His Answer & Her Last Letter
Reading edition
By BRET HARTE
Pictured by ARTHUR I KELLER
Boston & New York. Houghton, Mifflin & Company The Riverside Press, Cambridge. 1905
COPYRIGHT 1870 BY FIELDS, OSGOOD & CO. COPYRIGHT 1871 BY JAMES R. OSGOOD & CO. COPYRIGHT 1898 AND 1899 BY BRET HARTE. COPYRIGHT 1905 BY HOUGHTON, MIFFLIN & CO. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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 coöperation 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.
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I'm sitting alone by the fire Dressed just as I came from the dance. (In color) Frontispiece
Title. (In color)
Publishers' Note—Headpiece5
List of Designs—Headpiece7
Her Letter—Half-title 11
Is wasting an hour upon you13
That waits—on the stairs—for me yet15
With whom do I waltz, flirt, or talk?17
To look supernaturally grand19
And the hum of the smallest of talk21
With the man that shot Sandy McGee. (In color)23
The man that shot Sandy McGee25
Of that ride,—that to me was the rarest27
And swam the North Fork, and all that29
Mamma says my taste still is low31
That my heart's somewhere there in the ditches33
His Answer—Half-title35
I should write what he runs off his tongue. (In color)37
Being asked by an intimate party39
That with you, Miss, he "challenges Fate"41
Though the claim not, at date, paying wages43
And the rose that you gave him. (In color)45
Is frequent and painful and free47
Imparts but small ease to the style49
In this green laurel spray that he treasures51
But he lies there quite peaceful and pensive53
For I have a small favor to ask you55
Here's my pile; which it's six hundred dollars57
Her Last Letter—Half-title 59
That you last wrote the 4th of December61
And you're not to be found in the ditches. (In color)63
From this spot, that you said was the fairest65
To London, when Pa wired, "Stop"67
And as to the stories you've heard69
Whose father sold clothes on the Bar71
With a look, Joe, that made her eyes drop. (In color)73
To find myself here, all alone75
Ah! gone is the old necromancy77
And you called the place Eden, you know. (In color)79
And the copse where you once tied my shoe-knot81
There's the rustle of silk on the sidewalk83
But there's still the "lap, lap" of the river. (In color)85
There's a lot that remains which one fancies87
He thinks he may find you89
And good-night to the cañon that answers91
I've just got your note. You deceiver!93
Now I know why they had me transferred here. (In color)95
How dared you get rich—you great stupid!97
The man who shot Sandy McGee
You made mayor!99
Tailpiece100
All the headpieces and other decorations are from Mr. Keller's designs.
