Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1879-12-04

Edgar. Edgar" sand the old man
rising. with = far away look. as memt~ =
rlss of old time fitted through hes mind.
"Why he was a born poet. One day
Mr.. Allen came to me and said, Mr..
Clarke, have heard much about your
school, and a. Edgar shows q decided
apsness for classics have determined
/ 10 place him under your care. Tbs
was about 1920 or 81, and Edgar en-
tered NV school. He became one OF
the most distinguished Of my scholars.
He and Nat Howard were IN the sane
class. Nat was as good II not better
| than Edgar in the classics, bot Nns
couldn't write poetry like Edgar could.
Edgar was poet in every sense ot ths
word. One summer at the end OF the
session Nat and Edgar both wrote me
complimentary letter. Mats was
written in Latin, after Horace, but I'd
gar's was written in poetry. came TO
Baltimore that summer. and ] showed
those letters 10 Rev. Mr.. DamphOux, OF
st. Mary's College, and what do you
think he said' Mr.. Clarke, these com
positions would do honor and credit
ihe best educated professor in my CO..
lege.' Oh, yes Edgar was apoet, aHd
he wasn't more than I2 or IA when he
wrote that letter to ne"
did YOU keep it?-have you itnow"
the reporter asked eagerly.
"No. no." the Qld gentleman answer
ed sadly. "I returned il to Edgar
One day, after had come TO Baltimore
| from Richmond, Edgar came to visit me.
told him about the letters, and Edgar
rose and said, with such a strange,
yearning look in his seyes: You couldn't
DO Nat Howard and me n greater favor
than 10 return US those letters. | think
Nat would like to have his and | am
sure would give worlds to haV" mine.'
| gave them 10 him."
Then you have no memento OF Poe.'
The old man sadly answered, "No,
sir. that's one thing | always regretted.
not having kept some of Edgar's note:
or poems. But then, you know, l
couldn't tell at that time that Edgar
would ever be a great man."
Wasn't Poe very handsome boy,
professor" :"
"Wel, he had very pretty eyes and
hair. and rather an eiieminaie tace,
but don't think he was a beautiful boy.
He had a very sweet disposition. He
was ALWAYS cheerful, bfimfull OF mirth
and very great favOrItc with hisschool-
males. | never had occasion to say
harsh word to him while he was at my
school. much less TO make him do PEN
ance."
= 'Dia he study very bardi'
mo; he was not remarkable Tor has
application. He was naturally very
smart. and he always knew his lessons.
He had a great deal o. pride"
"Did YOU ever see Mary Poe, Ed
gar's little sister,"
"Yes; she was adopted by Mr.. Me-
Kenzie when Allan took Edgar.
WAS she pretty;'
"Well, really, ! can't remember very
well, bat think she was very sweet
aud interesting child"
"You saw Poe after you left Rich
mond, OF course"
Eyes; when he came to Baltimore
and stopped at the tavern he would
never forget TO come aud rec me-"
do YOU believe that your pupil was
an habiluaI drunkard y
THAT can't tell. think he was
fond OF wine, and know that always
opened bottle for him whea be came
to see me, but then it was the custom OF
the age, you know, to drink wine at
that time. Then when Edgar became
editor Of Graham's Magazine he sent Il
to me regularly gratis. -,
"Was he alTcctionaie 10 you, professor
ayes, indeed: think the boy and
man loved me dearly, and am sure
loved him."
when was the lastiIme you saw him|
"When he a. laid away 10 rest. IN
40. Invent to his funeral. A large
number Of persons were present. end !
remember the minister who Oficiated
dwelt long on the great mans virtues.
Yes" he concluded. Edgar, as boy,
was dear, open handed. cheerful and
good boy. and as a man he was LOVING
and afectionate friend to me-"