Page:Fitz-Greene Halleck, A Memorial.djvu/37

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The last poem of any length that Halleck wrote was entitled Young America, a war-lyric, published in the “New York Ledger,” in 1864. It is a spirited production, with many very beautiful lines, whose music recalls some of his earliest and best verses.

I could interpolate here many characteristic anecdotes of Halleck, but time warns me that I must conclude. In one of the last letters I received from him, he spoke of Mr. James H. Hackett, and proposed coming to the city especially to see him, and have a chat with him. It was proposed by Mr. Hackett to invite Mr. Halleck, Mr. Verplanck, and one or two other old friends to meet together, and have a good old-fashioned dinner. Halleck used to say, “Pretty much all my old friends are gone—except Bryant, Verplanck, and myself,—we are the last of the cocked hats.” But