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modestyandunaffectedhumility,astohisowndeservings,were
aconstantcharmtohischaracter.Hisletters,ofwhichtheconstant
applicationforautographshastakenfromus,wearesorrytoconfess,
thegreaterportion,exhibitedthisqualityverystrongly.Inoneofthe
carelesslywrittennotesofwhichwechancestilltoretainpossession,
forinstance,hespeaksof“TheRaven”—thatextraordinarypoem
whichelectrifiedtheworldofimaginativereaders,andhasbecomethe
typeofaschoolofpoetryofitsown—and,inevidentearnest,
attributesitssuccesstothefewwordsofcommendationwithwhich
wehadprefaceditinthispaper.Itwillthrowlightonhissane
charactertogivealiteralcopyofthenote:
“FORDHAM,April20,1849
“MYDEARWILLIS—ThepoemwhichIinclose,andwhich
Iamsovainastohopeyouwilllike,insomerespects,hasbeenjust
publishedinapaperforwhichsheernecessitycompelsmetowrite,
nowandthen.Itpayswellastimesgo-butunquestionablyitought
topaytenprices;forwhateverIsenditIfeelIamconsigningtothe
tomboftheCapulets.Theversesaccompanyingthis,mayIbegyou
totakeoutofthetomb,andbringthemtolightinthe‘HomeJournal?’
Ifyoucanobligemesofarastocopythem,Idonotthinkitwill
benecessarytosay‘Fromthe——,’thatwouldbetoobad;and,
perhaps,‘Fromalate——paper,’woulddo.
“Ihavenotforgottenhowa‘goodwordinseason’fromyoumade
‘TheRaven,’andmade‘Ulalume’(whichby-the-way,peoplehave
donemethehonorofattributingtoyou),therefore,Iwouldaskyou(if
Idared)tosaysomethingoftheselinesiftheypleaseyou.
“Trulyyoursever,
“EDGARA.POE.”
Indoubleproofofhisearnestdispositiontodothebestforhimself,
andofthetrustfulandgratefulnaturewhichhasbeendeniedhim,
wegiveanotheroftheonlythreeofhisnoteswhichwechance
toretain:
“FORDHAM,January22,1848.
“MYDEARMR.WILLIS—Iamabouttomakeaneffortatre-
establishingmyselfintheliteraryworld,andfeelthatImaydepend
uponyouraid.
