Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry. 1904.

Humorous Poems: II. Miscellaneous

Jim

Bret Harte (1836–1902)

SAY there! P’r’aps

Some on you chaps

Might know Jim Wild?

Well,—no offence:

Thar ain’t no sense

In gettin’ riled!

Jim was my chum

Up on the Bar:

That ’s why I come

Down from up thar,

Lookin’ for Jim.

Thank ye, sir! you

Ain’t of that crew,—

Blest if you are!

Money?—Not much:

That ain’t my kind;

I an’t no such.

Rum?—I don’t mind,

Seein’ it ’s you.

Well, this yer Jim,

Did you know him?—

Jess ’bout your size;

Same kind of eyes?—

Well, that is strange:

Why, it ’s two year

Since he come here,

Sick, for a change.

Well, here ’s to us;

Eh?

The deuce you say!

Dead?—

That little cuss?

What makes you star,—

You over thar?

Can’t a man drop

’s glass in yer shop

But you must rar’?

It wouldn’t take

Derned much to break

You and your bar.

Dead!

Poor—little—Jim!

—Why, there was me,

Jones, and Bob Lee,

Harry and Ben,—

No-account men:

Then to take him!

Well, thar—Good-bye,—

No more, sir,—I—

Eh?

What ’s that you say?—

Why, dern it!—sho!—

No? Yes! By Jo!

Sold!

Sold! Why you limb,

You ornery,

Derned old

Long-leggèd Jim!