Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1870-07-29
Poc..Sfery OF His Song of 'srhc
BcllS.',

The following incident was related by a
member of the Baltimore bar, who at the
time of its occurrence was but recently ad-
mitted to practice. The truth of the story
may be depended upon and even the CON
versaton introduced | give, think, nearly
word for word, as reported to me.
At the period referred to there were sew
eral s'ngle-storied houses on the east side
of St. Paul street, between Lexington and
Saratoga streets, each of which contained
but two rooms. They were rather massive
ly-according to present ideas-constructed
Of brick, but have for long time been dis
placed by tall and stately buildings. One
of this single-s;oried houses was occupied
by nv informant. The front apartment
was used as law office, the rear as a sleep
ing room.
One calm and quiet moonlight wintry
night, when the snow lay deep on the city
streets and roofs, Mr. was making
preparations to retire to bed, when his front
door bell was rung. He aroused his negro
servant boy, who was nodding on his stool
by the chimney corner, and sent him to
open the door to the late visitor The boy
almost Immediately returned alone. He
said that nobody was at the door, but that
a gentleman was standing in the middle OF
the street, talking to himself and tossing
his arms about.
Mr. now went to the door himself,
when he opened it, he found one, who was
evidenlly-he could not see that by the
moonligh ight-standing on the pavement
facing him.
"Was it you who rang my bell?" he ask.
ed.
"Yes sir" was the reply. ~ owe you an
apology for disturbing you at an hour so
unreasonable. But the fact is some thoughts
have come into my head which l wish to
commit to paper; and seeing light in
your back window" the house stood upon
the corner OF All alley, sand considering 1t
a matter of course that lawyers office is
supplied with stationery, took the liberty
Of ringing your bell"
"You are very welcome indeed, said the
young lawyer. "Walk in, sir"
The stranger followed him into the inner
apartments. where bright fire was burn.
ing in the CRATE. The manner of his guest
was so impressive Of intellect that Mir
offered him his bed, but the stranger only
asked for chair, table and writing ma,eri.
ais. So the negro boy laid down on his
pallet on the floor. and the young lawyer
retired to his bed, leaving the stranger
bending over the table writing.
When Mr. awakened in the morning
his strange visitor was sitting in chair
with his head upon the table, asleep. The
motion aroused the stranger. The latter
arose from his seat, thanked his host for his
hospitality, and gracefully apologized for
his intrusion on the previous night. He
was then about to leave the room.
"You are forgetting your manuscript"
says the young lawyer, pointing to some
pieces of paper on the table.
81 have a copy of what | have compos-
ed" said the stranger. "and leave the origi-
nal with yon rs some acknowledg dgment of
your kindness under circumstances so try.
ing"
The stranger left. The lawyer did not
know until long time afterward, when the
"Song OF the Bells'-of which he still has
the original-had been published and be-
came famous, that his singular visitor was
EDGAR A. Poe.