I have a sick and widowed mother to maintain, and little brothers and sisters who look to me." He could not stand this, and the money would be sent, out of his own pocket, though the poem might be--postponed, till happily it should be lost.
From such material a good editor could not be made.

Nor, in truth, do I think that he did much of the editorial work.

I had once made an arrangement, not with Thackeray, but with the proprietors, as to some little story.

The story was sent back to me by Thackeray--rejected.
_Virginibus puerisque!_ That was the gist of his objection.

There was a project in a gentleman's mind,--as told in my story,--to run away with a married woman! Thackeray's letter was very kind, very regretful,--full of apology for such treatment to such a contributor.