THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES GIFT OF Mrs. E. F. Ducomraun Messrs. Gay & Bird thank Messrs. Chatto & Windus for the permission to publish this volume and beg to inform readers that these verses are published by Messrs. Chatto & Windus in the collected edition of Bret Harte's works and also in the volume entitled " Some Later Verses." / ' m sitting alone by the fire, Dressed just as I came from the dance HER LETTER His Answer &* Her Last Letter Bij BRET HARTE Pictured hj/ ARTHUR I KELLER London GAY AND BIRD 22 Bedford Street, Strand 1905 (Cbe RitcrsiDe press Electrotyped and printed by H. O. Hanghton &> Co. Cambridge, Mass., U.S.A. College Library PUBLISHERS' NOTE 'The first two of the poems here printed have long been popular favorites, but the third was not written till near the end of Mr. Harte's life. It rounds out the romance with such completeness and charm that it is peculiarly fitting that the poems should be grouped, and issued in a form worthy of their own excellence. The cooperation of Mr. Keller was secured for making the illustrations, not only on account of his recognized ability as an artist, but also because of his admiration for Mr. Harte's writings and his previous success in illustrating several of the stories. Boston, 4. Park St., October, 1905. 1053298 -IST-OF-DESIGNS * I 'm sitting alone by the fire Dressed just as I came from the dance. (In color} Frontispiece Title. (In color] Publishers' Note Headpiece $ List of Designs Headpiece J HER LETTER Half-title // Is wasting an hour upon you 7 ? That waits on the stairs for me yet 75 With whom do I waltz, flirt, or talk? IJ To look supernaturally grand 7 And the copse where you once tied my shoe-knot 8 1 There 's the rustle of silk on the sidewalk 8j But there 's still the " lap, lap " of the river. (In color) . 8j There's a lot that remains which one fancies 87 He thinks he may find you Sty And good-night to the canon that answers p/ I've just got your note. You deceiver! yj Now I know why they had me transferred here. (In color] . pj How dared you get rich you great stupid ! . ... yj The man who shot Sandy McGee You made mayor! pp Tailpiece IOO All the headpieces and other decorations are from Mr. Keller' s designs. HER LETTER I'M sitting alone by the fire, Dressed just as I came from the dance, In a robe even you would admire, It cost a cool thousand in France; I'm be-diamonded out of all reason, My hair is done up in a cue: In short, sir, "the belle of the season" Is wasting an hour upon you. In short, sir, " the belle of the season " Is wasting an hour upon you DOZEN engagements I Ve broken ; I left in the midst of a set; Likewise a proposal, half spoken, That waits on the stairs for me yet. They say he'll be rich, when he grows up, And then he adores me indeed; And you, sir, are turning your nose up, Three thousand miles off, as you read. 1 w Likewise a proposal, half spoken, That waits on the stairs for me yet D how do I like my position ?" "And what do I think of New York ?" "And now, in my higher ambition, With whom do I waltz, flirt, or talk?' "And isn't it nice to have riches, And diamonds and silks, and all that ? ' "And aren't they a change to the ditches And tunnels of Poverty Flat?" With whom do 1 waltz, flirt, or talk ? W ELL, yes, if you saw us out driving Each day in the Park, four-in-hand, If you saw poor dear mamma contriving To look supernaturally grand, - If you saw papa's picture, as taken By Brady, and tinted at that, You'd never suspect he sold bacon And flour at Poverty Flat. If you saw poor dear Mamma contriving To look supernaturally grand /\ND yet, just this moment, when sitting In the glare of the grand chandelier, - In the bustle and glitter befitting The "finest soiree of the year," In the mists of a gaze de Chambery^ And the hum of the smallest of talk, Somehow, Joe, I thought of the "Ferry," And the dance that we had on "The Fork; ' In the mists of a gaze de Chamber j, And the bum of the smallest of talk Harrison's barn, with its muster Of flags festooned over the wall; Of the candles that shed their soft lustre And tallow on head-dress and shawl ; Of the steps that we took to one fiddle, Of the dress of my queer vis-a-vis ; And how I once went down the middle With the man that shot Sandy McGee; And how I once went down the middle With the man that shot Sandy Me Gee - .. The man that shot Sa?idy Me Gee the moon that was quietly sleeping On the hill, when the time came to go ; Of the few baby peaks that were peeping From under their bedclothes of snow; Of that ride, that to me was the rarest; Of the something you said at the gate. Ah! Joe, then I was n't an heiress To "the best-paying lead in the State." Of that ride, that to me was the rarest WELL, well, it's all past; yet it 's funny To think, as I stood in the glare Of fashion and beauty and money, That I should be thinking, right there, Of some one who breasted high water, And swam the North Fork, and all that, Just to dance with old Folinsbee's daughter, The Lily of Poverty Flat. And swam the North Fork, and all that, Just to dance with old Folinibei 's daughter OUT goodness! what nonsense I'm writing! (Mamma says my taste still is low), Instead of my triumphs reciting, I'm spooning on Joseph, heigh-ho! And I'm to be "finished" by travel, Whatever 's the meaning of that. Oh, why did papa strike pay gravel In drifting on Poverty Flat ? Mamma says my taste still is low VTOOD-NIGHT! here's the end of my paper; Good-night! if the longitude please, For maybe, while wasting my taper, Your sun 's climbing over the trees. But know, if you have n't got riches, And are poor, dearest Joe, and all that, That my heart's somewhere there in the ditches, And you 've struck it, on Poverty Flat. That my heart 's somewhere there in the ditches, And you ' ve struck it, on Poverty Fiat HIS ANSWER O EING asked by an intimate party, Which the same I would term as a friend, Though his health it were vain to call hearty, Since the mind to deceit it might lend; For his arm it was broken quite recent, And there 's something gone wrong with his lung, Which is why it is proper and decent I should write what he runs off his tongue. Which is why it is proper and decent I should write what he runs off his tongue Being asked by an intimate IRST, he says, Miss, he 's read through your letter To the end, and "the end came too soon;" That a "slight illness kept him your debtor/' ('Which for weeks he was wild as a loon); That "his spirits are buoyant as yours is;' That with you, Miss, he "challenges Fate" (Which the language that invalid uses At times it were vain to relate). That "bis spirits are buoyant as yours is ; " That with you, Miss, be "challenges Fate" he says " that the mountains are fairer For once being held in your thought;' That each rock " holds a wealth that is rarer Than ever by gold-seeker sought." (Which are words he would put in these pages, By a party not given to guile ; Though the claim not, at date, paying wages, Might produce in the sinful a smile.) He, 1 Though the claim not, at date, paying wages, Might produce in the sinful a smile 1J.E remembers the ball at the Ferry, And the ride, and the gate, and the vow, And the rose that you gave him, that very Same rose he is " treasuring now." (Which his blanket he 's kicked on his trunk, Miss, And insists on his legs being free ; And his language to me from his bunk, Miss, Is frequent and painful and free.) And the rose that you gave him And bis language to me from bis bunk, Miss, Is frequent and painful and free J~lE hopes you are wearing no willows, But are happy and gay all the while ; That he knows (which this dodging of pillows Imparts but small ease to the style, And the same you will pardon) he knows, Miss, That, though parted by many a mile, "Yet, were he lying under the snows, Miss, They 'd melt into tears at your smile." Which this dodging of pillows Imparts but small ease to the style D "you '11 still think of him in your pleasures, In your brief twilight dreams of the past; In this green laurel spray that he treasures, It was plucked where your parting was last ; In this specimen, but a small trifle, - It will do for a pin for your shawl." (Which, the truth not to wickedly stifle, \ Was his last week's " clean up," -and his #//. In this green laurel-spray that be treasures, It was plucked where jour parting was last JTIE'S asleep, which the same might seem strange, Miss, Were it not that I scorn to deny That I raised his last dose, for a change, Miss, In view that his fever was high ; But he lies there quite peaceful and pensive. And now, my respects, Miss, to you ; Which my language, although comprehensive, Might seem to be freedom, is true. But he lies there quite peaceful and pensive FOR! have a small favor to ask you, As concerns a bull-pup, and the same, If the duty would not overtask you,- You would please to procure for me, game; And send per express to the Flat, Miss, - For they say York is famed for the breed, Which, though words of deceit may be that, Miss, I'll trust to your taste, Miss, indeed. F0r / #w a small favor to ask you, As concerns a bull-pup P.S. Which this same interfering Into other folks' way I despise; Yet if it so be I was hearing That it 's just empty pockets as lies Between you and Joseph, it follers That, having no family claims, Here's my pile, which it's six hundred dollars, As is yours, with respects, TRUTHFUL JAMES. Here 's my pile ; which it 's iix hundred dollars, As is yours, with respects HER LAST LETTER JUNE 4th! Do you know what that date means? June 4th ! by this air and these pines ! Well, only you know how I hate scenes, These might be my very last lines ! For perhaps, sir, you '11 kindly remember - If some other things you've forgot Just six months ago ! from this spot; That you last wrote the