"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 much better than you do at the time."
It was a great event for Edward when, with the poet nodding and smiling
to every boy and man he met, and lifting his hat to every woman and
little girl, he walked through the fine old streets of Cambridge with
Longfellow. At one point of the walk they came to a theatrical
billboard announcing 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.
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