Page:Lippincotts Monthly Magazine-70.djvu/570



BECAME acquainted with Mr. Poe during hie last visit to Richmond, in 1819, at Duncan Lodge, the home of our mutual friend, Mrs. Jane Mackenzie, and of Poe's sister, Rosalie. He had his head-quarters at the old Swan Tavern, once a fashionable hostelrie, but at this date patronized by plain, respectable people of moderate means. Here he lodged and took his meals, though his time was spent in visiting his friends, chiefly at Duncan Lodge, where as a boy and youth he had been much at home and was always welcome.

It was at Mrs. Mackenzie's that I first heard Poe recite, at her request, "The Raven" and "Annabel Lee," only the family being present. From an unusually lively mood he lapsed at once into a manner, expression, and tone of voice of gloomy and almost weird solemnity, gazing as if on something invisible to others, and never changing his position until the recitation was concluded. It happened that he had just before requested of Mrs. Mackenzie the loan of a sum of money, which request she was for the time unable to comply with;