ALS signed “Henry W. Longfellow,” one page, 4.5 x 7, January 23, 1881. Longfellow writes to Mrs. H. N. Hindekoper in Meadville, Pennsylvania. In full: “In reply to your question I would inform you, that the second line of the stanza should be in quotation marks. What follows is the reason why the young man does not want to hear Life called an ‘empty dream’….” The poem to which Longfellow alludes is “A Psalm of Life,” in which the opening phrase is followed by the line “Life is but an empty dream!” Accompanied by the original mailing envelope. A touch of mild soiling and toning, and small edge separation at horizontal fold, otherwise fine condition. RRAuction COA.
