• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

By Root 16765 0

is living very comfortably, indeed, I may say luxuriously. So you see what the moralists say is true in our friend’s case — that sometimes out of the greatest apparent evils springs the greatest good — The Philadelphia election news, made Dow’s physiognomy seem rather longer last night than usual, but this morning it has assumed its usual sprightliness. I delivered your message to him, and he, contrary to your opinion, has explicit faith in your declaration that “Richard is himself again.” — Poe, would you believe it? I have become quite a reader of biblical subjects, and have forgotten the smack of wine, tis so long since I have tasted it, and almost (for the same reason) the smack of a pair of rosy lips!!!! — But how long the last forgetfulness may continue the depondent sayeth not —

Remember me in the kindest manner, my old friend, to Mrs. Poe and her good mother, and believe me that I know no one whose happiness and success I have more at heart than yours —

Your friend

F. W. Thomas

Edgar A. Poe, Esqr.

New York

Frederick W. Thomas to Edgar Allan Poe — December 10, 1844

Washington Dec. 10th, 1844.

My dear Poe —

Two months ago I wrote to you enclosing a copy of my poem. Since which I have not heard one word from you — not even a line of acknowledgment. Why is this? Are you out of the land of the living — Poe, I expected to have heard from you ere this.

Dow is well and full of Democratic Hopes as his party has triumphed, but I shall not write you any news of any thing else — I send this to know if you are in the land of the living, and if I do not soon get an answer I shall conclude you have departed, and proceed forthwith to write your obituary.

Yours

F. W. Thomas

Edgar Allan Poe to Frederick W. Thomas — January 4, 1845

New-York Jan. 4. 45.

Dear Thomas,

I duly received your two letters and The Beechen Tree, for which let me thank you. My reason for not replying instanter was that I was just then making arrangements which, if fully carried out, would have enabled me to do you justice in a manner satisfactory to both of us — but these arrangements finally fell through, after my being kept in suspense for months — and I could find no good opportunity of putting in a word anywhere that would have done you service. You know I do not live in town — very seldom visit it — and, of course, am not in the way of matters and things as I used to be. As for Benjamin’s criticism — although I made all kinds of inquiry about it, I could meet no one who had ever heard of it. At the “New-World” Office no paper containing it was even on file. I am disposed to think you were misinformed, and that no such critique appeared, in that paper at least. At all events, if there did, Benjamin, I am assured, did not write it. At the epoch you speak of, he was unconnected with the “New-World”.

In about three weeks, I shall move into the City, and recommence a life of activity under better auspices, I hope, than ever before. Then I may be able to do something.

Virginia & Mrs Clemm are about as usual and beg to be remembered.

I am truly glad to hear of Dow’s well-doing. If ever man deserved prosperity, he does. Give him my respects — in which one word I mean to include all descriptions of kind feeling.

I remain, Thomas, truly

Your friend,

Poe

Edgar Allan Poe to Frederick W. Thomas — May 4, 1845

My Dear Thomas,

In the hope that you have not yet quite given me up, as gone to Texas, or elsewhere, I sit down to write you a few words. I have been intending to do the same thing ever since I received your letter before the last — but for my life and soul I could not find, or make, an opportunity. The fact is, that being seized, of late, with a fit of industry, I put so many irons in the fire all at once, that I have been quite unable to get them out. For the last three or four months I have been working 14 or 15 hours a day — hard at it all the time — and so, whenever I took pen in hand to write, I found that I was neglecting something that would be attended to. I never knew what it was to be a slave before.

And yet,