University of California Berkeley From the Library of Charles Erskine Scott Wood and his Wife Sara Bard Field Given in Memory of JAMES R.CALDWELL o w-*v*w VERSE AND PROSE BY EUGENE FIELD FROM THE GEORGE H. YENOWINE COLLECTION OF BOOKS AND MANUSCRIPTS EDITED BY HENRY H. HARPER WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY WILLIAM P. TRENT PRINTED EXCLUSIVELY FOR MEMBERS OF THE BIBLIOPHILE SOCIETY BY PERMISSION OF MR. WILLIAM K. BIXBY BOSTON MCMXVI I COPYRIGHT, 1917, BY THE BIBLIOPHILE SOCIETY A II right* reserved INTRODUCTION To the several volumes of the collected edi- tion of Eugene Field's writings in verse and prose issued nearly twenty years ago various well established writers contributed introduc- tions. Why such a popular author as Field then was should have needed such a host of sponsors is not clear, but it is fairly apparent that today he is able to dispense with all help of the sort, granted that it really is a help. If anyone doubts this, he may speedily convince himself of his error by taking note of the well rubbed condition of some of the volumes in the Columbia Library's set of Field's works. Yet while I am convinced that no book by, or deal- ing with, Eugene Field needs any sort of intro- duction, his kindly ghost and the kindly reader an unkindly reader of a book about Field is almost unthinkable will doubtless pardon me for contributing these few paragraphs to the present volume. Mr. Harper has so well described the Yeno- wine Collection of Field's writings which yielded the materials from which this volume Cv] has been compiled, and he has brought out so clearly the special interest attaching to the items it has been thought fit to reproduce, that to dilate on the pleasure the Field enthusiast is likely to derive from what he will encounter in these pages would be as superfluous as to descant upon the attractiveness of Eugene Field himself, whether he be viewed as the embodiment of all that is friendly and whim- sical, as the poet of childhood, or as the born journalist who was also the genuine man of letters. It may not be superfluous, however, to lay emphasis on the fact that among Ameri- can writers no one has a greater claim to the attention of true bibliophiles than the collector- author with whom we are now enabled to be- come more intimately acquainted. Although facsimiles of Field's unforgettable handwriting and of his capricious drawings are obtainable elsewhere, they do not seem to produce such a definite impression as they do here; and what could bring out more clearly and concretely Field's devotion to the higher sides of his genius and calling than his own methodical, alphabetical listing of all the titles of his verses and prose tales? He had, we see, his share of the love of fame, but more than his share of the love of good work for good [vi] work's sake, and of the love for fellow-men and what is better fellow-children. Of the specific items in the Yenowine Col- lection it will be remembered by the close reader of Field's verse that the name of his friend's Kentuckian family occurs in the line of "The Peter-Bird" that runs- The Yenowines, Crittendens, Dukes, the Hickmans, the Hobbses, the Morgans undoubtedly the most important is, as Mr. Harper has stated, the bound volume contain- ing most of the original manuscripts of those translations and paraphrases from Horace which are regarded by some persons as likely to be, apart from a handful of poems of sentiment and humor which the anthologist will not let die, Field's most enduring contribution to liter- ature. This volume of manuscripts may well be regarded by Mr. Bixby, to whose unex- ampled generosity we Bibliophiles are now once more indebted, as one of the very choicest of his literary possessions. It suggests the pleasant thought that, in the long run, like may be trusted to encounter like. This unique memorial of an insatiate collector has found a fit abiding place with other similar treasures gathered by a lover of things beautiful and rare, [vii] and the muse of the most intimate of modern poets has associated herself for the times to come with the kindred muse of the most inti- mate of the poets of antiquity. The advantages such a conjunction must confer on Field's fame and memory need not be dwelt upon, but it may be appropriate to remark that not the least of these is likely to be a comparative im- munity from pedantic criticism. Due allow- ance being made for the fact that Horace wrote in a dead language, neither writer, for fairly obvious reasons, seems to have strong attrac- tions for scholarly bores. Nor does either, we may opine, furnish much delight to literary faddists to the well meaning people, always with us, who strive, as the saying is, to make up for inanity of matter by insanity of style. Next in interest to the material connected with the Horatian paraphrases comes the por- tion of this volume that is concerned with "Villon and I" and with Field's last man- uscript. The art or knack -of weaving proper names into attractive verses is not one with which most poets are born, or which they acquire with great ease; but Field in some way made it his own, and rarely, if ever, put it to better service than in the unfinished stanzas that seek to confer a deserved immortality upon [viii] sundry leading second-hand booksellers of Lon- don and elsewhere. A more appropriate set of verses for the poet-collector to have been writing in his last conscious moments it would be difficult to imagine, and his admirers will be grateful to his friend Yenowine for having preserved them. They will doubtless be grate- ful also, though in less measure or in a different way, for being able to share in the woes of Mr. Peattie over his lost rubbers, and to con- nect once more, this time through the stanzas entitled "The Humane Lad," the tricksy elfish- ness of Eugene Field with the staid exemplari- ness of Dr. Isaac Watts. W. P. TRENT. [ix] , S A. -VwAo*, '>vv 0*-* 'VttA* Author's inscription in copy No. 177, h-'in^rna-'p paper edition of "A kittle Book of Profitable Talcs," printed by John Wilson & Son. / >wtcJ -XA^l*v Author's inscription in "The Symbol and the Saint," first edition., . illus trated "by J. L. Schlanders, . 1886. . VERSE AND PROSE The most important item in the Yenowine collection of Eugene Field's books and MSS. is a bound volume containing most of Field's original manuscript translations and paraphrases of the Ars Poetica and the Odes of Horace. From various pencil marks and other evidence it appears that these MSS. were used as printer's "copy" in setting up the text of Echoes From the Sabine Farm; and they have added value in that they disclose a number of errors and variations in the printed text. The MSS., according to Field's wont, are written and punctuated with great precision and accuracy, and for the most part they were faithfully copied by the printer; but there are a number of discrepancies which should be corrected in order to make an authoritative text. For ex- ample, the first two lines of Ode II, Book II of Horace, which Field rendered To Scythian and Cantabrian plots Pay thou no heed, O Quintus! were printed (page 116, Echoes From the Sabine Farm) To Scythian and Cantabrian plots Pay them no heed, O Quintus! which destroys or else makes unbearably awk- ward the grammatical construction of the open- ing sentence. The word "thou" is plainly written, and no reasonable excuse can be as- signed for changing it to "them." In the third and fourth lines of stanza ii of Horace's famous Soracte ode, Field's manu- script reads And, better yet, sweet friend we'll whet Our spirits with some four-year-old while in the text as printed (page 62 of the "Echoes") it reads And better yet, sweet friend, we'll wet Our whistles with some four-year-old. It is impossible to say whether Field made the change in the proofs, or if the perversion is to be charged to the printer; but whoever is responsible, it is none the less regrettable that the slang phrase "we'll wet our whistles" should have been inserted in a poem of such dignity. It is at least interesting to know that Field cannot be accused of having committed [2] the indignity at the time he made his transla- tion. The first three stanzas show how well he caught the spirit of the original. See, Thaliarch mine, how white with snow Soracte mocks the sullen sky; How, yearning loud, the woods are bowed, And chained with frost, the rivers lie. Pile pile the logs upon the hearth We'll melt away the envious cold; And, better yet, sweet friend, we'll whet Our spirits with some four-year-old. Commit all else unto the gods Who, when it pleaseth them, shall bring To fretful deeps and wooded steeps The mild persuasive grace of spring. The lines on pp. 53-55 of the printed edition entitled "The Lyric Muse," are accompanied by no statement whatever that they are trans- lated from any part of Horace's writings, and for all the reader is told they may be an original composition by Field himself. The index, how- ever, does contain a bit of information, or mis- information, which is widely at variance with the manuscript. In three of the editions at hand the indexes read, "Ars Poetica, line 301;" whereas, at the top of the original manuscript Field wrote in large letters of red and black ink: [3] THE "ARS POETICA" OF HORACE XXIII. (Lines 391-407.) Moreover, in the second line of the third stanza, Field wrote i Old Homer sang unto the lyre which was changed in printing to Old Homer sung unto the lyre The sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth lines of the same stanza in the manuscript are clearly written and punctuated as follows: The oracle, when questioned, sings So we our way in life are taught; In verse we soothe the pride of kings, In verse the drama has been wrought. The alteration of words and punctuation in the printed version changes the meaning entirely. It reads The oracle, when questioned, sings; So our first steps in life are taught. In verse we soothe the pride of kings, In verse the drama has been wrought. Here the regularly rythmical line So we our way in life are taught [4] is rendered irregular and harsh, and instead of ourselves being taught, our "first steps in life are taught." The manuscript, furthermore, says that the oracle sings, and then seems to proceed to tell what it sings, viz: So we our way in life are taught, etc. Whereas, in the text as printed the oracle is said to have sung, but of what we are not informed. The semi- colon following the word "sings" and the period at the end of the next line entirely alter the text of the MS. and instead of the oracle singing the last three lines as in the manu- script, they are made to issue from the mouth of the poet. In the twenty-second ode of Book I, stanza iii, Field wrote: Lo, on a time I gaily paced The Sabine confines shady, And sang in glee of Lalage the last line of which was printed And sung in glee of Lalage Again, in the next stanza the MS. reads And, as I sang, a monster wolf, which is printed And as I sung, a monster wolf [5] Among the MSS. in the volume there are two paraphrases of Horatian Odes which do not appear ever to have been printed; perhaps for the reason that they passed into Yenowine's possession before the Echoes From the Sabine Farm was published, and were probably over- looked by Field. The first of these is Ode XXXI, Book I, signed and dated "Dresden, 1890," as shown in the accompanying facsimile. This was while Field was abroad, and it is the only one of his Horatian paraphrases showing the place where it was done, with the single ex- ception of Ode XVIII, Book I, dated "Chicago, August 22nd, 1889," which date has been crossed out in the MS., perhaps by the printer. The Ode translated at Dresden is written in purple ink with rubricated initials at the beginning of each stanza, and runs as follows: As forth he pours the new-made wine, What blessing asks the lyric poet What boon implores in this fair shrine Of one full likely to bestow it? Not for Sardinia's plenteous store, Nor for Calabrian herds he prayeth, Nor yet for India's wealth galore Nor meads where voiceless Liris playeth. [6] -il'rn, -f* ^ vvta VU-*MAAV , (f) Mo<5<*vO (Ac Author's inscription on first fly-leaf of "Echoes from the Sabine Farm," copy No. 41 of handmade paper edition signed by Francis Wilson. EUGENE FIELD'S SKETCH OF HIS OWN LIFE I was born in St. Louis, Mo., September 3d, 1850, the second, and oldest surviving, son of Roswell Martin and Frances (Reed) Field, both natives of Windham County, Vermont. Upon the death of my mother (1856), I was put in the care of my (paternal) cousin, Miss Mary Field French, at Amherst, Mass. In 1865, I entered the Private School of Rev. James Tufts, Monson, Mass., and there fitted for Williams College, which institution I entered as a fresh- man in 1868. Upon my father's death in 1869, I entered the sophomore class of Knox College, Galesburg, 111., my guardian, John W. Burgess, now of Columbia College, being then a professor in that institution. But in 1870 I went to Columbia, Mo., and entered the State Uni- versity there, and completed the junior year with my brother. In 1872, I visited Europe, spending six months and my patrimony in France, Italy, Ireland and England. In May 1873, I became a reporter on the St. Louis Evening Journal. In October of that [13] year I married Miss Julia Sutherland Comstock (born in Chenango County, N. Y.) of St. Joseph, Mo., at that time a girl of 16. We have had eight children (three daughters and five sons). My newspaper connections have been as follows: 1875-76, city editor of the St. Joseph, Mo., Gazette; 1876-80, editorial writer on the St. Louis Journal and St. Louis Times-Journal; 1880-81, managing editor of the Kansas City Times; 1881-83, managing editor of the Denver Tribune. Since 1883, I have been a contributor to the Chicago Record (formerly Morning News) . I wrote and published my first bit of verse in 1879; it was entitled "Christmas Treasures" (See Little Book of Western Verse). Just ten years later I began suddenly to write verse very frequently; meanwhile (1883-89), I had labored diligently at writing short stories and tales. Most of these I revised half a dozen times. One (The Were- Wolf), as yet unpublished, I have re-written eight times during the last eight years. My publications have been chronologically, as follows: 1. The Tribune Primer; Denver, 1882. (Out of print and very, very scarce). (The Model Primer; illustrated by Hoppin; [14] A A 0k 'Vvvo KM, , eft ft VLU^. ^CkfiCW 0//>vMo o a/ M/^>H*M,WM $ ^^t h Uv 5 **t6, V*? r <* '**- ' / . * .v I 1 ' n T^WXUXUAvi -tufU/V TVUvvXO VVT.V>AA rfw -CMA luiJUlf 'TfUM/. _j y^ {r' c^ , Awfc ^ 3 ~ > ^Utto -Av^ A O uAM; -ftj CoWjL*^w/ >-Ar do ^ ^ 3 -/cij C^*wut o^f \j , ftWvvA^ixy , '^CttiU^ ^^ f^fetfrUt/M/U , ^M^ti ^^ t fr' y< Va VKA-cU &vv> uUL ftW>^X 'pMi 4, V%4A44^vu >VV " VxXViA/uA VTAinBA^t" d ^~~* . a (/ Ul/wwJvw*. 4rv " to*u }(oO -fa., AKUA/ , 'Vto J^t TdtJLu , vu K< <^ ** A4vvvfe< U vvCVM4 UviQ fr4 / >VT*Wt*V n*i ' TTft^ ~*^ v 'Hv* -n^ Cv>t^(. vn^nx f . $ a ** cM tL -m AMJJ -t** -tt/Jut o*vA/UA*O . Treadway, Brooklyn, 1882. A pirate edition). 2. Culture's Garland; Ticknor, Boston, 1887. (Out of print). A Little Book of Western Verse; Chicago, 1889. (Large paper, privately printed and limited). A Little Book of Profitable Tales; Chicago, 1889. (Large paper, privately printed and limited). 3. A Little Book of Western Verse; Scribners, New York, 1890. 4. A Little Book of Profitable Tales; Scribners, New York, 1890. 5. With Trumpet and Drum; Scribners, New York, 1892. 6. Second Book of Verse; Scribners, New York, 1893. 7. Echoes from the Sabine Farm;* Translations of Horace; McClurg, Chicago, 1893. 8. Introduction to Stone's First Editions of American Authors; Cambridge, 1893. 9. The Holy Cross and other Tales; Stone and Kimball, Cambridge, 1893. Ill health compelled me to visit Europe in 1889; there I remained fourteen months, that * In collaboration with my brother, Roswell Martin Field. [15] time being divided between England, Germany, Holland and Belgium. My residence at present is in Buena Park, a north-shore suburb of Chicago. I have a miscellaneous collection of books numbering 3500, and I am fond of the quaint and curious in every line. I am very fond of dogs, birds and all small pets a pas- sion not approved of by my wife. My fa- vorite flower is the carnation. My favorites in fiction are Hawthorne's "Scarlet Letter," "Don Quixote" and "Pilgrim's Progress." I greatly love Hans Christian Andersen's Tales, and I am deeply interested in folk-lore and fairy tales. I believejn ghosts, in witches and in fairies. I should like to own a big astro- nomical telescope, and a 24-tune music box. I adore dolls. My favorite hymn is "Bounding Billows." My heroes in history are Martin Luther, Mme. Lamballe, Abraham Lincoln; my favorite poems are Korner's "Battle-Prayer," Wordsworth's "We are Seven," Newman's "Lead, Kindly Light," Luther's Hymn, Schiller's "The Diver," Horace's "Fons Bandusia?," and Burns' "Cot- ter's Saturday Night." I dislike Dante and Byron. I should like to have known Jeremiah the Prophet, old man Poggio, Horace, Walter [16] Scott, Bonaparte, Hawthorne, Mme. Sontag, Sir John Herschel, Hans Andersen. My fa- vorite actor is Henry Irving; actress, Mme. Modjeska. I dislike "politics," so called. I should like to have the privilege of voting extended to women. I am unalterably opposed to capital punishment. I favor a system of pensions for noble services in literature, art, science, etc. I approve of compulsory education. I believe in churches and schools; I hate wars, armies, soldiers, guns and fireworks. If I could have my way, I should make the abuse of horses, dogs and cattle a penal offense; I should abolish all dog-laws and dog-catchers, and I would punish severely everybody who caught and caged birds. I like music (limited). I have been a great theater-goer. I enjoy the society of doctors and of clergymen. I do not care much for so- called literary people; they make me weary.* I do not care particularly for sculpture or for paintings; I try not to become interested in them, for the reason that if I were to cultivate a taste for them I should presently become hope- lessly bankrupt. I dislike all exercise and I play all games very indifferently. I love to * This sentence was omitted in previous editions. Ed. [17] read in bed. I am extravagantly fond of per- fumes. My favorite color is red. I am a poor diner, and I drink no wine or spirits of any kind; I do not smoke tobacco. I dislike crowds and I abominate functions. I am six feet in height; am of spare build, weigh 160 Ibs., and have shocking taste in dress. But I like to have well-dressed people about me. My eyes are blue, my complexion is pale, my face is shaven and I incline to baldness. It is only when I look and see how young and fair and sweet my wife is that I have a good opinion of myself. I am fond of the companionship of women, and I have no unconquerable prejudice against feminine beauty. I recall with pride that in twenty-two years of active journalism, I have always written in reverential praise of woman- kind. I favor early marriage. I do not love all children. I have tried to analyze my feelings towards children, and I think I discover that I love them in so far as I can make pets of them. I believe that, if I live, I shall do my best literary work when I am a grand-father. I give these facts, confessions and observa- tions for the information of those who, for [18] one reason or another, are applying con- stantly to me for biographical data concerning myself. EUGENE FIELD. New Orleans, March 14, 1894. [19] EUGENE FIELD'S DIARY CONTAINING AN ACCOUNT OF HIS INTERVIEW WITH PRESIDENT CLEVELAND, ETC. Washington, February 17, 1886. Jules Guth- ridge sent word that Col. Dan Lamont had made an arrangement for me to meet the presi- dent at 8:30 in the evening. We went to- gether to the White House and sat on a sofa in the Secretary's room, waiting for the president to appear. Lamont was across the room whis- pering with a stranger. About 9 o'clock Cleve- land came out of a side room. Lamont said: "Mr. Field is here; would you like to see him?" Cleveland said: "Yes, where is he?" He turned and faced us. I went up and shook hands with him. He thought he had met me before, but I assured him he had not. We moved toward the fireplace and he leaned on the mantelpiece as we talked for twenty min- utes. He looked older than I had expected and there were wrinkles in his face that did not appear in photographs of him. I told him that [20] the Democrats of the West were all opposed to his policy and he laughingly admitted that he believed they were. I asked him to join me in a fishing excursion to Spirit Lake, la. He said he knew he would enjoy the trip but he disliked to go west because he would be ex- pected to put himself on exhibition there he hated that sort of business. He spoke favorably of Gov. Gil Pierce, of Dakota. Col. Lamont gave me a mammoth cigar which, he assured me, was not a Yorkville cigar nor one of the kind that Col. Andy Welch gave away. It seems that the Daily News is read at the White House. New York, March 6, 1886. Atty. Gen. Banton G. Boone and Treasurer Seibert, of Missouri, at the Fifth avenue hotel; reporter Walker, of the Star took them over to Hoffman house and one of the bell-men was assigned to escort the party over the premises. The guide expected to be feed but the Missourians, know- ing nothing of these things, urged him to take a seat in the barroom and to drink with them. Had he done so with his uniform on, he would have been discharged. New York, March 5, 1886. Called at the Sun office; Mr. Dana not in. Saw Mr. 'Mitchell [21] who introduced Paul Dana, who reminded me of Huntley. When Mr. Dana came in, he re- ceived me very cordially. I told him that Walter Hutchins felt aggrieved by the Sun's course towards the Post. Mr. Dana com- plained that the Post had virulently assailed the Sun. He inquired after Mr. Stone. "Your work is always good," said he; "aside from it, the Daily News is very dull. Now the Tribune (Chicago) is sometimes bright." I talked with him an hour. He asked me to find out whether 'twas true that Pulitzer and McCullagh had once come to blows in Adelaide Neilson's pres- ence. When I arose to go he said, "Come around every morning and sit in that chair and visit with me." This touched my heart. "I am glad to find you looking so well," said I. "I hope you'll live a thousand years at least, I hope I'll die first, for I admire and respect you very much." Post scriptum: He said that what he had predicted of President Cleveland was coming true: his vanity was disrupting the party. New York, March 7, 1886. Took dinner at 5 o'clock with Henry E. Dixey and wife at the house, 122 West 44th Street. About 6 o'clock Mr. Blakely Hall dropped in. He urged me to [22] come to New York at once to engage in the publication of a weekly paper. I learned that Henry Guy Carleton had abandoned the scheme of founding a weekly paper here. (By the way, it was to have been called The Autocrat.} Dixey explained that the reason he did not pay any attention to Walter Meadowcroft in the Hoff- man house was because Meadowcroft had D with him. Dixey received a play from D at one time and gave him his note for $100 for it on condition, however, that D would not present the note for collection until the play was produced. D sold the note for $90 to a New York broker who collected it under threats of suit. New York, March 7, 1886. Called on Len Vanderpoole at his home, 13 University Place. Neither he nor his surroundings looked prosper- ous. He told me that William K. Vanderbilt and Chauncey Depew had promised to back him in the newspaper business. The paper was to be called The Daily Globe; was to be issued every day at noon, and was to be republican in politics; Vanderpoole was to be editor and Gill was to be associate editor. The best men were to be gleaned from all parts of the country and a man from the London Standard office was to [23] be dramatic critic. Vanderpoole said he was very anxious to have Bates and me connected with the paper and he would let us name our salaries; would also give us a guaranty for five years. [24] JiyL dt. 1*144. 'VK^vcu -wo**. t**-< a . 9 **+, H*,vi- '>*&**> *, ***** -*fi A* -U^K, 4t*w TV '>VW*/1/T*^ 'vw* *v personal experience told by H. H. Kohlsaat, of this city. "The Wanderer" was written (1883) and published with Mme. Modjeska's name ap- pended, merely to hoax the public. "Buttercup, Poppy, Forgetmenot" was writ- ten (1891) upon the anniversary of my oldest boy's death. The allusion in the last stanza of the dedication of With Trumpet and Drum is to this beloved child. The dedication of my "Second Book of Verse" was written in Frankfort-on-Maine, in the summer of 1890. My Jewish lullaby was written at Carlsbad and was inspired by the sight of a weary-looking Jewess nursing her babe in the highway near the Sprudel. With the money I got for my verses "Apple- Pie and Cheese" I bought my folio Chaucer of 1598. The foregoing letter does not disclose the identity of the person to whom it is addressed, but it is accompanied in the Yenowine collec- tion by another letter beginning "Dear Lem- perly," which proves now to be one of the most interesting letters that Field ever wrote. Al- though it is undated, internal evidence shows [27] it to have been penned only a few days before his death, for he had then completed eighteen chapters of his last book, to which he after- wards added but one short chapter of eleven pages. From this letter it becomes evident that the book as printed is in reality only about one half the length he planned to make it, for he says: "I suppose that Chapter XXXV ought to be enough, although I don't see how I'm ever going to say all I want to within that compass." He was also planning two other books which, had he lived to complete them, would doubtless have added luster to his name. In addition to the facsimile, the text of the letter is here given in full: Dear Lemperly: I feel under great obligations to you, and I thank you, for this volume of Maude Robert- son-Hicks' poems. Aside from its rarity in this edition, the book is of value for the excep- tional excellence of the work with which I should perhaps blush to make the confession I have but just now become acquainted. This lady has the genuine feeling and with this gift she has also remarkable power and facility of expression, the naturalness and the nicety of her method appealing to me with un- [28] Va^v4v ivv* fH*s~t. Ai/vfc, usual directness and force. I question whether you could have remembered me more felici- tously than by taking this opportunity to send me this charming, dainty book. I am now hard at work upon my Love-affairs of a Bibliomaniac, which I am printing in install- ments in the Record and which will be published next spring. I have reached Chapter XVI 1 1 and I suppose that Chapter XXXV ought to be enough, although I don't see how I'm ever going to say all I want to within that compass. When I am done with this pleasant task, I shall want to write a book about curio-collect- ing, and after that I shall perhaps feel like attempting what I have long been thinking about a story of New England life, involving Salem witchcraft and the brief period of Nathan- iel Mather's life. Way has been wanting me to do the preface to the volume of Anne Brad- street's poems which the Duodecimos will pub- lish: but Anne is a tough, uncongenial old bird and I hesitate to tackle her. I suppose that one is justified in putting off a task which he feels he cannot do well. I have long been intending sending you my copy of the Love-Songs of Childhood for your boy to ornament with his autographic signa- ture. I must delay that duty no longer. I want [29]" the signature upon the page where the second picture of the lad occurs. Renewing to you my assurances of gratitude and of affection, I am always sincerely yours, EUGENE FIELD. [30] "VILLON AND I" (See accompanying facsimile) This fine poem, which Field wrote for The Love Affairs of a Bibliomaniac, only thirty-five days before his death, is prefaced in that work by the following remarks: "I was not done with my discourse when a book was brought in from Judge Methuen; the interruption was a pleasant one. 'I was too busy last evening,' writes the judge, 'to bring you this volume which I picked up in a La Salle street stall yesterday. I know your love for the scallawag Villon, so I am sure you will fancy the lines which, evidently, the former owner of this book has scribbled upon the fly-leaf.' Fancy them? Indeed I do; and if you dote on the 'scallawag' as I dote on him you also will declare that our anonymous poet has not wrought ill." This was Field's method of introducing his own verses into this story, as witness at the end where he introduces his poem "One Day I Got a Missive," he had it brought in by Judge Methuen, who asked him to give it a place "in these memoirs." [31] The "Villon and I" poem as printed differs slightly from the MS. The title given it is " Francois Villon," which is not as comprehen- sive as "Villon and I." Field divided his poem into three eight-line stanzas. The fifth line of the first stanza he originally ended, "my Margot at my side," which he changed in the MS. to "my frowzy brevet-bride." His spell- ing of "frowzy" was changed and printed "frouzy." Possibly he may have intended "frowzy" to have a double meaning, suggesting "frow." In the second line of stanza ii, "yon deserted boulevard," as he wrote it, would be more in line with the robber's idea than "yonder gloomy boulevard," as it was printed. A de- serted boulevard would doubtless suit a robber's purposes better than a gloomy one. Four lines farther on, "to our brothel with our gain" was printed, "to our bordel with our gain." The third line from the end was changed and printed "Go, fetch my pen, sweet Margot, and a jorum of your wine!" and in lieu of the closing quotation marks in the MS., a line of dots was inserted. Then the two parenthetical lines at the end were printed without the paren- thesis marks. There are a few other unimpor- tant variations. After inserting the Villon poem, Field con- [32] TVV^VM >*M u i/ . / 1 J . IrvUiAA'V -tvrrwt/ , 5"i* -mut '.} tinued: "My acquaintance with Master Villon was made in Paris during my second visit to that fascinating capital, and for a while I was under his spell to that extent that I would read no book but his, and I made journeys to Rouen, Tours, Bordeaux, and Poitiers for the purpose of familiarizing myself with the spots where he lived, and always under the surveillance of the police. In fact I became so infatuated with Villonism that at one time I seriously thought of abandoning myself to a life of crime in order to emulate in certain particulars at least the example of my hero." This poem was not printed in Scribner's "Complete Edition" of Eugene Field's poems, 1915; for what reason it is impossible to say. Field's words, "Original draft," as shown in the margin of the MS. facsimile settles any doubt as to its being his own composition. [33] The last Manuscript that Eugene Field wrote is accompanied in the Yenowine collection by the following statement, probably by Yenowine himself: FIELD: The rarest of all Field Manuscripts. Eugene Field was found dead in bed about 4 o'clock on the morning of November 4, 1895. His friend, G. H. Yenowine, who was spending the night with the family, was with Mr. Field off and on all the preceding evening and up to midnight. Lying in bed Mr. Field had a soft paper tablet and while they were at dinner he began writing a verse on the famous old book dealers of London, Paris, Edinboro and Leipsic, to be used in the book he was then publishing as a serial, The Love Affairs of a Bibliomaniac. The names of these dealers had been written out for him by his friend Geo. M. Millard, of McClurg & Co. He could not compose with the usual facility and after talking with him a few minutes, he tore two pages of an unfinished poem beginning Oh, London is as fine a town, [34] flrv* - .^/, ' from the tablet he held in his hand, and folding these pages with the notes furnished by Millard, handed the package to his friend, saying: "Put these in your pocket, George, and when we go down town tomorrow I must see Millard about these names he gave me." The MS. is written with a lead pencil, two verses are completed and two more verses blocked out. This was the end of Mr. Field's life task. He died a few hours later. In Roswell Field's Introduction to The Love Affairs of a Bibliomaniac he says: "During the afternoon of Saturday, November 2, the nine- teenth instalment of 'The Love Affairs' was written. It was the conclusion of his literary life. The verses supposedly contributed by Judge Methuen's friend, with which the chapter ends, were the last words written by Eugene Field. . . . In the early morning of November 4 the soul of Eugene Field passed upward. On the table, folded and sealed, were the memoirs of the old man upon whom the sentence of death had been pronounced. On the bed in the corner of the room, with one arm thrown over his breast, and a smile of peace and rest on his tranquil face, the poet lay." The statement accompanying the present [35] MS. that Field handed it to his friend Yenowine, saying: "Put these in your pocket, George," explains how it came to escape the public eye. Its existence, moreover, was not known even to Roswell Field, as his own words testify in substance. The first page of Millard's list is missing, but the others, here given in facsimile, show some rather interesting comments; especially the one on page 3: "The thrifty Edinboro booksellers all have short names, as short as possible, because thereby there is economy in ink and in time." As Field used the names he ran them through with pencil, but he apparently neglected to cross off Suckling, Ellis, Bailey and Hutt, whose names he grouped together in the second stanza. As marking the closing chapter in a literary career of such singular interest and charm as that of Eugene Field has for the American people this little piece which represents the last touch of his pencil to paper, is perhaps the most pre- cious item of Fieldiana in existence. Oh, London is as fine a town As ever I have seen There's an old bookstand at every hand And several in between; [36] IMPORTERS BOOKSELLERS AND PUBLISHERS STATIONERS A. C. McCLURG & Co, 117, 119, AND 121 W ABASH A VENUE CORNER MADISON STREET JTfrWyCrvv . CHICAGO.^. iss oux^-d IMPORTERS BOOKSELLERS AND PUBLISHERS STATIONERS A. C. McCLURG & CO. 117, 119, AND 121 W ABASH AVENUE CORNER MADISON STREET 3 CHICAGO 189 IMPORTERS BOOKSELLERS AND PUBLISHERS STATIONERS A. C. McCLURG & Co. 117, 119, AND 121 WABASH AVENUE CORNER MADISON STREET 4- C H ICAGO - V.\ <^ - IT But arm yourself with wherewithal Before you make the rounds For treasures they range all the way From shillings up to pounds. Sing Bumpus, Sotheran, Quarilch, Roche, Sing Edwards and Dobell; Sing Maggs and Bull whose shops are full Of rarities to sell! Sing Rimell, Jackson, Suckling, George: Sing Ellis, Bailey, Hutt Sing wormed antiques, uniques And motley Bibliomaniac freaks Large paper and uncut! At Manchester and Liverpool, And Edinboro' town Are bibliopoles God bless their souls! Of proper great renown ! At Glasgow and at Birmingham Sing Hitchman, Hopkins, Forester, Sing Pitcher, Sutton, Brown From towering folio's down; Sing Downing Sing Young [37] In the back of this volume is a list printed from Field's holograph manuscript giving in alphabetical order the correct titles of nearly all his verse and stories published prior to 1894, a year before his death, and the books in which they appear. The first page is given in facsimile. Although the manuscript is not dated, in a note at the end he refers to a memoir he wrote for a volume "printed, St. Louis, 1894." l It may be observed that while the manuscript list contains titles to several pieces "Not yet collected," Field did not in- clude the title of "Penn Yan Bill's Wooing," written Oct. 15, 1887, and first printed by The Bibliophile Society in 1914. He wrote this in a volume for his friend William C. Buskett, and perhaps forgot about it, though it was one of the cleverest and most spontaneous things he ever did. A number of other uncatalogued poems written in the same book and which do not appear to have been published are here printed for the first time. 2 1 The title to this volume is, " Tributes in Memory of Ruth C. Gray." 2 These, with the Penn Yan Bill poem, were previously issued by Mr. Bixby in a limited facsimile edition for complimentary dis- tribution; but they do not appear ever to have been issued in type form until now. Ed. [38] rrnAu (>>- '^\^M tt^Xtvrvvru r' 4^ 'hn.Hv/1' f 'Hw V fooerrwJU, > ^w4'rn 'I Vl' *, L> M ! 4 < --^i r A " >+** Hjji+JJL ' xiM-9 'HMfcA/l-H-4 t S v- W-l^->U-^ , * ^v / ftfcJ4.|ftM.. */ j -vo V' : X ' /-- v ^ BW 1 - NOVEMBER The night is dark and the night is cold And the wind blows fierce and strong, And the rich man sits in his castle old He drinks his wine and he counts his gold As the night goes frowning along, along, And the nightwind sings its song. The wind speeds out to the withered lea Afar from the greedy throng, Where the poet abideth in poverty Nor castle, nor wine, nor gold hath he, But he heareth the nightwind's song its song As the night goes frowning along. Oh, give me no castles, proud and old, Nor honors that station brings Give me no plenty of wind 1 and gold, But give me the soul, when the nights be cold, To hear what the nightwind sings and sings As it rustles its voiceful wings. 1886. 1 Field wrote " wind," but he probably meant " wine." [39] TO FRANK W. REILLY If I were rich enough to buy A case of wine (tho' I abhor it!) I'd send a quart of extra dry And willingly get trusted for it. But, \ackaday\you know that I'm As poor as Job's historic turkey In lieu of Mumm, accept this rhyme, An honest gift, tho' somewhat jerky. This is your silver- wedding day You didn't mean to let me know it! And yet your smiles and raiment gay Beyond all peradventure show it! By all you say and do it's clear A birdling in your heart is singing, And everywhere you go, you hear The old-time bridal bells a-ringing. Ah, well, God grant that these dear chimes May mind you of the sweetness only Of those far-distant callow times When you were bachelor and lonely, And when an angel bless'd your lot (For angel is your helpmate, truly), And when, to share the joy she brought, Came other little angels, duly. [40] So here's a health to you and wife Long may you mock the Reaper's warning, And may the evening of your life In rising sons renew the morning; May happiness and peace and love Come with each morrow to caress ye, And when you're done with earth, above God bless ye, dear old friend God bless yel June 9, 1886. MR. PEATTIE'S RUBBERS Hard by his desk one stormy night, Whilst their possessor paused to write His criticisms terse and bright, Lay Mr. Peattie's rubbers. The night was wild with rain and sleet, The slush ran riot in the street In short, the world outside was meet For Mr. Peattie's rubbers. But when the office clock struck one And journalistic work was done, Some other, thieving son-of-a-gun Took Mr. Peattie's rubbers. [41] A man with unkempt beard and hair Went snooping wildly here and there, But found no traces anywhere Of Mr. Peattie's rubbers. Now curses on the callous soul Of that remorseless wretch who stole The subject of this dismal dole Viz: Mr. Peattie's rubbers. April 10, 1886. THE HUMANE LAD Why should a naughty, f reward boy The harmless little fly assail? Or why his precious time employ At pulling honest Rover's tail? Where e'er I go, each living thing Has its predestined place to fill, And naught that moves on foot or wing Was made for boys to vex or kill. The little fly, howe'er so frail, Was made on Rover's hide to prey, And faithful Rover's honest tail Was made to brush the fly away. [42] So let each bird and beast enjoy The vain, brief life which God has giv'n, Whilst I my youthful hours employ In works that fit the soul for heav'n, 1886. A NATIONAL HYMN Whether on hill or plain, Blood of the patriot slain Hallows our sod ; While from the glorious air Vaulting our land so fair Fall, as an incense rare, Blessings of God. Holy the heritage Blazoned on hist'ry's page For us to keep; Wrapped in thy mantles red, With our dear flag o'er head, Rest thee, illustrious dead Sweet be thy sleep! Princes, that scorn the Right Nations, whose pride is Might, Crumble to dust; [43] Freedom the boon we crave No man shall be a slave Where'er our banner wave - God is our trust! Seeing those early years Dim thro' a mist of tears, Pausing, we stand ; While spirit voices share This universal pray'r Filling the solemn air "God bless our land!" Sept. 17, 1887. YE CREWELL SASSINGER MILL All upp & downe ye river & along ye sandy shore Ye yemen ben a moaning & ye women skrike full shrill &, like a praroor fire, ye news are spredde from doore to doore That Sawney leesed a finger in ye sassinger mill. O Sawneys hand itt ben as faire as ever dole a pack Or drawed a pair of five spotts on ye deuces for too fill; [44] None bolder hande nor Sawneys never whoppit up ye jack But now it leesed a finger in ye sassinger mill! His fayther slew a barrow on a Moneday after- noone This morning, whiles that Sawney did ye hopper all to-fill, His evill sister Betty gave ye cranke a turn too soone, & Sawney leesed a finger in ye sassinger mill! 1887. UNDER THE GREENWOOD TREE The sheriff sleeps in a marble vault The kynge in a shroud of golde, And upon the air with a chanted prayer Mingles the mock of moulde. But the deere draw to the shady pool, The birds sing blithe and free, And the wildflowers bloom on a hidden tomb Under the greenwood tree. Oct. '87. [45] The titles in quotation marks in the left hand column of this index have been added to those in Field's manuscript in order to make the list of titles more nearly complete. Field probably intended to have this published, whether sep- arately or in conjunction with other material it is impossible to say. It must have surprised even the author himself on reviewing his list to see the number of pieces from his pen. His own arrangement gives the titles in the alphabetical order of only the first initial, and with the idea of preserving it in its origi- nal form the same rule has been observed in the printing. [46] nA' ' J "* ftrvfc TWU H* cCviXfo^V ^, utxi V nrtiMl ftrr& (4 VERSE (The title of the piece Is first given, and then the title of the book in which it is to be found. Where a piece is published In "With Trumpet and Drum " as well as in the volume named, an asterisk (*) is affixed to the title of that piece.) [Headnote by Field.] Apple-Pie and Cheese Little Book of Western Verse Ailsie, my Bairn ' " At the Door * " " " Ashes on the Slide Second Book of Verse Armenian Lullaby * " " Amsterdam, In " " " " Always Right " <.< " Armenian Mother, The " . . . With Trumpet and Drum " Actor, A Very Weary " .... Scribner's Complete Edition "April Fool, The" " " " "Ahkoondof Swat, The" ..." " Abu Midjan " " " " "Ancient Oaths, A Ballad of" . . Bumpville, The Ride to .... Love-Songs of Childhood Brook, The Bench- Legged Fyce, The .... " " " Bottle-Tree, The Buttercup, Poppy, Forget-me-not * . Second Book of Verse Bibliomaniac's Prayer, The . . . Little Book of Western Verse Bibliomaniac's Bride, The ... " ' " Boy-Blue See Little Boy Blue * . BeYanger's " Broken Fiddle ". . " " " " Beranger's " Ma Vocation " ..." " " " Stranger's " My Last Song, Perhaps " " " " " " Bottle and the Bird, The .... Second Book of Verse Bells of Notre Dame " < Barbara " " " " Boltons 22, The ' ' Bill's Tenor and My Bass ... [47] Bion's Song of Eros Second Book of Verse Billings of Louisville, Mr. ... " Bethleham-Town " "Booh!" Love-Songs of Childhood Beard and Baby Brag, Little Miss Button- Eyes, Lady Bambino (Corsican Lullaby) * . . Second Book of Verse " Brook, To a Little " With Trumpet and Drum ' 'Bell- Flower Tree, The" . ..." " Balow, My Bonnie " .... " " Ben Apfelgarten " Scribner's Complete Edition " Be My Sweetheart " .... "Broken Ring, The" .... "Boccaccio" " Brook Song, A " "Bow- Leg Boy, The" .... " Beranger's ' To My Old Coat' " " Bion, A Spring Poem From " . " Bion the Smyrnean, Two Idyls from " " "Big Thursday" "Bachelor Hall" " Bethlehem Town " "Boy, The" " Bugaboo, The " Catullus to Lesbia Second Book of Verse Clink of the Ice, The Crumpets and Tea Cafe Molineau, The " Christmas Eve " Christmas-Time, The Peace of * . . " Chrystmasse of Olde Little Book of Western Verse Christmas Treasurer * " Christmas Hymn Camelot, A Proper Trewe Idyll of . " Cheyenne, At Second Book of Verse Carlsbad " Corinthian Hall " Child and Mother * Little Book of Western Verse Casey's Table d'Hote Conversazzhyony, The .... " [48] Croodlin'-Doo, Little * .... Little Book of Western Verse Cunnin' Little Thing, The . . . Love-Songs of Childhood "Cobbler and Stock" With Trumpet and Drum " Contentment " Scribner's Complete Edition " Convalescent Gripster, The " . . " Clare Market " " " "Cradle Song" " Clouds, Song of the " .... " " " "Coquetry" " " " " Cricket's Song, The " .... "Clnna, To" '" Cuss-Word,' Romance of a" . . ".Cakes, The Remorseful "... " " " " Cold Consolation " " "Christmas" " Chicago Weather " " Collector's Discontent, The " . " Christmas Wind, A Song of the " . " "Cutting of the Cake, The" (White House Ballads) " Christmas Morning " Dr. Rabelais (Not yet collected) Dr. Sam " Drum, The Love-Songs of Childhood Dinkey-Bird, The Dream-Ship, The (Not yet collected) De Amicitiis Little Book of Western Verse Dana, of the New York Sun, Mr. . " Divine Lullaby, The *...." Dear Old London Second Book of Verse Doctors " Dibdin's Ghost " Doings of Delsarte " Duel, The Love-Songs of Childhood Doll's Wooing, The " Death of Robin Hood " . . . . Little Book of Western Verse " Dead Babe, The " Love-Songs of Childhood " Dreams, The " Scribner's Complete Edition " Drinking Song, A " " Discreet Collector, The " . . . " Dream of Springtime, A " . . . [49] " Dismal Dole of the Doodledoo, The" Scribner's Complete Edition " Dream, Dream, Dream "... " Der Mann im Keller " . . . . " Debutante, The " " Denman Thompson, To " . . . " Emma Abbott, To " Scribner's Complete Edition "Ed" " Elfin Summons, An " .... " Explorer's Wooing, The " . . . " Extinct Monsters " Flanders, In Little Book of Western Verse Firelight, In the * " Fiducit " . . Second Book of Verse Father's Way Fisherman's Feast, The .... " Fiddle-dee-dee I Love-Songs of Childhood Fisherman Jim's Kids " Fly- A way Horse, The " . . . . " Father's Letter " With Trumpet and Drum " Fairy and Child " " .... " Fire-Hangbird's Nest, The " . . " " Fate of the Flimflam, The " . . Scribner's Complete Edition " Fairy Lullaby, A " " French Must Go, The " . . . . " Fanchon the Cricket " . . " From the Same Canteen" . . . "Fool, The" " For the Charming Miss I. F.'s Album " Gold and Love for Dearie * ... Little Book of Western Verse Gosling Stew Second Book of Verse Gettin' On " " " Grandma's Prayer With Trumpet and Drum Ganderfeather's Gift * .... Second Book of Verse Grandma's Bombazine .... " "Goodbye God Bless Youl " . . Little Book of Western Verse Good-Children Street Love-Songs of Childhood Garden and Cradle Googly-Goo " Grandsire, The " With Trumpet and Drum [50] "Great Journalist In Spain, The" . Scribner's Complete Edition "Guess" " " " "Gettysburg" " " "Good Man's Sorrow, A" ..." " " " Gee Swee Zamericane " .... " " " "Grant" Holy Grail, The Culture's Garland Horace, Translations and Paraphrases Echoes from the Sabine Farm Heine's " Widow or Daughter" . . Little Book of Western Verse Hugo's "Flower to Butterfly" . . " " " " " Hi-Spy* " " " Happy Household, The .... Love-Songs of Childhood Holly and Ivy Second Book of Verse Hawthorne Children, The * ... " " " " Humming-Top, The Love-Songs of Childhood Heigho, My Dearie (Orkney Lullaby) * Little Book of Western Verse "Hushaby, Sweet My Own" (Lul- laby: By the Sea) * .... " Hugo's ' Child at Play'" . . . With Trumpet and Drum " How Salty Win Out " .... Scribner's Complete Edition "Hushaby, A" " Heine, A Paraphrase of " (Lyric In- termezzo) " " " Heine Love Song, A " .... " " Hymn " (From the German of Mar- tin Luther) " " " " Hugo's ' Pool in the Forest' " . . " " " " His Lordship, the Chief Justice" . " Hint for 1884, A " " How Flaherty Kept the Bridge " . " Human Nature " " " Her Fairy Feet " "Humanity" "Holland, In" " " " "Hymn: Midnight Hour " ..." " " " Holman's Farewell, Mr." ..." " " Humane Lad, The " Verse and Prose; The Biblio- phile Society, 1917 Intry-Mintry * Second Book of Verse Ipswich " [51] Inscription for a Silver Plate . . . Love-Songs of Childhood " Invitation to Sleep, An" ... Scribner's Complete Edition "Indian and the Trout, The" . " "Illinois War-Song, An" .... " " " "111 Requited" Jewish Lullaby * Second Book of Verse "Jest 'fore Christmas " .... Love-Songs of Childhood "Jessie" Scribner's Complete Edition " Jaffa and Jerusalem Railway, The " " " " "Jennie" " " " "Jelly-Cake, Ballad of the" ..." "July, The 5th of" Kissing Time Love-Songs of Childhood Krinken * Little Book of Western Verse Korner's Battle-Prayer .... Second Book of Verse "King Grover Craves Pie" (White House Ballads) Scribner's Complete Edition " Kissing of the Bride, The " (White House Ballads) " " " Little All-Aloney Love-Songs of Childhood Little Mistress Sans-Mercl . . . With Trumpet and Drum Little Boy Blue * Little Book of Western Verse Little Blue Pigeon (Japanese Lul- laby) * " " " Lollyby, Lolly, Lollyby * .... ' Lyttel Boy, Ye * " " " Little Homer's Slate* Second Book of Verse Lizzie* " .. Lydia Die " " " Lover's Lane, Saint Jo .... " ... < Long Ago * Little Book of Western Verse Little Mack " " " Little Bit of a Woman, A (Dedication) Second Book of Verse "Little-Oh-Dear" Love-Songs of Childhood " Lyman, Frederick, and Jim" . . Scribner's Complete Edition "Lullaby, A" " " " " Limitations of Youth, The " . . " " Love Song Heine " . . . . " " Leap- Year Episode, A ". ..." " Lament of a Neglected Boss " . . [52] " Leap- Year Lament, A " . . . . Scribner's Complete Edition " Little Miss Dandy " " Ladye Julia, To the " .... "Longings" Mother, To My Second Book of Verse Modjesky as Cameel " Moschus, "The Lost Cupid" of . " Marthy's Younkit Little Book of Western Verse Mediaeval Eventide Song * ... " Madge; Ye Hoyden Mother and Child " ' "Mary Field French, To" . . . Scribner's Complete Edition "Mysterious Doings" "Mary Smith" "My Playmates" " Marcus Varro " "My Garden" " Morning Song " "M. L. Gray, To" (Dedication to Echoes from the Sabine Farm) . " Mother and Sphinx " (Egyptian Folk- Song) "Mystery of Pasadene, The" " Modern Martyr, The " .... "Mugwump, The Song of the " . " Mein Faeder Bed " " Mr. Peattie's Rubbers ". . . . Verse and Prose; The Biblio- phile Society, 1917 Naughty Doll, The * Second Book of Verse Night Wind, The Love-Songs of Childhood Norse Lullaby * Little Book of Western Verse " Nightfall in Dordrecht" * ... Second Book of Verse "Nellie" With Trumpet and Drum "New Orleans, In" Scribner's Complete Edition "New- Year's Eve" " " " Nightmare, A " "November" " November " (another poem) . . Verse and Prose; The Biblio- phile Society, 1917 " National Hymn, A " Verse and Prose; The Biblio- phile Society, 1917 [53] Our Lady of the Mine .... Little Book of Western Verse Our Two Opinions " " " " Old English Lullaby " " " Our Biggest Fish " " " " Over the Hills and Far Away . . Love-Songs of Childhood Onion Tart, The Second Book of Verse Our Whippings * Second Book of Verse Oh, Little Child (Sicilian Lullaby) * . Little Book of Western Verse "Old Times, Old Friends, Old Love" Second Book of Verse "One Day I got a Missive" . . . Scribner's Complete Edition " Old Spanish Song " " " " " Official Explanation, The " ..." " " Of Blessed Memory " .... " " " "Ohio Idyl, An" "Ohio Ditty, An" "Old Sexton, The" Scribner's Complete Edition " Oglesby (1884) " " Overworked Word, An " ..." " "O'Connor's I loquint Spache" . . " " " "Oh, London is as Fine a Town " . Verse and Prose, The Biblio- phile Society, 1917 Play, At Love-Songs of Childhood Providence and the Dog .... Second Book of Verse Poet and King " < Passing Saint, To the " " " " Partridge, The " " " Plaint of a Missouri Coon ... " " " " Pittypat and Tippytoe * .... " " Pneumogastric Nerve, The ... " " " Prof. Vere de Blaw Little Book of Western Verse Peach, The Little " " " " Psalm, The Twenty-third ... " " " Pic-NicTime Love-Songs of Childhood Peter-Bird, The (Not yet collected) l " Paraphrase, A " Scribner's Complete Edition "Pan Liveth" " " " " Princess Ming, The " " " " " Piteous Plaint, A " " " " " Poet's Return, The " .... " Play on Words, A " " " 1 Afterwards printed by Scribner's. [54] " Patriot's Triumph, A " . . . " Political Maud, The " . . . . " Plea for the Classics, A " . . " Parlez-Vous Francals? " . . . . "'Puritan' 'Genesta'" . . . "Passing of the Compliment, The' (White House Ballads) . . . . "Poem in Three Cantos, A " . "Pike's Peak" "Pie, In Praise of" " Penn Yan Bill's Wooing " . "Parting Song, A " .... Scribner's Complete Edition The Bibliophile Society, 1914 Verse and Prose; The Biblio- phile Society, 1917 Rock-a-by Lady, The Love-Songs of Childhood Robin Goodfellow, To .... Little Book of Western Verse Red Second Book of Verse Red, Red West, The " Rare Roast Beef " < "Rose and the Iceberg, The" . . Scribner's Complete Edition " Rhine-Land Drinking Song, A " "Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, From the" "Reilly's Peaches, Mrs." .... " " " Reilly, Frank W., To " .... Verse and Prose; The Biblio- phile Society, 1917 Some Time * Little Book of Western Verse Soubrette, To a " " " " Soldier, Maiden and Flower ... " " " " " Smith, John Second Book of Verse St. Martin's Lane " " Singing in God's Acre, The ... " " " " Sugar-Plum Tree, The * .... " Shut-Eye Train, The Love-Songs of Childhood St. Jo Gazette, The Second Book of Verse Schnellest Zug, The " Shuffle-Shoon and Amber-Locks . . Love-Songs of Childhood Swing High and Swing Low ... Stork, The So, so, Rockaby So Suppose (Not yet collected) [55] Seeln' Things at Night .... Love-Songs of Childhood " Song of Luddy-Dud, The "... " Stoddards, The " Scribner's Complete Edition " Star of the East " " Stoves and Sunshine " .... "Straw Parlor, The" " Sister's Cake " " Sleeping Child, The " .... "Sleeping Baby's Eyes, To a" . " Shoshone Legend, A " .... "Song of the All-Wool Shirt" . . "Scherzo, A" "Secret of the Sphinx, The "... "Spirit Lake" " Song for the Departed ". Sister Rose's Suspicions (White House Ballads) "Sag Harbor" " Susceptible Widow, The " ..." "Straw Hat, The" "Song" "Snakes, The" " Sabine Farm, My " Thirty-Nine Little Book of Western Verse Telling the Bees Second Book of Verse Tea-Gown, The " " " " Teeny-Weeny * " Telka Three Kings of Cologne .... " "Trot, My Good Steed" .... " " " " " Truth About Horace, The " . . Scribner's Complete Edition " Three Tailors, The " "Twin Idols" "Taylor Pup, The Ballad of the " . "Trollope's History of Florence, After Reading" " The Old Homestead " .... " Two Coffins, The " " Two Valentines " "Two Little Skeezucks, The" . . "Three-Cent Stamp, The" ..." [56] " Thomas A. Hendricks's Appeal " . Scribner's Complete Edition "Tying of the Tie," The (White House Ballads) "Three Days in Springtime" "Truth and Simplicity in Song, In Praise of " " " " Tin Bank, The " " Uhland's " Three Cavaliers ". . . Little Book of Western Verse Usurper, To a * " " "Uhland's 'White Stag'" . . . Scribner's Complete Edition "Uhland's 'Chapel'" "Uncle Eph" " " " Under the Greenwood Tree " . . Verse and Prose; The Biblio- phile Society, 1917 Valentine, A Love-Songs of Childhood Virgil, An Eclogue from .... Second Book of Verse "Villon and I" Love Affairs of a Bibliomenia " Valentine To My Wife, A ". . . Scribner's Complete Edition " Violets' Love Story, The " . "Virgilian Picnic, A" " Vineyard, The " Wind, The (Not yet collected) When I was a Boy Love-Songs of Childhood Wynken, Blynken and Nod (Dutch Lullaby) Little Book of Western Verse Wanderer, The " With Trumpet and Drum . . . With Trumpet and Drum Watts, An Imitation of Dr. . . . Second Book of Verse Waller Lot, Ballad of the .... Love-Songs of Childhood "Women I Love, Ballad of" . . . Scribner's Complete Edition "With Two Spoons for Two Spoons " "Wooing of the Southland, The" (Alaskan Ballad) "With Brutus in St. Jo" . ..." "Winfreda" (A Ballad of the Anglo- Saxon Tongue) "Western Boy's Lament, A" "Wedding- Day, The" (White House Ballads) [57] "When Stedman Comes to Town" . Scrlbner's Complete Edition "War-Song, A" "Ward H. Lamon, Asleep on His Library Floor, To" " Yvytot * Little Book of Western Verse " Yellowstone Park, A Battle In " . Scribner's Complete Edition "Yours Fraternally'" .... " " " Ye Crewell Sassinger Mill " . . Verse and Prose; The Biblio- phile Society, 1917 " Zephyr from Zululand, A " . . . Scrlbner's Complete Edition SKETCHES AND TALES Bill, the Lokil Editor .... Little Book of Profitable Tales Boomerangelungen, The . . . Culture's Garland Coming of the Prince, The . . Little Book of Profitable Tales Christmas Tree, The First ... " " " Cyclopeedy, The " " " " " Divell's Chrystmasse, The . . . Little Book of Profitable Tales Daniel and the Devil .... The Holy Cross Dock Stebbins Little Book of Profitable Tales Dante Culture's Garland Ezra's Thanksgiving Out West . Little Book of Profitable Tales Fido's Little Friend Little Book of Profitable Tales Fairies of Pesth, The .... " " " " Flail, Trask and Bisland . . . The Holy Cross Franz Abt " Felice and Petit-Ponlain . . . Little Book of Profitable Tales Hampshire Hills, The .... Little Book of Profitable Tales Holy Cross, The Introduction to Stone's First Edition of Ameri- can Authors Jinin' Farms, The (Not yet collected) Ludwig and Eloise Little Book of Profitable Tales [58] Margaret; a Pearl .... Mouse and the Moonbeam, The Mountain and the Sea, The Methuselah Mistress Merciless .... Old Man, The Oak-Tree and the Ivy, The Primer Stories Rose and the Thrush, The Robin and the Violet, The Rodolph and His King . River, The .... Symbol and the Saint, The. Seal-Wife, The . . . . Spring-Time, The . Touch in the Heart, The Xanthippe .... Yaller Baby, The Little Little Book of Profitable Tales The Holy Cross Little Book of Profitable Tales The Tribune Primer; Denver, 1882 The Holy Cross Little Book of Profitable Tales The Holy Cross Little Book of Profitable Tales The Holy Cross Little Book of Profitable Tales The Holy Cross Culture's Garland Little Book of Profitable Tales Twenty-one Tales 1 The Holy Cross Joel's Christmas Job and His Ailment Leander and the Parrot Mrs. Macgregor's Red Gown John Milton and His Type- Writer Methuselah The River Mrs. Socrates The Seal-Wife Jim's Kids Old Gramper Growly Mistress Merciless The Lonesome Little Shoe Franz Abt The Catnip Garden Daniel and the Devil John Henry's Fishing An Early Fourth of July The Coming of George The Old Hymn Book 1 Part of these appear in the index; others are unidentified. Ed. [59] BOOKS BY EUGENE FIFLD 1 A Little Book of Western Verse; Charles Scribner's Sons, New York $1.25 With Trumpet and Drum; Charles Scribner's Sons, New York 1.00 Second Book of Verse; Charles Scribner's Sons, New York . 1.25 Echoes from the Sabine Farm; A. C. McClurg Co., Chicago 5.00 Love-Songs of Childhood; Charles Scribner's Sons, New York 1.25 Denver Tribune Primer; Denver, 1882. Out of print. Culture's Garland; Ticknor & Co., Boston. Out of print. A Little Book of Profitable Tales; Chas. Scribner's Sons, New York 1.25 The Holy Cross and Other Tales; Stone & Kimball, Chicago . 1.25 " Auto- Analysis," Chicago, 1896 " Eugene Field to Francis Wilson," New Rochelle, 1896 "Second Book of Tales," Scribner's, New York, 1896 "Songs and Other Verses," Scribner's, New York, 1896 " The House," Scribner's, 1896 "The Love Affairs of a Bibliomaniac," Scribner's, 1896 " Florence Bardsley's Story," Chicago, 1897 "Sharps and Flats," Scribner's, New York, 2 vols. 1900 "The Friar Gonsol," Cadmus Press, New York, 1900 " The Story of the Two Friars," Chicago, 1900 "A Little Book of Tribune Verse," 1901 "The Stars A Slumber Story," New York, 1901 "Hoosier Lyrics," Donahue & Co., Chicago, 1905 "John Smith, U. S. A.," Donahue & Co., Chicago, 1905 "The Clink of the Ice," Donahue & Co., Chicago, 1905 "The Wink-A-Way Land," Donahue & Co., Chicago, 1905 " The Poems of Eugene Field," Complete Edition, Scribner's, 1915 NOTE: In addition to the works specified above, Mr. Field con- tributed an introduction to Herbert Stuart Stone's "First Editions of American Authors;" and a memoir of Mrs. Ruth C. Gray to a memorial volume privately printed, St. Louis, 1894. The book "With Trumpet and Drum" is composed exclusively of child verse compiled from "A Little Book of Western Verse" and "Second Book of Verse " and written previous to the year 1893. [This note was written by Field at the conclusion of his list.] 1 The first nine titles constitute Field's list as he wrote it. Those quoted have been added. Ed. [60] LIST OF BOOKS AND MANUSCRIPTS IN THE GEORGE H. YENOWINE COLLECTION OF EUGENE FIELD'S WORKS " Second Book of Verse." Scribner & Son, 1893. First edition, inscribed, with four lines of verse by Field. Contains bookplates of Field and Yenowine. "A Little Book of Profitable Tales." First edition, 1890. In- scribed by Field. Bookplates of Field and Yenowine pasted in. " Dibdin's Ghost." A little volume containing the original MS. with rubricated initials; also a printed copy. These are followed by several newspaper clippings, pasted in on blank leaves. Book- plates of Field and Yenowine inserted. "Culture's Garland." Published by Ticknor & Co., Boston, 1887. Inscribed by Field: "To George H. Yenowine this error of youth is regretfully presented by the committer thereof. Eugene Field." Yenowine's bookplate pasted in. " In Memory of Mrs. Ruth C. Gray." Privately printed, 1894. Bookplate of George H. Yenowine. Inscribed by Field: "With very much love to George H. Yenowine. Eugene Field." "Echoes from the Sabine Farm." Bookplates of Geo. H. Yenowine and Eugene Field. Contains proof sheet of "Sharps and Flats " signed in two places by Field. This copy is inscribed by Mrs. Eugene Field as follows: "To Geo. H. Yenowine: As an expression of my appreciation of a true friend shown to me in his devotion to my husband's memory, and his many acts of kindness to his nearest and dearest. I beg he will accept this book from me in grateful love. Mrs. Eugene Field. Feb. 14, 1896." " Love Songs of Childhood," 1894. Japanese vellum copy No. IX, with Field's bookplate and ten lines of a verse in his autograph. Frontispiece portrait of Field inscribed, "Always affectionately yours, dear Yenowine"; signed and dated Feb. 8, 1895. "With Trumpet and Drum." First edition, 1892. Charles Scribner's Sons. Limited edition, this being No. 66. " Little Book of Profitable Tales," of which only 250 copies were issued, this being No. 177. Printed by M. E. Stone, Chicago, 1889. Inserted bookplate of Geo. H. Yenowine. Contains four lines of verse in Field's handwriting, also a pen sketch in colors by Field. Inserted in the book are the names of the subscribers. [61] "The Symbol and the Saint, a Christmas Tale." Autograph facsimile edition, 1886. Contains bookplate of Yenowine, and is in- scribed by Field with eight lines of prose, dated May 27, 1895. "The Tribune Primer." Limited edition, privately printed at Marion Press, 1900; handmade paper. Copy No. 76. Contains bookplate of Field and Yenowine, and a card on which Field wrote: "That's right; come along; plenty of room; glad to see you. Bring mamma, E. F." Also a letter from G. M. Williamson to Yenowine. "The Holy Cross and Other Tales." Limited edition; Stone & Kimball, Chicago, 1893. Copy No. 3. Contains bookplates of Eugene Field and Yenowine, and is inscribed by Field with six lines of prose. "The Holy Cross." Twenty copies printed on Japanese vellum by Stone and Kimball. Presented by Field to Mrs. Yenowine. Has inserted bookplate of Yenowine and is inscribed by Field. Also inscribed by Mrs. Yenowine. "A Little Book of Western Verse." First edition, 1890; being Mr. Field's personal copy which he used on the platform. In- serted are bookplates of Field and Yenowine. Inscribed by Field with a six-line stanza addressed "to Mr. and Mrs. George H. Yenowine." " Echoes from the Sabine Farm." Limited edition; 30 copies on Japan and 70 on handmade paper. This copy is one of the latter, No. 41, signed by Francis Wilson. Contains bookplate of Yenowine, and is inscribed by Field with two lines of prose and a six-line stanza, signed. A portion of "Mistress Merciless," which was dedicated to Mrs. Yenowine. Bookplate of Yenowine inserted. "Contents and Dedications," in Field's handwriting, and underneath are fifteen titles, with names of persons to whom they are dedicated. Ten letters in Field's handwriting are inserted on stubs. Volume is bound in black leather. Large paper edition of " Echoes from the Sabine Farm," McClurg & Co., Chicago, 1893. 500 copies, of which this is No. 435. Book- plates of Field and Yenowine inserted; also portrait of Field in his library. Contains complete poem, " Lydia Die" in Field's writing, signed. Book has various original pen and ink and water color sketches all the way through, done by several different artists. Original manuscript, bound, of "Odes of Horace"; containing twenty-three of Field's translations and paraphrases from Horace, [62] all signed. Twenty-one of these were published in " Echoes from the Sabine Farm," and two are unpublished. Field's full signa- ture appears at the top of the second front waste-leaf, which is otherwise blank. The manuscripts are all prepared with great care and most of them have large initials and headings in a variety of colors of ink. Some contain penciled instructions to the printer and other memoranda. Pasted in the front are the bookmarks of Field and Yenowine. " Florence Bardsley's Story." Printed by W. Irving Way in 1897. Contains bookplate of Yenowine. Autographed by Caro- line Way, the illuminator. " Eugene Field, An Auto-analysis." Chicago, 1896. Limited edition on Japanese vellum. Contains bookplate of Yenowine and is autographed by F. M. Morris, the publisher. " Eugene Field to Francis Wilson." Privately printed, 1896, 100 copies on handmade paper. Contains Yenowine's bookmark with Francis Wilson's signature on it. " Tribune Primer." First edition, " Reprinted from the " Denver Tribune"; no date. Bound with original front paper cover. Book- marks of Field and Yenowine pasted in. ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPTS "Villon and I." Two pages. Original draft. "Mistress Merciless," five pages engrossed and illustrated by Field. Unfinished. Two and a quarter pages of manuscript, giving information to a correspondent about origin of a dozen of Field's most popular poems. Original draft of personal sketch of Field's life, dated New Orleans, March 14th, 1894. Three pages. Written and published by him- self. It was intended to be sent in reply to the numerous re- quests for information concerning himself. It was first printed as a four-page leaflet in a limited edition of eight copies, of which No. 7 accompanies the manuscript. Later published by Morris as "An Auto-Analysis." Contract written by Field forming a co-partnership with John A. Reavis to become editors and publishers of the "Washington Critic." Never consummated. One sheet. "Mistress Merciless," newspaper proofs, 5 pages corrected and autographed by Field. " Unto Us a Child is Born." One page MS. Suppressed. [63] Manuscript of short story, "Sweet One Darling and the Moon- beam." Dated Chicago, June 30th, 1895. 4 pages. Signed. Thirteen pages of manuscript giving correct title of verses and stories written by Field prior to 1894, a year before his death. Very carefully compiled by Field for the use of a friend. Two folio pages, diary of Field's visit to Washington and an Interview with President Cleveland. Auto Proof of " Springtime." Set up in galley form. The most precious of all Field Manuscripts. Two pages of rough paper torn from a tablet, and containing two finished and two unfinished stanzas written in pencil a few hours before Field's death. There are three extra sheets on which appear the names of bookdealers in London, Paris and other European centers, written out by G. M. Millard for Field's use in composing his poem. [64]