the works of edgar allan poe-1-第7章
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the loneliness of feelings unreplied to； and awoke from his self
abandonment prostrated in destitution and suffering； _begging _for
him still。 If woman's devotion； born with a first love； and fed with
human passion； hallow its object； as it is allowed to do； what does
not a devotion like this…pure； disinterested and holy as the watch of
an invisible spirit…say for him who inspired it？
We have a letter before us； written by this lady； Mrs。 Clemm； on the
morning in which she heard of the death of this object of her
untiring care。 It is merely a request that we would call upon her；
but we will copy a few of its wordssacred as its privacy isto
warrant the truth of the picture we have drawn above； and add force
to the appeal we wish to make for her：
〃I have this morning heard of the death of my darling Eddie。 。 。 。
Can you give me any circumstances or particulars？ 。 。 。 Oh！ do not
desert your poor friend in his bitter affliction！ 。 。 。 Ask …Mr。
to come； as I must deliver a message to him from my poor Eddie。 。 。 。
I need not ask you to notice his death and to speak well of him。 I
know you will。 But say what an affectionate son he was to me； his
poor desolate mother。 。 。〃
To hedge round a grave with respect； what choice is there； between
the relinquished wealth and honors of the world； and the story of
such a woman's unrewarded devotion！ Risking what we do； in delicacy；
by making it public； we feelother reasons asidethat it betters
the world to make known that there are such ministrations to its
erring and gifted。 What we have said will speak to some hearts。 There
are those who will be glad to know how the lamp； whose light of
poetry has beamed on their far…away recognition； was watched over
with care and pain； that they may send to her； who is more darkened
than they by its extinction； some token of their sympathy。 She is
destitute and alone。 If any； far or near； will send to us what may
aid and cheer her through the remainder of her life； we will joyfully
place it in her bands。
~~~~~ End of Text ~~~~~~
The Unparalleled Adventures of
One Hans Pfaal ｛*1｝
BY late accounts from Rotterdam； that city seems to be in a high
state of philosophical excitement。 Indeed； phenomena have there
occurred of a nature so completely unexpected so entirely novel
so utterly at variance with preconceived opinions as to leave no
doubt on my mind that long ere this all Europe is in an uproar； all
physics in a ferment； all reason and astronomy together by the ears。
It appears that on the day of （I am not positive about
the date）； a vast crowd of people； for purposes not specifically
mentioned； were assembled in the great square of the Exchange in the
well…conditioned city of Rotterdam。 The day was warm unusually so
for the season there was hardly a breath of air stirring； and the
multitude were in no bad humor at being now and then besprinkled with
friendly showers of momentary duration； that fell from large white
masses of cloud which chequered in a fitful manner the blue vault of
the firmament。 Nevertheless； about noon； a slight but remarkable
agitation became apparent in the assembly： the clattering of ten
thousand tongues succeeded； and； in an instant afterward； ten
thousand faces were upturned toward the heavens； ten thousand pipes
descended simultaneously from the corners of ten thousand mouths； and
a shout； which could be compared to nothing but the roaring of
Niagara； resounded long； loudly； and furiously； through all the
environs of Rotterdam。
The origin of this hubbub soon became sufficiently evident。 From
behind the huge bulk of one of those sharply…defined masses of cloud
already mentioned； was seen slowly to emerge into an open area of
blue space； a queer； heterogeneous； but apparently solid substance；
so oddly shaped； so whimsically put together； as not to be in any
manner comprehended； and never to be sufficiently admired； by the
host of sturdy burghers who stood open…mouthed below。 What could it
be？ In the name of all the vrows and devils in Rotterdam； what could
it possibly portend？ No one knew； no one could imagine； no one not
even the burgomaster Mynheer Superbus Von Underduk had the
slightest clew by which to unravel the mystery； so； as nothing more
reasonable could be done； every one to a man replaced his pipe
carefully in the corner of his mouth； and cocking up his right eye
towards the phenomenon； puffed； paused； waddled about； and grunted
significantly then waddled back； grunted； paused； and finally
puffed again。
In the meantime； however； lower and still lower toward the goodly
city； came the object of so much curiosity； and the cause of so much
smoke。 In a very few minutes it arrived near enough to be accurately
discerned。 It appeared to be yes！ it was undoubtedly a species of
balloon； but surely no such balloon had ever been seen in Rotterdam
before。 For who； let me ask； ever heard of a balloon manufactured
entirely of dirty newspapers？ No man in Holland certainly； yet here；
under the very noses of the people； or rather at some distance above
their noses was the identical thing in question； and composed； I have
it on the best authority； of the precise material which no one had
ever before known to be used for a similar purpose。 It was an
egregious insult to the good sense of the burghers of Rotterdam。 As
to the shape of the phenomenon； it was even still more reprehensible。
Being little or nothing better than a huge foolscap turned upside
down。 And this similitude was regarded as by no means lessened when；
upon nearer inspection； there was perceived a large tassel depending
from its apex； and； around the upper rim or base of the cone； a
circle of little instruments； resembling sheep…bells； which kept up a
continual tinkling to the tune of Betty Martin。 But still worse。
Suspended by blue ribbons to the end of this fantastic machine； there
hung； by way of car； an enormous drab beaver bat； with a brim
superlatively broad； and a hemispherical crown with a black band and
a silver buckle。 It is； however； somewhat remarkable that many
citizens of Rotterdam swore to having seen the same hat repeatedly
before； and indeed the whole assembly seemed to regard it with eyes
of familiarity； while the vrow Grettel Pfaall； upon sight of it；
uttered an exclamation of joyful surprise； and declared it to be the
identical hat of her good man himself。 Now this was a circumstance
the more to be observed； as Pfaall； with three companions； had
actually disappeared from Rotterdam about five years before； in a
very sudden and unaccountable manner； and up to the date of this
narrative all attempts had failed of obtaining any intelligence
concerning them whatsoever。 To be sure； some bones which were thought
to be human； mixed up with a quantity of odd…looking rubbish； had
been lately discovered in a retired situation to the east of
Rotterdam； and some people went so far as to imagine that in this
spot a foul murder had been committed； and that the sufferers were in
all probability Hans Pfaall and his associates。 But to return。
The balloon （for such no doubt it was） had now descended to within a
hundred feet of the earth； allowing the crowd below a sufficiently
distinct view of the person of its occupant。 This was in truth a very
droll little somebody。 He could not have been more than two feet in
height； but this altitude； little as it was； would have been
sufficient to destroy his equilibrium； and tilt him over the edge of
his tiny car； but for the intervention of a circular rim reaching as
high as the breast； and rigged on to the cords of the balloon。 The
body of the little man was more than proportionately broad； giving to
his entire figure a rotundity highly absurd。 His feet； of course；
could not be seen at all； although a horny substance of suspicious
nature was occasionally protruded through a rent in the bottom of the
car； or to speak more properly； in the top of the hat。 His hands were
enormously large。 His hair was extremely gray； and collected i
