Part 4 (1/2)

{21 _North American Review_, xxix. 459.}

{22 _Harvard Graduates' Magazine_, vi. 6.}

{23 Goodrich's _Recollections of a Lifetime_, ii. 263, 560.}

{24 _North American Review_, x.x.xiv. 56.}

{25 _North American Review_, x.x.xiv. 59.}

{26 _North American Review_, x.x.xiv. 61.}

{27 _Ib._ 69.}

{28 _North American Review_, x.x.xiv. 74, 75.}

{29 _Ib._ 78.}

CHAPTER VIII

APPOINTMENT AT HARVARD AND SECOND VISIT TO EUROPE

While he was thus occupied with thoughts and studies which proved to be more far-seeing than he knew, the young professor was embarra.s.sed by financial difficulties in which the college found itself; and he began after three years to consider the possibility of a transfer to other scenes, perhaps to some professors.h.i.+p in New York or Virginia.

The following letter, hitherto unpublished, gives us the view taken in the Longfellow house of another project, namely, that of his succeeding to the charge of the then famous Round Hill School at Northampton, about to be abandoned by its projector, Joseph G. Cogswell. The quiet judgment of the young wife thus sums it up in writing to her sister-in-law:--

Sunday afternoon [February, 1834].

... Henry left us Friday noon in the mail for Boston, as George will tell you. I do not like the idea of his going to Northampton at all--although it would be a most beautiful place to reside in. Still I feel sure he would not like the care of a school, and such an extensive establishment as that is too. He heard that Mr. Cogswell was to leave them for Raleigh and wrote him--in answer to which he received a long letter, wis.h.i.+ng him much to take the place, &c.; which determined him to go immediately to Northampton. He requires $1600 to be advanced, and it would be incurring a certain expense upon a great uncertainty of gaining more than a living there. I do not think Henry calculated at all for such a situation. If he dislikes so much the care of such a little family as ours, how can he expect to like the multifarious cares of such a large one! He has promised not to decide upon anything till he returns, and I feel so confident that all uninterested persons will dissuade him from it, that I rest quite at ease. I wished him to go to satisfy himself, he was so very sanguine as to the result of it. We expect him home the last of next week. This Northampton business is a profound secret and is not mentioned out of the family!

Another extract from the same correspondent shows us how Longfellow was temporarily influenced at Brunswick, like Lowell afterwards at Cambridge, by the marked hygienic and even ascetic atmosphere of the period; an influence apparently encouraged in both cases by their young wives, yet leaving no permanent trace upon the habits of either poet,--habits always moderate, in both cases, but never in the literal sense abstemious.

Friday evening [April, 1834].

... He has gone to a Temperance Lecture this evening. He intends becoming a member of the Temperance Society; indeed I do not know but he has signed the paper already. He is a good little dear, and I approve of everything (_almost_ smoking) he does. He is becoming an advocate of vegetable diet, Dr. Mussey's hobby; and Clara and I have nothing but lectures from him and Alexander, upon corsets.

The following extract gives us a glimpse of his literary work:--

BRUNSWICK, Nov. 2, 1834.

Henry comes on famously with Outre Mer. The No. on Spain is finished and that on Italy will be before Thanksgiving. It is by far more interesting than any of the other No's. Henry thinks himself it is much superior in point of interest and in style. I presume he will have the remaining No's published together in N. Y. this winter.

In the midst of such literary and household cares he received the following letter:--