A colleague at the theatre told him that he considered Andersen a poet. Taking the suggestion seriously, Andersen began to focus on writing. Jonas Collin, director of the Royal Danish Theatre, held great affection for Andersen and sent him to a grammar school in Slagelse, persuading King Frederick VI to pay part of the youth's education. Andersen had by then published his first story, 'The Ghost at Palnatoke's Grave' (1822). Though not a stellar pupil, he also attended school at Elsinore until 1827. He later said that his years at this school were the darkest and most bitter years of his life. At one particular school, he lived at his schoolmaster's home. There he was abused and was told that it was done in order 'to improve his character'. He later said that the faculty had discouraged him from writing, which then resulted in a depression.
