The famous old house looks very quiet and lonely in the picture. But there was a time when many children ran about its halls and played upon the lawn.
"How many children did Mr. Longfellow have? Did he have any boys? What were their names?"
These questions are asked again and again by little people who keep the birthday of the poet and wish to learn about his life.
In his journal, Mr. Longfellow tells us about his children, and it is there we may find answers to all our questions.
The poet's eldest son was named Charles. When Charles was two years old his little brother Ernest was born. Longfellow then moved his books into another room and gave up his study to his babies.
And so the room in which Washington had planned battles became the nursery of the Longfellow children. Did any children ever have a more famous nursery?
In this room which once belonged to Washington we like to think that the children heard again and again the story of our first President.
When Ernest was but a few days old his father told a friend that the little newcomer was a great musician. Do you know what the poet meant by this?