Hoosier Lyrics   By: Eugene Field (1850-1895)

HOOSIER LYRICS

BY

EUGENE FIELD

AUTHOR OF THE CLINK OF THE ICE, JOHN SMITH, U. S. A., IN WINK A WAY LAND, ETC.

M. A. DONOHUE & COMPANY CHICAGO, ILL.

SELECTED WORKS of EUGENE FIELD

Uniform with this volume

The Clink of the Ice Hoosier Lyrics In Wink a Way Land John Smith, U. S. A.

Four volumes, boxed, $3.00

Single volumes, 75 cents, postpaid

M. A. DONOHUE & CO. 701 727 S. DEARBORN ST. CHICAGO

Copyright, 1905 M. A. Donohue & Co.

INTRODUCTION.

From whatever point of view the character of Eugene Field is seen, genius rare and quaint presents itself in childlike simplicity. That he was a poet of keen perception, of rare discrimination, all will admit. He was a humorist as delicate and fanciful as Artemus Ward, Mark Twain, Bill Nye, James Whitcomb Riley, Opie Read, or Bret Harte in their happiest moods. Within him ran a poetic vein, capable of being worked in any direction, and from which he could, at will, extract that which his imagination saw and felt most. That he occasionally left the child world, in which he longed to linger, to wander among the older children of men, where intuitively the hungry listener follows him into his Temple of Mirth, all should rejoice, for those who knew him not, can while away the moments imbibing the genius of his imagination in the poetry and prose here presented.

Though never possessing an intimate acquaintanceship with Field, owing largely to the disparity in our ages, still there existed a bond of friendliness that renders my good opinion of him in a measure trustworthy. Born in the same city, both students in the same college, engaged at various times in newspaper work both in St. Louis and Chicago, residents of the same ward, with many mutual friends, it is not surprising that I am able to say of him that "the world is better off that he lived, not in gold and silver or precious jewels, but in the bestowal of priceless truths, of which the possessor of this book becomes a benefactor of no mean share of his estate."

Every lover of Field, whether of the songs of childhood or the poems that lend mirth to the out pouring of his poetic nature, will welcome this unique collection of his choicest wit and humor.

CHARLES WALTER Brown.

Chicago, January, 1905.

CONTENTS.

PAGE.

Hoosier Lyrics Paraphrased 9

Gettin' On 14

Minnie Lee 16

Answer to Minnie Lee 17

Lizzie 18

Our Lady of the Mine 20

Penn Yan Bill 25

Ed 31

How Salty Win Out 33

His Queen 36

Answer to His Queen 37

Alaskan Balladry Skans in Love 38

The Biggest Fish 39

Bonnie Jim Campbell 42

Lyman, Frederick and Jim 44

A Wail 46

Clendenin's Lament 48

On the Wedding of G. C. 49

To G. C. 51

To Dr. F. W. R. 52

Horace's Ode to "Lydia" Roche 54

A Paraphrase, Circa 1715 56

A Paraphrase, Ostensibly by Dr. I. W. 57

Horace I., 27 58

Heine's "Widow or Daughter" 59

Horace II., 20 60

Horace's Spring Poem, Odes I., 4 62

Horace to Ligurine, Odes IV., 10 64

Horace on His Muscle, Epode VI. 65

Horace to Maecenas, Odes III., 29 66

Horace in Love Again, Epode XI. 68

"Good By God Bless You!" 70

Horace, Epode XIV. 72

Horace I., 23 74

A Paraphrase 75

A Paraphrase by Chaucer 76