The Portland daily press., 1878-04-19
POe's First Love Affair,

Between the years 1822-25 Edgar Poe was q
scholar in well-known Richmond academy.
The adopted son and rsputed heir of a wealthy
Scotchman the lad-during this period being
between thirteen and sixteen years OF age, and
already well grounded in general education
from several years tuition In England-was
enabled to make no mean figure among his
fellow students. His memory is still cherished
by some Of them for his classical attainments.
his athletic feats, and for certain magnetic
rather than sympathetic influence which he
exercised upon them. Foremost among those,
however, who fell more completely under the
spell of his nobler qualities was little maiden
but year or two younger than himself, El-
mira Registers parents lived opposite to the
Allans in Richmond, and in the usual course
of events she made the acquaintance of their
adopted son. Edgar" she says, twas q
beautiful boy; he was not very talkative, and
his general manner was sad, but when he did
talk his conversation was very pleasant. He
him, Of his own parents he never spoke.
have seen his brother Henry, who was in the
navy. He had very few associates, but he was
very intimate with Ebenezer Berling, a
widows son of about the same age as himself
Berling was an interesting, intelligent young
man somewhat inclined to dissipation. They
used to visit our house together very fire.
quently.' Berling, it may be mentioned, was
TO have accompanied Poe when he started for
Europe to offer his services to the Greek insur
gents, but died before the departure of the poet,
who had to journey to Europe alone.
Edgar" continues the lady, twas warm
and Jealous in any cause he was interested in,
being enthusiastic and impulsive. He had
strong preiudices, and hated everything coarse
and nnrefned. L can still remember him say
ing to me, when an acquaintance made an un-
ladylike remark, Il am surprised you should
associate with any one who could make such
u remarkP
'He was very generous. He drew beauti-
fully, and drew pencil likeness of ms in a
few minutes, de was passionately fond of
music. lt distresses me greatly when
see anything scurrillous written about him. Do
not believe tenth part of what is said. 1t is
cnl9ny produced Dy jealousy and envy. have
the highest respect for his memory.
Our acquaintance was kept up until he left to
go 10 the university, and during the time he
was at the university he wrote to me frequently.
But my father Intercepted the letters because
we were too young-for no other reason was
between fifteen and sixteen when We were en-
gagged. was not aware that he had written to
me from the university until after was mar
ried, when L was seventeen, to Mr.. Shelton"
Many years passed vy Sf r Poa S nt I.so ana
for wears At last, in the summer of 1849, he
returned to the scenes of his childhood, and
again in Richmond, called upon his boy
hoods love. Mrs. Shelton thus describes the
meeting:
81 was ready to go to church, when servant
entered and told me that gentleman in the
parlor wished to sea me, went down and was
amazed at seein him q. e. Poe), but knew him
instantly. He came up to me in the most en-
manner, and said, Obi Ezmiro is 1t
youY told him that was going to church,
that L never let anything interfere with
that, and that he must call again. =.
When he did call again he renewed his ad-
dresses. L laughed; he looked away serious,
aud said he was in earnest and had been
thinking about it for al long time. When I
found out that he was very serious, became