The Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe - Edgar Allan Poe [1358]
Very truly yours
M. E. Hewitt
Mary E. Hewitt to Edgar Allan Poe — December 22, 1845
Dear Mr. Poe,
The fiery ordeal to which our time-honored friends, Shadrach, Meshack & Abednego were subjected, as you will remember to have read in the book of Daniel — has always appeared to me to be a mere allegory, and capable only of a spiritual interpretation. I have endeavoured, in a moment of idleness, to work out my idea in a Swedenborgian fashion, and herewith enclose the result for the B’way Journal. I scarcely dare add the hope that the Sonnet may please you.
With kindest wishes
Very truly yours
M. E. Hewitt
Dec 22nd/45
Mary E. Hewitt to Edgar Allan Poe — April 15 (14), 1846
Dear Mr. Poe,
With the most friendly desire to convey to you my sympathy, and to learn the present state of your health, yet ignorant where to address you, I venture to trust my little book to the guidance of that great Ganges, the Post Office, hoping that by some favorable chance, wind and tide may favor its direction.
We were all exceedingly sorry to hear of your illness in Baltimore, and glad when we heard that you had so far recovered as to be able to return to our latitude, though it were to play hide-and-seek with your friends. Our charming friend Mrs Osgood, and myself, indulge often in talking of you and your dear wife. Next to seeing those we remember, is the luxury of talking of them — and you know the power of the femenine (sic) organ at laudation, as well as its opposite.
All Bluedom misses you from its charmed circle, and we often ask when are we to have Mr Poe back again among us.
Will you not favor me with a reply, should this reach you? And do me the favor to read and find fault with my last poem, which I enclose for your perusal. It has caused some question with regard to my sanity. Strange that we must always be charged with the expression of our true feelings in our writings. I assure you some of the married men have decided that it was an exceedingly improper production! Ah! the world that binds us, Ixion like, to its own dull round, may never chain the poet’s thought to its earthly level.
Let us hear that you are well again, and with kindest regards to Mrs Poe believe me
Very sincerely yours
M. E. Hewitt
Athenaeum Hotel.
New York April 14th/46
HEYWOOD, MISS SARAH HARTWELL
Edgar Allan Poe to Sarah H. Heywood — November 23, 1848
Fordham Nov. 23d 1848 —
Dear Sarah — my own dear sister Sarah —
If there is any pity in your heart reply immediately to this letter, & let me know why it is, I do not hear from Annie — If I do not hear from her soon, I shall surely die — I fancy everything evil — sometimes I even think that I have offended her, & that she no longer loves or cares for me — I wrote her a long letter eight days ago, enclosing one from my mother who wrote again on the 19th[.] Not one word has reached us in reply[;] oh Sarah, if I did not love your sister, with the purest & most unexacting love, I would not dare confide in you — but you do know, how truly — how purely I love her, & you will forgive me, for you know also, how impossible it is to see & not to love her — In my wildest dreams, I have never fancied any being so totally lovely — so goof — so true — so noble so pure — so virtuous — her silence fills my whole soul with terror — Can she have received my letter? If she is angry with me dear Sarah, say to her, that on my knees, I beseech her to pardon me — tell her that I am her slave in all things — that whatever she bids me do, I will do — if even she says, I must never see her again or write to her — Let me but hear from her once more, & I can bear whatever happens. oh Sarah you would pity me, if you knew the agony of my heart, as I write these words — do not fail to answer me at once[.]
Edgar Allan Poe to Sarah H. Heywood — March 1, 1849
For Sarah —
My dear sweet sister — why have you not kept your promise & written me. Do not you be influenced against me by anybody — at least in my absence when I have it not in my power either to deny or to explain.