Possible Clues:

• Long period of time before new leader
• Long time north
• Long for northern time
• Long time before the first of November
• Hanker, and a synonym for the ends of 21-, 26-, 43- and 50-Across
• Want badly, with 'for'
• Long story describing earth's origin
• Have a desire (for)
• Hunger (for)
• Pine tree's base wrapped in thread