INTRODUCTION.
THE AUTHOR.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was born in Portland, Maine, February 27, 1807.
His father and mother were of English stock, his mother being a descendant of "John Alden and Priscilla." Stephen Longfellow, his father, was a lawyer and statesman.

Henry's school life began at the age of three.

When he was six years old he could read, spell and multiply, and at the age of seven was half way through his Latin grammar.

He early showed a taste for reading, and read not only his father's small stock of books, but frequented the Portland Library and book stores.

"The Battle of Lovell's Pond" was his first poem, written when he was thirteen.