352 The Story of The Bronx 



versity of Virginia after his having spent several years in an 

 English school. His fast life at the University led to his ex- 

 pulsion; and, having quarrelled with Mr. Allan, Poe went to 

 Europe for the purpose of joining the Greeks in their fight for 

 independence from Turkey. He wandered over Europe for 

 a year, when he returned to the United States and went to 

 West Point, from which he was expelled within ten months 

 for his irregular conduct. He was taken into favor again by 

 Mr. Allan; but another rupture followed on account of Poc's 

 incivility to his benefactor's second wife, so it is said. The 

 death of Mr. Allan threw Poe upon his own resources, and he 

 took to literature, writing for the magazines and newspapers 

 and winning several money prizes for his work, though 

 the pay he received was meagre if measured by present 

 standards. 



In 1835, at tne a g e °f twenty-four, he married his cousin, 

 Virginia Clemm, a professional singer; and in 1837, he removed 

 from Richmond to New York; but not meeting with much 

 success in New York, the young couple removed to Philadel- 

 phia in 1838. Here Fortune was no more favorable than 

 before; and after six years they returned to New York, in 

 1844. The following year, the Poes removed to Fordham on 

 account of the failing health of Mrs. Poe, to whom her husband 

 was devotedly attached, in order that she might get the benefit 

 of the pure country air. Here they lived in poverty, the wife 

 gradually fading away until January, 1847, when she died. 

 Poe's mother-in-law, Mrs. Clemm, lived with them and re- 

 mained at the Fordham cottage with Poe until June, 1849, 

 when he went to Richmond for a few months. While on his 

 way back to New York, he died in Baltimore at the age of 

 thirty-eight. The body of his wife was buried in the cemetery 

 of the old Dutch Church at Fordham; but, in 1878, it was 



