Part 6 (1/2)

The poet's face beaht ”That's beautiful,” he said, and then quickly added: ”I e, not the poem”

”Now,” he went on, ”I'll tell you e'll do: we'll strike a bargain We Yankees are great for bargains, you know If you will read e Blacksmith' you can sit in that chair therechestnut-tree, and I'll take you out and show you where the old shop stood Is that a bargain?”

Edward assured him it was He sat in the chair of wood and leather, and read to the poet several of his own poee in which, when he wrote them, he never dreamed they would ever be printed He was very quiet Finally he said: ”It see you knoell sound so strange”

”It's a great coh, isn't it, sir?” asked the boy

”Ye-es,” said the poet slowly ”Yes, yes,” he added quickly ”It is,himself, as a maid appeared, ”that means luncheon, or rather, it land fashi+on, in the middle of the day I am all alone to-day, and you o and take a walk, and I'll show you Cae It is such a beautiful old town, even more beautiful, I sometimes think, when the leaves are off the trees”

[Illustration: Edward Bok's birthplace at Helder, Netherlands In the foreground is one of the typical Dutch canals; at the end of the garden in the rear is one of the famous Dutch dykes and just beyond is the North Sea The house now belongs to the Dutch Government]

”Come,” he said, ”I'll take you up-stairs, and you can wash your hands in the rooton slept And comb your hair, too, if you want to,” he added; ”only it isn't the same comb that he used”

To the boyishof bread, that race in Dutch?” he asked, as they sat down; and the boy did

”Well,” the poet declared, ”I never expected to hear that at my table

I like the sound of it”

Then while the boy told all that he knew about the Netherlands, the poet told the boy all about his poems Edward said he liked ”Hiawatha”

”So do I,” he said ”But I think I like 'Evangeline' better Still, neither one is as good as it should be But those are the things you see afterward so reat event for Edhen, with the poet nodding and s his hat to every woh the fine old streets of Cafellow At one point of the walk they ca an attraction that evening at the Boston Theatre

Skilfully the old poet drew out from Edward that sometimes he went to the theatre with his parents As they returned to the gate of ”Craigie House” Edward said he thought he would go back to Boston

”And what have you on hand for this evening?” asked Longfellow

Edward told hi to his hotel to think over the day's events

The poet laughed and said:

”Now, listen toto the theatre this evening, and my plan is that you coo with us to see the play It is a funny play, and a good laugh will do you ood than to sit in a hotel all by yourself Nohat do you think?”

Of course the boy thought as Longfellow did, and it was a very happy boy that evening who, in full view of the large audience in the ifellow had said, a play of laughter, and just who laughed louder, the poet or the boy, neither ever knew

Between the acts there caently courteous

”Ah! Phillips,” said the poet, ”how are you? Youfriend here This is Wendell Phillips, oing to call on you and on Phillips Brooks to-morro you know hilad to see you,to see Phillips Brooks? Let reat many books in his library which are full of his o to see him you ask him to let you see so, you put a couple of them in your pocket They would make splendid souvenirs, and he has so many he would never miss them You do it, and then when you cofellow sfellow dropped Edward at his hotel, he had not only a wonderful day to think over but another wonderful day to look forward to as well!

He had breakfasted with Oliver Wendell Holfellow; and tomorroas to spend with Phillips Brooks

Boston was a great place, Edward Bok thought, as he fell asleep