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sufficiently prove the existence of the very qualities denied to Mr。
Poe…humility； willingness to persevere； belief in another's
friendship； and capability of cordial and grateful friendship！ Such
he assuredly was when sane。 Such only he has invariably seemed to us；
in all we have happened personally to know of him； through a
friendship of five or six years。 And so much easier is it to believe
what we have seen and known； than what we hear of only； that we
remember him but with admiration and respect； these descriptions of
him； when morally insane； seeming to us like portraits； painted in
sickness； of a man we have only known in health。
But there is another； more touching； and far more forcible evidence
that there was _goodness _in Edgar A。 Poe。 To reveal it we are
obliged to venture upon the lifting of the veil which sacredly covers
grief and refinement in poverty； but we think it may be excused； if
so we can brighten the memory of the poet； even were there not a more
needed and immediate service which it may render to the nearest link
broken by his death。
Our first knowledge of Mr。 Poe's removal to this city was by a call
which we received from a lady who introduced herself to us as the
mother of his wife。 She was in search of employment for him； and she
excused her errand by mentioning that he was ill； that her daughter
was a confirmed invalid； and that their circumstances were such as
compelled her taking it upon herself。 The countenance of this lady；
made beautiful and saintly with an evidently complete giving up of
her life to privation and sorrowful tenderness； her gentle and
mournful voice urging its plea； her long…forgotten but habitually and
unconsciously refined manners； and her appealing and yet appreciative
mention of the claims and abilities of her son； disclosed at once the
presence of one of those angels upon earth that women in adversity
can be。 It was a hard fate that she was watching over。 Mr。 Poe wrote
with fastidious difficulty； and in a style too much above the popular
level to be well paid。 He was always in pecuniary difficulty； and；
with his sick wife； frequently in want of the merest necessaries of
life。 Winter after winter； for years； the most touching sight to us；
in this whole city； has been that tireless minister to genius； thinly
and insufficiently clad； going from office to office with a poem； or
an article on some literary subject； to sell； sometimes simply
pleading in a broken voice that he was ill； and begging for him；
mentioning nothing but that 〃he was ill；〃 whatever might be the
reason for his writing nothing； and never； amid all her tears and
recitals of distress； suffering one syllable to escape her lips that
could convey a doubt of him； or a complaint； or a lessening of pride
in his genius and good intentions。 Her daughter died a year and a
half since； but she did not desert him。 She continued his ministering
angelliving with him； caring for him； guarding him against
exposure； and when he was carried away by temptation； amid grief and
the loneliness of feelings unreplied to； and awoke from his self
abandonment prostrated in destitution and suffering； _begging _for
him still。 If woman's devotion； born with a first love； and fed with
human passion； hallow its object； as it is allowed to do； what does
not a devotion like this…pure； disinterested and holy as the watch of
an invisible spirit…say for him who inspired it？
We have a letter before us； written by this lady； Mrs。 Clemm； on the
morning in which she heard of the death of this object of her
untiring care。 It is merely a request that we would call upon her；
but we will copy a few of its wordssacred as its privacy isto
warrant the truth of the picture we have drawn above； and add force
to the appeal we wish to make for her：
〃I have this morning heard of the death of my darling Eddie。 。 。 。
Can you give me any circumstances or particulars？ 。 。 。 Oh！ do not
desert your poor friend in his bitter affliction！ 。 。 。 Ask …Mr。
to come； as I must deliver a message to him from my poor Eddie。 。 。 。
I need not ask you to notice his death and to speak well of him。 I
know you will。 But say what an affectionate son he was to me； his
poor desolate mother。 。 。〃
To hedge round a grave with respect； what choice is there； between
the relinquished wealth and honors of the world； and the story of
such a woman's unrewarded devotion！ Risking what we do； in delicacy；
by making it public； we feelother reasons asidethat it betters
the world to make known that there are such ministrations to its
erring and gifted。 What we have said will speak to some hearts。 There
are those who will be glad to know how the lamp； whose light of
poetry has beamed on their far…away recognition； was watched over
with care and pain； that they may send to her； who is more darkened
than they by its extinction； some token of their sympathy。 She is
destitute and alone。 If any； far or near； will send to us what may
aid and cheer her through the remainder of her life； we will joyfully
place it in her bands。
~~~~~ End of Text ~~~~~~
The Unparalleled Adventures of
One Hans Pfaal ｛*1｝
BY late accounts from Rotterdam； that city seems to be in a high
state of philosophical excitement。 Indeed； phenomena have there
occurred of a nature so completely unexpected so entirely novel
so utterly at variance with preconceived opinions as to leave no
doubt on my mind that long ere this all Europe is in an uproar； all
physics in a ferment； all reason and astronomy together by the ears。
It appears that on the day of （I am not positive about
the date）； a vast crowd of people； for purposes not specifically
mentioned； were assembled in the great square of the Exchange in the
well…conditioned city of Rotterdam。 The day was warm unusually so
for the season there was hardly a breath of air stirring； and the
multitude were in no bad humor at being now and then besprinkled with
friendly showers of momentary duration； that fell from large white
masses of cloud which chequered in a fitful manner the blue vault of
the firmament。 Nevertheless； about noon； a slight but remarkable
agitation became apparent in the assembly： the clattering of ten
thousand tongues succeeded； and； in an instant afterward； ten
thousand faces were upturned toward the heavens； ten thousand pipes
descended simultaneously from the corners of ten thousand mouths； and
a shout； which could be compared to nothing but the roaring of
Niagara； resounded long； loudly； and furiously； through all the
environs of Rotterdam。
The origin of this hubbub soon became sufficiently evident。 From
behind the huge bulk of one of those sharply…defined masses of cloud
already mentioned； was seen slowly to emerge into an open area of
blue space； a queer； heterogeneous； but apparently solid substance；
so oddly shaped； so whimsically put together； as not to be in any
manner comprehended； and never to be sufficiently admired； by the
host of sturdy burghers who stood open…mouthed below。 What could it
be？ In the name of all the vrows and devils in Rotterdam； what could
it possibly portend？ No one knew； no one could imagine； no one not
even the burgomaster Mynheer Superbus Von Underduk had the
slightest clew by which to unravel the mystery； so； as nothing more
reasonable could be done； every one to a man replaced his pipe
carefully in the corner of his mouth； and cocking up his right eye
towards the phenomenon； puffed； paused； waddled about； and grunted
significantly then waddled back； grunted； paused； and finally
puffed again。
In the meantime； however； lower and still lower toward the goodly
city； came the object of so much curiosity； and the cause of so much
smoke。 In a very few minutes it arrived near enough to be accurately
discerned。 It appeared to be yes！ it was undoubtedly a species of
balloon； but surely no such balloon had ever been seen in Rotterdam
before。 For who； let me ask； ever heard of a balloon manufactured
entirely of dirty newspapers？ No man in Holland certainly； yet here；
under the very noses of the people； or rather at some distance above
their noses was the identical thing in question； and composed； I have
it on the best authority； of the precise material which no one had
ever before known to be used for a similar purpose。 It was an
egregious insult to the good sense of the burghers of Rotterdam。 As
to the shape of the phenomenon； it was even still more reprehensible。
Being little or nothing better than a huge foolscap turned upside
down。 And this similitude was regarded as by no means lessened when；
upon nearer inspection； there was perceived a large tassel depending
from its apex； and； around the upper rim or base of the cone； a
circle of little instruments； resembling sheep…bells； which kept up a
continual tinkling to the tune of Betty Martin。 But still worse。
Suspended by blue ribbons to the end of this fantastic machine； there
hung； by way of car； an enormous drab beaver bat； with a brim
superlatively broad； and a