to William Henry Leonard Poe in
    Baltimore, complaining of Edgar in vague
    terms accusing him of ingratitude, and
    attacking the legitimacy of the boy's sister
    Rosalie. The effect of this letter, and there
    may have been others, was evidently very
    disturbing to both the sons of Elizabeth
    Poe. Certainly it must have drawn the lines
    much tighter in the Allan household in
    Richmond. Three years later we find Henry
    in Baltimore publishing a poem entitled "In
    a Pocket Book," which shows every
    indication that the doubts about his sister's
    legitimacy had gone home.
      Rosalie Poe about this time began to
     show distinct signs of arrested
     development. She never fully matured, and
     though she continued to be cherished as a
     daughter by the Mackenzies who had first
     sheltered her, she remained at best a
     sorrowful reminder of the past to her
     brother Edgar. She outlived him by many
     years, finally dying in a charitable
     institution in Washington, D. C.
     Ile death of Mrs. Stanard, the finan-
    cial troubles and consequent irritability
    of John Allan, the disputes and counter
    charges in the household, and his own
    doubtful position tbere-for be bad
    never been adopted and his dependence
    on charity was constantly reiterated-
    all of this proved an uneasy background
    for a young and ambitious poet. In
    addition there are indications that Mr.
    Allan ' as a practical Scotcbman bad little
    or no sympathy for his foster-son's am-
    bitions in the realm of literature.
      In 1825 Mr. Allan's financial straits were
     amply relieved by the inheritance from his
     uncle William Galt of a large fortune. He
     found himself in short, a very wealthy
     man. The whole scale of living of the
     family now changed to a
    method of life consonant with their better
    condition. A new house of considerable
    pretension was purchased, and in this large
    and comfortable mansion, situated at Fifth
    and Main Streets in the City of Richmond,
    a round of entertainments and social
    functions began despite the failing health of
    its mistress. Poe accompanied the family to
    the new house. His foster-father withdrew
    him from Mr. Clarke's Academy and had
    him prepared for the University of Virginia
    which under the patronage of Thomas
    Jefferson had but recently opened its doors.
      On a street nearby lived a little girl by the
     name of Sarah Elmira Royster. Poe
     frequented her parlor where they sang, and
     drew pictures. Elmira played the piano
     while Edgar accompanied her on the flute,

    




     or they walked in the gardens close at hand.
     Henry Poe is known to have visited his
     brother in Richmond about this time and to
     have accompanied Edgar to the Roysters.
     Before Edgar left for the University he was
     engaged to Elmira. The affair, however, was
     not made known to the adults of either
     household.
      In February, 1826, Edgar A. Poe
     matriculated at the University of Virginia.
     He was then only a little more than
     seventeen, but his manhood may be said to
     have begun.
      His position at the University was a
     precarious one. As the "son" of a wealthy
     man he had a great deal of credit and Poe
     himself was prone to live up to the
     reputation. On the other hand his foster-
     father appears even at this time to have
     been so alienated from his ward that he
     provided him with considerably less than
     the amount necessary to pay his way. The
     young