LOUIS AGASSIZ 93 



is probably known to every reader. 

 When it was read before the Saturday 

 Club, Agassiz broke down over the last 

 verse with the reference to his mother. 

 His special thanks to Longfellow for 

 another set of verses, written in French 

 to accompany a gift of wine, were given 

 because his mother could understand the 

 French ; and they are too pretty to 

 omit : " I was on my way to your house, 

 when, from thinking of my mother, 

 great tears began to fill my eyes ; and, 

 fearing to be taken for an idiot, I re- 

 turned home. ... I can let my good 

 mother read my wine, if I cannot let her 

 taste it. 



Longfellow and Agassiz had a very 

 tender feeling for each other, and Long- 

 fellow wrote him from abroad of "the 

 delight with which I found your memory 

 so beloved in England. At Cambridge, 

 Professor Sedgwick said : < Give my love 

 to Agassiz. Give him the blessing of an 

 old man. 9 In London, Sir Eoderick 



