The innocence that feels no risk and is taught no caution, is more vulnerable than guilt, and oftener assailed.

The same year Willis publiNathaniel Parker Willisd a volume of poetical Sketches. During Willis's time at the journal he especially promoted the works of women poets including Frances Sargent Osgood Anne Lynch Botta Grace Greenwood and Julia Ward Howe. Willis had complained that his magazine writing prevented him from writing a longer work.

Willis developed an interest in literature while attending Yale College and began publishing poetry. His brother was the composer Richard Storrs Willis and his sister wrote under the name Fanny Fern. Critics including his sister in her novel Ruth Hall occasionally described him as being effeminate and Europeanized.