"ABIDE WITH ME! FAST FALLS THE EVENTIDE!"

EDWARD ROBERT BULWER-LYTTON

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AND STRAIGHT AGAINST THAT GREAT ARRAY

WHERE DID YOU COME FROM, BABY DEAR? LORENZO DE MEDICI

DR. JOHN WATSON

HOME OF JAMES MADISON
WILLIAM MAGINN

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HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW.

HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW, a distinguished American poet, born at Portland, Me., Feb. 27, 1807; died at Cambridge, Mass., March 24, 1882. He entered Bowdoin College at fourteen, was graduated in 1825; was tutor there for a short time, and in 1826 was appointed Professor of Modern Languages. He then went to Europe; returning late in 1829, he entered upon his duties as Professor. In 1835 he was chosen to succeed George Ticknor as Professor of Modern Languages and Literature in Harvard College. He established himself in the old Craigie House, which had been Washington's headquarters in 1775–1776, which continued to be his home during the remainder of his life. He resigned his professorship in 1854. While a student at Bowdoin he contributed several short poems to the Boston Literary Gazette, which were afterward brought together under the title of "Earlier Poems." While Professor at Bowdoin he contributed several papers to the North American Review, one of which, on "The Moral and Devotional Poetry of Spain," contained his translation of the "Coplas de Manrique."

Although Longfellow is most distinctively known as a poet, he wrote much graceful prose. Besides his college prelections and contributions to the North American Review he published "Outre Mer," a series of sketches from Europe (1826); "Hyperion," a romance (1839), and "Kavanagh," a tale of New England life (1849).

His poems include "Voices of the Night" (1839); “Ballads and Other Poems" (1842); "Poems on Slavery" (1842); "The Spanish Student" (1843). His important collection "Poets and Poetry of Europe," still a favorite anthology, was published in 1845. Then came "The Belfry of Bruges and Other Poems" (1846); "Evangeline, a Tale of Acadie" (1847); "The Seaside and the Fireside" (1850); "A Volume of Poems" (1850); "The Golden Legend" (1851); "Song of Hiawatha" (1855); "Prose Works," a series of essays, collected (1857); "Poems," complete edition (1857); "Courtship of Miles Standish" (1858); "Tales of a Wayside Inn (1863); "Household Poems" (1865). He translated and published Dante's "Divine Comedy" (in 1867); "A New England Tragedy" came next (1868); "The Building of the Ship" (1870); "Excelsior" (1872); "Aftermath" (1873); "The Hanging of the Crane" (1875); "The Masque of Pandora and Other Poems "

(1875). He edited his "Poems of Places" in 31 vols. (1876-1879); "Poems of the Old South Church" (1877); "The Skeleton in Armor" (1878); "Kéramos and Other Poems" (1879). "From my Armchair " was printed in 1879; "Michael Angelo" in 1879; "Ultima Thule" in 1882. Shortly after his death was published "In the Harbor," a small volume containing his last poems. Under the general title of "Christus," he brought together in 1879 three dramatic poems already published: "The Divine Tragedy," "The Golden Legend," and "The New England Tragedies." "Complete Poetical Works with Later Poems," with a biographical sketch by Octavius B. Frothingham, in 1880-1883.

Longfellow's translations - mainly from French, Italian, German, Spanish, and Swedish poets are numerous. The collection entitled "The Poets and Poetry of Europe" (1845), contains many translations by himself which are now included in his Works.

THE FOREST PRIMEVAL.1

(From "Evangeline.")

THIS is the forest primeval. The murmuring pines and the hemlocks, Bearded with moss, and in garments green, indistinct in the twilight, Stand like Druids of eld, with voices sad and prophetic,

Stand like harpers hoar, with beards that rest on their bosoms. Loud from its rocky caverns, the deep-voiced neighboring ocean Speaks, and in accents disconsolate answers the wail of the forest.

This is the forest primeval; but where are the hearts that beneath it

Leaped like the roe, when he hears in the woodland the voice of the huntsman ?

Where is the thatch-roofed village, the home of Acadian farmers, Men whose lives glided on like rivers that water the woodlands, Darkened by shadows of earth, but reflecting an image of heaven? Waste are those pleasant farms, and the farmers forever departed! Scattered like dust and leaves, when the mighty blasts of October Seize them, and whirl them aloft, and sprinkle them far o'er the

ocean.

Naught but tradition remains of the beautiful village of Grand-Pré.

EVANGELINE AND GABRIEL.

Thus, at peace with God and the world, the farmer of Grand-Pré Lived on his sunny farm, and Evangeline governed his household. Many a youth, as he knelt in the church and opened his missal, 1 Selections used by permission of Houghton, Mifflin, & Co.