Henry W. Longfellow

 We read Longfellow's "Paul Revere's Ride" and these are the pictures the girls drew to go with the poem.

 I thought Esther’s details were great.

 Lena drew the Sommerset man of war, complete with bearded captain looking out.

 Monta's picture came from Longfellow's "A Psalm of Life" where he says "Lives of great men all remind us We can make our lives sublime, And, departing, leave behind us footprints in the sands of time."

I have been very impressed with Longfellow’s life story, having recently read a book about him. His tragic experience of losing his dear wife Fanny in a fire, and being very burned himself (forever after sporting the bushy beard he was known for because he couldn’t shave over the scars), and his ability to still look to God with gratitude for the time they had together rather than be bitter, make his poem "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" so much more poignant. He showed amazing faith when he writes "Then peeled the bells more loud and deep, God is not dead nor doth he sleep, the wrong shall fail, the right prevail with peace on earth good will to men."