemiddleoftheroad。Istillthinkthatwastherichestmomentofmylife，andIlookbackatitasthemoment，inalifenotunblessedbychance，whichIwouldmostliketoliveoveragain——ifImustliveany。
ThenextwinterthesessionsoftheDanteClubweretransferredtothehouseofMr。Norton，whowasthencompletinghisversionofthe’VitaNuova’。ThishasalwaysseemedtomeaworkofnotlessgracefulartthanLongfellow’stranslationofthe’Commedia’。Infact，itjoinstheeffectofasympathyalmostmountingtodivinationwithapatientscholarshipandadelicateskillunknowntomeelsewhereinsuchwork。
IdonotknowwhetherMr。Nortonhassatisfiedhimselfbetterinhisproseversionofthe’Commedia’thaninthisofthe’VitaNuova’，butI
donotbelievehecouldhavesatisfiedDantebetter，unlesshehadrhymedhissonnetsandcanzonets。Iamsurehemighthavedonethisifhehadchosen。Hehasalwayspretendedthatitwasimpossible，butmiraclesareneverimpossibleintherighthands。
V。
Afterthreeorfouryearswesoldthecarpenter’sboxonSacramentoStreet，andremovedtoalargerhousenearHarvardSquare，andintheimmediateneighborhoodofLongfellow。Hegavemeaneasementacrossthatoldgardenbehindhishouse，throughanopeninginthehighboardfencewhichenclosedit，andIsawhimoftenerthanever，thoughthemeetingsoftheDanteClubhadcometoanend。Atthelastofthem，Lowellhadaskedhim，withfondregretinhisjest，"Longfellow，whydon’tyoudothatIndianpoeminfortythousandverses？"Thedemandbutfeeblyexpressedthereluctanceinusall，thoughIsuspecttheIndianpoemexistedonlybythechallenger’sinvention。BeforeIleavemyfaintandunworthyrecordofthesegreattimesIamtemptedtomentionanincidentpoignantwithtragicalassociations。ThefirstnightafterChristmasthehollyandthepinewreathedaboutthechandelierabovethesupper—tabletookfirefromthegas，justaswecameoutfromthereading，andLongfellowranforwardandcaughttheburninggarlandsdownandborethemout。Noonecouldspeakforthinkingwhathemustbethinkingofwhentheineffablecalamityofhishomebefellit。CurtisoncetoldmethatalittlewhilebeforeMrs。Longfellow’sdeathhewasdrivingbyCraigieHousewithHolmes，whosaidbetrembledtolookatit，forthosewholivedtherehadtheirhappinesssoperfectthatnochange，ofallthechangeswhichmustcometothem，couldfailtobefortheworse。
IdidnotknowLongfellowbeforethatfataltime，andIshallnotsaythathispresenceborerecordofitexceptinmyfancy。Hemayalwayshavehadthatlookofonewhohadexperiencedtheutmostharmthatfatecando，andhenceforthcouldpossesshimselfofwhatwasleftoflifeinpeace。Hecouldneverhavebeenamanoftheflowingeasethatmakesallcomersathome；somepeoplecomplainedofacertain’gene’inhim；andhehadareservewithstrangers，whichneverquitelostitselfintheabandonoffriendship，asLowell’sdid。HewasthemostperfectlymodestmanIeversaw，everimagined，buthehadagentledignitywhichIdonotbelieveanyone，thecoarsest，theobtusest，couldtrespassupon。IntheyearswhenIbegantoknowhim，hislonghairandthebeautifulbeardwhichmixedwithitwereofoneiron—gray，whichIsawblanchtoaperfectsilver，whilethatpearlytoneofhiscomplexion，whichAppletonsoadmired，lostitselfinthewannessofageandpain。Whenhewalked，hehadakindofspringinhisgait，asifnowandagainabuoyantthoughtliftedhimfromtheground。ItwasfinetomeethimcomingdownaCambridgestreet；youfeltthattheencountermadeyouapartofliteraryhistory，andsetyouapartwithhimforthemomentfromthepoorandmean。WhenheappearedinHarvardSquare，hebeatifiedifnotbeautifiedtheugliestandvulgarestlookingspotontheplanetoutsideofNewYork。Youcouldmeethimsometimesatthemarket，ifyouwereofthesameprovision—manashe；andLongfellowremainedasconstanttohistradespeopleastoanyotherfriends。Heratherlikedtobringhisproofsbacktotheprinter’shimself，andweoftenfoundourselvestogetherattheUniversityPress，wheretheAtlanticMonthlyusedtobeprinted。ButoutsideofhisownhouseLongfellowseemedtowantafitatmosphere，andIlovebesttothinkofhiminhisstudy，wherehewroughtathislovelyartwithaserenityexpressedinhissmooth，regular，andscrupulouslyperfecthandwriting。Itwasquitevertical，androunded，withaslopeneithertotherightnorleft，andatthetimeIknewhimfirst，hewasfondofusingasoftpencilonprintingpaper，thoughcommonlyhewrotewithaquill。Eachletterwasdistinctinshape，andbetweentheverseswasalwaystheexactspaceofhalfaninch。
Ihaveagoodmanyofhispoemswritteninthisfashion，butwhethertheywerethefirstdraftsornotIcannotsay；verylikelynot。Towardsthelasthenolongersenthispoemstothemagazinesinhisownhand；buttheywerealwayssignedinautograph。
Ionceaskedhimifhewerenotagreatdealinterrupted，andhesaid，withafaintsigh，Notmorethanwasgoodforhim，hefancied；ifitwerenotfortheinterruptions，hemightoverwork。Hewasnotafriendtostatedexercise，Ibelieve，norfondofwalking，asLowellwas；hehadnot，indeed，thechildishassociationsoftheyoungerpoetwiththeCambridgeneighborhoods；andIneversawhimwalkingforpleasureexceptontheeastverandaofhishouse，thoughIwastoldhelovedwalkinginhisyouth。InthisandinsomeotherthingsLongfellowwasmoreEuropeanthanAmerican，moreLatinthanSaxon。Heoncesaidquaintlythatonegotagreatdealofexerciseinputtingonandoffone’sovercoatandovershoes。
Isupposenoonewhoaskeddecentlyathisdoorwasdeniedaccesstohim，andtheremusthavebeentimeswhenhewasoverrunwithvolunteervisitors；butIneverheardhimcomplainofthem。HewasverycharitableintheimmediatesortwhichChristseemstohavemeant；buthehadhispreferences；humorouslyowned，amongbeggars。HelikedtheGermanbeggarsleast，andtheItalianbeggarsmost，ashavingmostsavair—faire；
infact，wealllovedtheItaliansinCambridge。HewaspleasedwiththeaccountsIcouldgivehimoftheloveandhonorIhadknownforhiminItaly，andonedaytherecamealetterfromanItalianadmirer，addressedto"Mr。GreatestPoetLongfellow，"whichhesaidwastheverymostamusingsuperscriptionhehadeverseen。
ItisknownthattheKingofItalyofferedLongfellowthecrossofSanLazzaro，whichistheItalianliterarydecoration。ItcamethroughthegoodofficesofmyoldacquaintanceProfessorMessadaglia，thenadeputyintheItalianParliament，whom，forsomereasonIcannotremember，IhadputincorrespondencewithLongfellow。Thehonorwaswhollyunexpected，anditbroughtLongfellowadistresswhichwaschieflyforthegentlemanwhohadprocuredhimtheimpossibledistinction。Heshowedmetheprettycollarandcross，not，Ithink，withoutanaturalpleasureinit。Nomanwaseverlessabigotinthingscivilorreligiousthanhe，buthesaid，firmly，"Ofcourse，asarepublicanandaProtestant，Ican’tacceptadecorationfromaCatholicprince。"Hisdecisionwasfromhisconscience，andIthinkthatallAmericanswhothinkdulyaboutitwillapprovehisdecision。
VI。
Suchhonorsashecouldfitlypermithimselfhedidnotrefuse，andI
recallwhatzesthehadinhiselectiontotheArcadianAcademy，whichhadmadehimashepherdofitsRomanFold，withthetitle，ashesaid，of"Olimipicosomething。"ButIfancyhissweetestpleasureinhisvastrenowncamefromhispopularrecognitioneverywhere。Fewwerethelands，fewthelanguageshewasunknownto：heshowedmeaversionofthe"PsalmofLife"inChinese。Apparentlyeventhepoorlostautograph—seekerwasnotdeniedbyhisuniversalkindness；Iknowthathekeptastoreofautographsreadywrittenonsmallsquaresofpaperforallwhoappliedbyletterorinperson；hesaiditwasnotrouble；butperhapshewastobeexcusedforrefusingtherequestofaladyforfiftyautographs，whichshewishedtoofferasanovelattractiontoherguestsatalunchparty。
Foreignersofallkindsthrongeduponhimattheirpleasure，apparently，andwithperfectimpunity。Sometimeshegotalittlefun，very，verykindly，outoftheirexcusesandreasons；andtheEnglishmanwhocametoseehimbecausetherewerenoruinstovisitinAmericawasnofable，asIcantestifyfromthepoethimself。ButhehadnoprejudiceagainstEnglishmen，andevenatacertaintimewhenthecoarse—handedBritishcriticismbegantoblamehisdelicateartfortheuniversalacceptanceofhisverse，andtotrytosneerhimintotherankofinferiorpoets，hewaswithoutrancorfortheclumsymislikingthathefelt。Hecouldnotunderstandrudeness；hewastoofinelyframedforthat；hecouldknowitonlyasSwedenborg’smostcelestialangelsperceivedevil，assomethingdistressful，angular。Theill—willthatseemednearlyalwaystogowithadversecriticismmadehimdistrustcriticism，andthediscomfortwhichmistakenorblunderingpraisegivesprobablymadehimshyofallcriticism。Hesaidthatinhisearlylifeasanauthorheusedtoseekoutandsaveallthenoticesofhispoems，butinhislatterdayshereadonlythosethathappenedtofallinhisway；thesehecutoutandamusedhisleisurebyputtingtogetherinscrapbooks。Hewasreluctanttomakeanycriticismofotherpoets；Idonotrememberevertohaveheardhimmakeone；andhiswritingsshownotraceoftheliterarydislikesorcontemptswhichwesooftenmistakeinourselvesforrighteousjudgments。
Nodoubthehadhisresentments，buthehushedtheminhisheart，whichhedidnotsufferthemtoembitter。WhilePoewaswritingof"LongfellowandotherPlagiarists，"LongfellowwashelpingtokeepPoealivebytheloanswhichalwaysmadethemselvesgiftsinPoe’scase。Hevery，veryrarelyspokeofhimselfatall，andalmostneverofthegrievanceswhichhedidnotfailtosharewithallwholive。
Hewaspatient，asIsaid，ofallthings，andgentlebeyondallmeregentlemanliness。Butitwouldhavebeenagreatmistaketomistakehismildnessforsoftness。Itwasmostmanlyandfirm；andofcourseitwasbracedwiththeNewEnglandconsciencehewasbornto。Ifhedidnotfinditwelltoasserthimself，hewaspromptinbehalfofhisfriends，andoneofthofinethingstoldofhimwashisresentingsomecensuresofSumneratadinnerinBostonduringtheoldpro—slaverytimes：hesaidtothegentlemenpresentthatSumnerwashisfriend，andhemustleavetheircompanyiftheycontinuedtoassailhim。
Buthespokealmostasrarelyofhisfriendsasofhimself。Helikedthelarge，impersonaltopicswhichcouldbedealtwithontheirhumanside，andinvolvedcharactersratherthanindividuals。ThiswasratherstrangeinCambridge，wherewewereapttotakeourinstancesfromtheenvironment。Itwasnottheonlythinghewasstrangeinthere；hewasnottothatmannerborn；helackedthefinalintimacieswhichcancomeonlyofbirthandlifelongassociation，andwhichmakethemenoftheBostonbreedseemexclusivewhentheyleastfeelso；hewasLongfellowtothefriendswhowereJames，andCharles，andWendelltooneanother。HeandHawthornewereclassmatesatcollege，butIneverheardhimmentionHawthorne；IneverheardhimmentionWhittierorEmerson。Ithinkhisreticenceabouthiscontemporarieswaslargelyduetohisreluctancefromcriticism：hewasthefinestartistofthemall，andifhepraisedhemusthavepraisedwiththereservationsofanhonestman。Ofyoungerwritershewaswillingenoughtospeak。Nonewcontributormadehismarkinthemagazineunnotedbyhim，andsometimesIshowedhimverseinmanuscriptwhichgavemepeculiarpleasure。IrememberhislikingforthefirstpiecethatMr。MauriceThompsonsentme，andhowhetastedthefreshflavorofit，andinhaleditswildnewfragrance。Headmiredtheskillofsomeoftheyoungstory—tellers；hepraisedthesubtletyofoneinworkingoutanintricatecharacter，andsaidmodestlythathecouldneverhavedonethatsortofthinghimself。Itwasentirelysafetoinvitehisjudgmentwhenindoubt，forheneversufferedittobecomeaggressive，orusedittourgeuponmethemanuscriptsthatmustoftenhavebeenurgeduponhim。
LongfellowhadahouseatNahantwherehewenteverysummerformorethanaquarterofacentury。HefoundtheslighttransitionchangeenoughfromCambridge，andlikeditperhapsbecauseitdidnottakehimbeyondtherangeofthefriendsandstrangerswhosecompanyheliked。Agassizwasthere，andAppleton；Sumnercametosojournwithhim；andthetouristsofallnationsfoundhimthereinhalfanhouraftertheyreachedBoston。Hiscottagewasveryplainandsimple，butwasrichinthesightoftheillimitable，sea，andithadaluxuryofrocksatthefootofitsgarden，drapedwithsea—weed，andwashedwiththeindefatigabletides。AshegrewolderandfeeblerheceasedtogotoNahant；heremainedthewholeyearroundatCambridge；heprofessedtolikethesummerwhichhesaidwarmedhimthroughthere，betterthanthecoldspectacleofsummerwhichhadnosucheffectatNahant。
Thehospitalitywhichwasconstantateitherhousewasnotmerelyoftheworldlysort。Longfellowlovedgoodcheer；hetastedhistoryandpoetryinapreciouswine；andhelikedpeoplewhowereacquaintedwithmannersandmen，andbroughttheairofcapitalswiththem。ButoftenthemanwhodinedwithLongfellowwasthemanwhoneededadinner；andfromwhatIhaveseenofthesweetcourtesythatgovernedatthatboard，Iamsurethatsuchamancouldneverhavefelthimselftheleasthonoredguest。
Thepoet’sheartwasopentoallthehomelessnessoftheworld；andI
rememberhowoncewhenwesatathistableandIspokeofhispoemof"TheChallenge，"thenanewpoem，andsaidhowIhadbeentouchedbythefancyof"Thepoverty—strickenmillionsWhochallengeourwineandbread，Andimpeachusallastraitors，Boththelivingandthedead，"
hisvoicesankingravehumilityasheanswered，"Yes，Ioftenthinkofthosethings。"Hehadthoughtoftheminthedaysoftheslave，whenhehadtakenhisplacewiththefriendsofthehopelessandhapless，andaslongashelivedhecontinuedofthepartywhichhadfreedtheslave。
Hedidnotoftenspeakofpolitics，butwhenthemovementofsomeofthebestRepublicansawayfromtheirpartybegan，hesaidthathecouldnotseethewisdomoftheircourse。Butthiswassaidwithoutcensureorcriticismofthem，andsofarasIknowheneverpermittedhimselfanythinglikedenunciationofthosewhoinanywisedifferedfromhim。
Onamatterofyetdeeperinterest，Idonotfeelauthorizedtospeakforhim，butIthinkthatashegrewolder，hisholduponanythinglikeacreedweakened，thoughheremainedoftheUnitarianphilosophyconcerningChrist。Hedidnotlatterlygotochurch，Ibelieve；butthen，veryfewofhiscirclewerechurch—goers。OncehesaidsomethingveryvagueanduncertainconcerningthedoctrineofanotherlifewhenIaffirmedmyhopeofit，totheeffectthathewishedhecouldbesure，withthesighthatsooftenclothedtheexpressionofamisgivingwithhim。
VII。
WhenmyacquaintancewithLongfellowbeganhehadwrittenthethingsthatmadehisfame，andthatitwillprobablyrestupon："Evangeline，"
"Hiawatha，"andthe"CourtshipofMilesStandish"werebythattimeoldstories。ButduringtheeighteenyearsthatIknewhimheproducedthebestofhisminorpoems，thegreatestofhissonnets，thesweetestofhislyrics。Hisartripenedtothelast，itgrewricherandfiner，anditneverknewdecay。Herarelyreadanythingofhisownaloud，butinthreeorfourcaseshereadtomepoemshehadjustfinished，asiftogivehimselfthepleasureofhearingthemwiththesympatheticsenseofanother。Thehexameterpiece，"Elizabeth，"inthethirdpartof"TalesofaWaysideInn，"wasoneofthese，andhelikedmylikingitsrhythmicalform，whichIbelievedoneofthemeasuresbestadaptedtotheEnglishspeech，andwhichhehadusedhimselfwithsomuchpleasureandsuccess。
AboutthistimehewasgreatlyinterestedintheslightexperimentsIwasbeginningtomakeindramaticform，andhesaidthatifhewerehimselfayoungmanheshouldwritealtogetherforthestage；hethoughtthedramahadagreaterfuturewithus。Hewaspleasedwhenapopularsingerwishedtoproducehis"MasqueofPandora，"withmusic，andhewaspatientwhenitfailedoftheeffecthopedforitasanopera。WhenthelateLawrenceBarrett，intheenthusiasmwhichwasoneofthefinetraitsofhisgenerouscharacter，hadtakenmyplayof"ACounterfeitPresentment，"
andcametotheBostonMuseumwithit，Longfellowcouldnotapparentlyhavebeenmorezealousforitspopularacceptanceifithadbeenhisownwork。Heinvitedhimselftooneoftherehearsalswithme，andhesatwithmeonthestagethroughthefouractswithafortitudewhichIstillwonderat，andwiththekeenestzestforallthedetailsoftheperformance。Nofinertestimonytotheloveandhonorwhichallkindsofpeoplehadforhimcouldhavebeengiventhanthatshownbytheactorsandemployeesofthetheatre，highandlow。Theythrongedthescenery，thosewhowerenotuponthestage，andattheedgeofeverywingwerefacespeeringroundatthepoet，whosatunconsciousoftheiradoration，intentupontheplay。Hewasinterceptedateverystepingoingout，andmadetoputhisnametothephotographsofhimselfwhichhisworshippersproducedfromtheirpersons。
Hecametothefirstnightofthepiece，andwhenitseemedtobefindingfavorwiththepublic，heleanedforwardoutofhislinetonodandsmileattheauthor；whenthey，hadtheauthorup，itwasthesweetestflatteryoftheapplausewhichabusedhisfondnessthatLongfellowclappedfirstandloudest。
Whereoncehehadgivenhiskindnesshecouldnotagainwithholdit，andhewasanxiousnofactshouldbeinterpretedaswithdrawal。WhentheEmperorDomPedroofBrazil，whowassogreataloverofLongfellow，cametoBoston，heaskedhimselfouttodinewiththepoet，whohadexpectedtoofferhimsomesuchhospitality。Soonafter，Longfellowmetme，andasifeagertoforestallapossiblefeelinginme，said，"IwantedtoaskyoutodinnerwiththeEmperor，buthenotonlysentwordhewascoming，henamedhisfellow—guests！"IansweredthatthoughIshouldprobablynevercomesoneardiningwithanemperoragain，I
prizedhiswishtoaskmemuchmorethanthechanceIhadmissed；andwiththismygreatandgoodfriendseemedalittleconsoled。IbelievethatIdonotspeaktooconfidentlyofourrelation。Hewastrulythefriendofallmen，butIhadcertainlytheadvantageofmypropinquity。
Wewerenearneighbors，asthepleonasmhasit，bothwhenIlivedonBerkeleyStreetandafterIhadbuiltmyownhouseonConcordAvenue；
andIsupposehefoundmyyouthfulinformalityconvenient。HealwaysaskedmetodinnerwhenhisoldfriendGreenecametovisithim，andthenwehadanItaliantimetogether，withmoreorlessrepetitioninourtalk，ofwhatwehadsaidbeforeofItalianpoetryandItaliancharacter。
Onedaytherecameanotefromhimsaying，ineffect，"Salviniiscomingouttodinewithmetomorrownight，andIwantyoutocometoo。TherewillbenooneelsebutGreeneandmyself，andwewillhaveanItaliandinner。"
UnhappilyIhadacceptedadinnerinBostonforthatnight，andthisinvitationputmeingreatmisery。Imustkeepmyengagement，buthowcouldIbeartomissmeetingSalviniatLongfellow’stableontermslikethese？WeconsultedathometogetherandquestionedwhetherImightnotrushintoBoston，seekoutmyhostthere，possesshimofthefacts，andfranklythrowmyselfonhismercy。Thenasuddenthoughtstruckus：
GotoLongfellow，andsubmitthecasetohim！Iwent，andheenteredwithdelicatesympathyintotheaffair。Buthedecidedthat，takingthelargeviewofit，Imustkeepmyengagement，lestIshouldrunevenaremoteriskofwoundingmyfriend’ssusceptibilities。Iobeyed，andI
hadaverygoodtime，butIstillfeelthatImissedthebesttimeofmylife，andthatIoughttoberewardedformysacrifice，somewhere。
Longfellowsorarelyspokeofhimselfinanywaythatoneheardfromhimfewofthoseexperiencesofthedistinguishedmanincontactwiththeundistinguished，whichhemusthavehadsoabundantly。Buthetold，whileitwasfreshinhismind，anincidentthathappenedtohimonedayinBostonatatobacconist’s，whereacertainbrandofcigarswasrecommendedtohimasthekindLongfellowsmoked。"Ah，thenImusthavesomeofthem；andIwillaskyoutosendmeabox，"saidLongfellow，andhewrotedownhisnameandaddress。Thecigar—dealerreaditwiththesmileofaworstedchampion，andsaid，"Well，Iguessyouhadme，thattime。"Atafuneralamournerwishedtoopenconversation，andbywayofsuggestingathemeofcommoninterest，began，"You’veburied，Ibelieve？"
SometimespeoplewereshownbythepoetthroughCraigieHousewhohadnoknowledgeofitexceptthatithadbeenWashington’sheadquarters。OfcourseLongfellowwasknownbysighttoeveryoneinCambridge。Hewasdailyinthestreets，whilehishealthendured，andashekeptnocarriage，hewasoftentobemetinthehorse—cars，whichweresuchcommongroundinCambridgethattheywereoftenlikesmallinvitedpartiesoffriendswhentheyleftHarvardSquare，sothatyouexpectedthegentlementojumpupandasktheladieswhethertheywouldhavechickensalad。Incivicandpoliticalmattershemingledsofarastovoteregularly，andhevotedwithhisparty，trustingitforageneralregardtothepublicwelfare。
Ifancyhewassomewhatshyofhisfellow—men，asthescholarseemsalwaystobe，fromthesequesteredhabitofhislife；butIthinkLongfellowwasincapableofmarkinganydifferencebetweenhimselfandthem。Ineverheardfromhimanythingthatwas’dehautenbas’，whenhespokeofpeople，andinCambridge，wheretherewasagooddealofcontemptforthelesslettered，andwelikedtosmilethoughwedidnotliketosneer，andtoanalyzeifwedidnotcensure，LongfellowandLongfellow’shousewerefreeofallthat。Whateverhisfeelingmayhavebeentowardsothersortsandconditionsofmen，hiseffectwasofanentiredemocracy。Hewasalwaysthemostunassumingpersoninanycompany，andatsomelargepublicdinnerswhereIsawhimIfoundhimpatientofthegreaterattentionthatmorepublicmenpaidthemselvesandoneanother。Hewasnotaspeaker，andIneversawhimonhisfeetatdinner，exceptonce，whenhereadapoemforWhittier，whowasabsent。
Hedislikedafter—dinnerspeaking，andmadeconditionsforhisownexemptionfromit。
VIII。
Onceyourfriend，Longfellowwasalwaysyourfriend；hewouldnotthinkevilofyou，andifheknewevilofyou，hewouldbethelastofallthatknewittojudgeyouforit。Thismayhavebeenfromtheimpersonalhabitofhismind，butIbelieveitwasalsotheeffectofprinciple，forhewoulddowhathecouldtoarrestthedeliveryofjudgmentfromothers，andwouldsoftenthesentencespassedinhispresence。Naturallythisbroughthimundersomecondemnationwiththoseofaseverercast；andI
haveheardhimcriticisedforhisbenevolencetowardsall，andhisconstancytosomewhowerenotquitesotruetothemselves，perhaps。
ButthisleniencyofLongfellow’swaswhatconstitutedhimgreataswellasgood，foritisnotourwisdomthatcensuresothers。Asforhisgoodness，Ineversawafaultinhim。Idonotmeantosaythathehadnofaults，orthattherewerenobettermen，butonlytogivethewitnessofmyknowledgeconcerninghim。Iclaiminnowisetohavebeenhisintimate；suchathingwasnotpossibleinmycaseforquiteapparentreasons；andIdoubtifLongfellowwascapableofintimacyinthesensewemostlyattachtotheword。SomethingmoreofegotismthanIeverfoundinhimmustgotothemakingofanyintimacywhichdidnotcomefromthetenderestaffectionsofhisheart。Butasamanshowshimselftothoseoftenwithhim，andinhisnotedrelationswithothermen，heshowedhimselfwithoutblame。AllmenthatIhaveknown，besides，havehadsomefoible（itoftenendearedthemthemore），orsomemeanness，orpettiness，orbitterness；butLongfellowhadnone，northesuggestionofany。Nobreathofevilevertouchedhisname；hewentinandoutamonghisfellow—menwithoutthereproachthatfollowswrong；theworstthingI
everheardsaidofhimwasthathehad’gene’，andthiswassaidbyoneofthosedifficultCambridgemenwhowouldhavefound’gene’inacelestialangel。SomethingthatBjornstjerneBjornsonwrotetomewhenhewasleavingAmericaafterawinterinCambridge，comesnearersuggestingLongfellowthanallmytalk。TheNorsemen，inthedaysoftheirstormyandreluctantconversion，usedalwaystospeakofChristastheWhiteChrist，andBjornsonsaidinhisletter，"GivemylovetotheWhiteMr。Longfellow。"
Agoodmany，yearsbeforeLongfellow’sdeathhebegantobesleepless，andhesufferedgreatly。Hesaidtomeoncethathefeltasifheweregoingaboutwithhisheartinakindofmist。Thewholenightthroughhewouldnotbeawareofhavingslept。"But，"hewouldadd，withhisheavenlypatience，"Ialwaysgetagooddealofrestfromlyingdownsolong。"Icannotsaywhethertheseconditionspersisted，orhowmuchhisinsomniahadtodowithhisbreakinghealth；threeorfouryearsbeforetheendcame，weleftCambridgeforahousefartherinthecountry，andI
sawhimlessfrequentlythanbefore。Hedidnotallowourmeetingstocease；heaskedmetodinnerfromtimetotime，asiftokeepthemup，butitcouldnotbewiththeoldfrequency。OncehemadeapointofcomingtoseeusinourcottageonthehillwestofCambridge，butitwaswithaneffortnotvisibleinthedayswhenhecouldendoneofhisbriefwalksatourhouseonConcordAvenue；henevercamebutheleftourhousemoreluminousforhishavingbeenthere。OncehecametosuppertheretomeetGarfield（anoldfamilyfriendofmineinOhio），andthoughhewassufferingfromaheavycold，hewouldnotscantusinhisstay。Ihadsomeverybadsherrywhichhedrankwiththeserenityofamartyr，andI
shuddertothisdaytothinkwhathiskindnessmusthavecosthim。Hetoldhisstoryoftheclothes—lineghost，andGarfieldmatcheditwiththestoryofanumbrellaghostwhoshelteredafriendofhisthroughamidnightstorm，butwasnotcheerfulcompanytohisbeneficiary，whopassedhishandthroughhimatonepointintheefforttotakehisarm。
AftertheendoffouryearsIcametoCambridgetobetreatedforalongsickness，whichhadnearlybeenmylast，andwhenIcouldgetaboutI
returnedthevisitLongfellowhadnotfailedtopayme。ButIdidnotfindhim，andIneversawhimagaininlife。IwentintoBostontofinishthewinterof1881—2，andfromtimetotimeIheardthatthepoetwasfailinginhealth。AssoonasIfeltabletobearthehorse—carjourneyIwentouttoCambridgetoseehim。Ihadknockedonceathisdoor，thefriendlydoorthathadsooftenopenedtohiswelcome，andstoodwiththeknockerinmyhandwhenthedoorwassuddenlysetajar，andamaidshowedherfacewetwithtears。"HowisMr。Longfellow？"
Ipalpitated，andwithaburstofgriefsheanswered，"Oh，thepoorgentlemanhasjustdeparted！"Iturnedawayasiffromahelplessintrusionatadeath—bed。
Attheservicesheldinthehousebeforetheobsequiesatthecemetery，I
sawthepoetforthelasttime，where"Deadhelayamonghisbooks，"
inthelibrarybehindhisstudy。Deathseldomfailstobringserenitytoall，andIwillnotpretendthattherewasapeculiarpeacefulnessinLongfellow’snoblemask，asIsawitthen。Itwascalmandbenignasithadbeeninlife；hecouldnothavewornagentleraspectingoingoutoftheworldthanhehadalwaysworninit；hehadnottowaitfordeathtodignifyitwith"thepeaceofGod。"AllwhowereleftofhisoldCambridgewerepresent，andamongthosewhohadcomefartherwasEmerson。
Hewentuptothebier，andwithhisarmscrossedonhisbreast，andhiselbowsheldineitherhand，stoodwithhisheadpatheticallyfallenforward，lookingdownatthedeadface。Thosewhoknewhowhismemorywasamereblank，withfaintgleamsofrecognitioncapriciouslycomingandgoinginit，musthavefeltthathewasstruggling，torememberwhoitwaslaytherebeforehim；andformetheelectlysimplewordsconfessinghisfailurewillalwaysbepatheticwithhisrememberedaspect："Thegentlemanwehavejustbeenburying，"hesaid，tothefriendwhohadcomewithhim，"wasasweetandbeautifulsoul；butIforgethisname。"
IhadtheprivilegeandhonoroflookingovertheunprintedpoemsLongfellowleftbehindhim，andofhelpingtodecidewhichofthemshouldbepublished。
Therewerenotmanyofthem，andsomeofthesefewwerequitefragmentary。Igavemyvoiceforthepublicationofallthathadanysortofcompleteness，forineveryonetherewasatouchofhisexquisiteart，thegraceofhismostlovelyspirit。Wehavesofarhadtwomenonlywhofelttheclaimoftheirgifttotheverybestthatthemostpatientskillcouldgiveitsutterance：onewasHawthorneandtheotherwasLongfellow。Ishallnotundertaketosaywhichwasthegreaterartistofthesetwo；butIamsurethateveryonewhohasstudieditmustfeelwithmethattheartofLongfellowheldouttotheendwithnotouchofdecayinit，andthatitequalledtheartofanyotherpoetofhistime。Itknewwhentogiveitself，andmoreandmoreitknewwhentowithholditself。
WhatLongfellow’splaceinliteraturewillbe，Ishallnotoffertosay；
thatisTime’saffair，notmine；butIamsurethatwithTennysonandBrowninghefullysharedintheexpressionofanagewhichmorecompletelythananyformeragegotitselfsaidbyitspoets。