BEING 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.
[Illustration:
_Which is why it is proper and decent
I should write what he runs off his tongue_]
[Illustration: _Being asked by an intimate party_]
FIRST, 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).
[Illustration:
_That "his spirits are buoyant as yours is;"
That with you, Miss, he "challenges Fate"_]
AND 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.)
[Illustration:
_Though the claim not, at date, paying wages,
Might produce in the sinful a smile_]
HE 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.)
[Illustration: _And the rose that you gave him_]
[Illustration:
_And his language to me from his bunk, Miss,
Is frequent and painful and free_]
HE 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."
[Illustration:
_Which this dodging of pillows
Imparts but small ease to the style_]
AND "you'll 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 all_.)
[Illustration:
_In this green laurel-spray that he treasures,
It was plucked where your parting was last_]
HE'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.
[Illustration: _But he lies there quite peaceful and pensive_]
FOR I 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.
[Illustration:
_For I have 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.
[Illustration:
_Here's my pile; which it's six hundred dollars,
As is yours, with respects_]
[Illustration]