WILLIAM HIRAM RADCLIFFE - AUTOGRAPH POEM SIGNED 8/1895 - HFSID 35389

WILLIAM H. RADCLIFFE
The young Harvard student writes love poem to his intended, draws picture of a horse-drawn carriage, signs initials in black ink
Autograph Poem signed: "W.H.R." in black ink on third page. 3 pages, 7¾x12½ lined sheets, attached at upper edges. No place, 1895 August. Titled: "A Mid-summer Night's Ride." Ten handwritten stanzas of the poem. At lower margin of page two is an original pen and ink drawing of a couple taking a ride in a carriage pulled by a horse. In full: "I. Old 'Grandpa' and his 'Peach' did go Upon an evening drive, And tho' the night had just begun The stars had not arrived. II. The road was very dusty And the air was filled with dew, But the world was full of happiness, Especially, for these two. III. At length they reached the village, A village by the sea, And thro' the gas-lit streets they drove To see what they could see. IV. But soon they left the crowded streets And by the way, the men; Their footsteps were now homeward bent For the'yd (sic) promised to return by ten. V. The minutes flew, the hours ran As such things always do, And many a time they gazed at a watch To see if it were true. IV. One said 'twas eight, the other, nine, and many a match was wasted To ascertain which spoke the truth And which of falsehood tasted. VII. But matches are uncertain things, And the wind it blew a gale, So 'Peachy' willing declined To argue with a male. VIII. Old 'Grandpa' was the male this time And he, the ribbons swayed; The horse seemed very lively But willingly obeyed. [Original Drawing] IX. So thro' our Governor's grounds we flew As silent as a mouse, And very soon we came in view Of 'Grandpa' Radcliffe's house. X. We entered and at once began To ascertain the time, But alass! (sic) we found to our dismay Instead of ten, 'twas nine." William H. Radcliffe (b. 1873) graduated from Harvard University in May 1896, and worked as an electrical engineer and professor. Radcliffe wrote Telephone Instruments, Their Operation, Arrangement and Management in 1913 and Home Study Course in Practical Electricity in 1916. Lightly creased with folds, mid-horizontal fold at initials. ¾-inch separations at lower blank margin of first and third pages, two pinhead-size holes at upper and mid-cross folds of third page. Slightly soiled, minor show through of drawing at upper margin of first page (touches title, which is completely legible). Fine condition.