HUNT'S POINT 97 



sumption, September 21, 1820. at the age of twenty-five, before 

 his art as a poet had fully matured. 



"There will be less sunshine for me hereafter," said Halleck, 

 "now that Joe is gone." 



The association of Halleck and Drake in the most intimate 

 of friendships is the pleasantest incident in the history of Ameri- 

 can letters. The two poets charmed the town, in 1819, with a 

 series of humorous satirical verses which they contributed to the 

 New York Evening Post under the signature of "Croaker & Co." 



Judged by what he had begun to do, this young poet was cut 

 down at the opening of a promising career. Had the author of 

 "The Culprit Fay," "American Flag," and "The Bronx" lived to 

 a mature age, the prose fancies of Irving might have found a 

 counterpart in the verse of Drake, inspired by the enchanted ground 

 along the banks of the Hudson. 



In memory of the intimate friendship that existed between 

 them, Fitz-Greene Halleck wrote, at the death of Drake, a touching 

 tribute beginning with these exquisite lines: 



Green be the turf above thee, 



Friend of my better days; 

 None knew thee but to love thee, 



Nor named thee but to praise. 



The author shall never forget his first visit to Hunt's Point 

 some ten years ago and with what frequency he visited it there- 

 after. He had seen rural country — much of it — but nothing has 

 ever taken so firm a hold upon his imagination as that piece of 

 ground. He never could fathom why it appealed to him so strongly, 

 perhaps it was the quaint old mansions and shady lanes that lured 

 him to these scenes; but whatever the cause the spot had cast a 

 bewitching spell upon him and he passed many a pleasant idle 

 hour there. 



During his rambles thru this isolated region he collected 

 from old residents many an interesting tale of its early history, 

 for few regions have been more kindly disposed than this to the 

 preservation of their traditions. 



One of the first points of interest the author was shown was 



