July 2d, 1885._

[1] In this specimen of Field’s privately circulated verse, as in his letters, his own punctuation and capitalization are followed.  He had a system of his own which, when complicated with the office style of the News, resulted in most admirable confusion and inconsistency.

Was ever request for so small a “boon” couched in such lordly pomp of phrase and in such insinuating rhyme?

It was shortly after Field secured this boon that he had his first opportunity to waste postage stamps on me.  With a party of friends I went up to Mackinac Island to spend a few days.  By the first mail that reached the island after I had registered at the old Island House, I received a letter bearing in no less than five different colored inks the following unique superscription: 

For that Most Illustrious and Puissant Knight Errant, Sir Slosson Thompson, Erstwhile of Chicago, but now illumining Mackinac Island, Michigan,

  Where, under civic guise, he is accomplishing prodigious slaughter
  among the fish that do infest that coast.

It may be taken for granted that the clerks and the hotel guests were consumed with curiosity as to the contents of an envelope over which they had a chance to speculate before it reached me.  These were: 

  CHICAGO, July 19th, 1885.

  SWEET KNIGHT: 

Heedful of the promise I made to thee prior to thy setting out for the far-distant province of Mackinac, I am minded to temporarily lay aside the accoutrements of war and the chase, and pen thee this missive wherein I do discourse of all that has happened since thy departure.  Upon Saturday I did lunch with that ill-tempered knight, Sir P——­, and in the evening did I discuss a goodly feast with Sir Cowan, than whom a more hospitable knight doth not exist—­saving only and always thyself, which art the paragon of courtesy.  This day did I lunch at my own expense, but in very sooth I had it charged, whereat did the damned Dutchman sorely lament.  Would to God I were now assured at whose expense I shall lunch upon the morrow and the many days that must elapse ere thy coming hence.

  By this courier I send thee divers rhymes which may divert thee. 
  Soothly they are most honest chronicles, albeit in all modesty I may
  say they do not o’erpraise me.

The good Knight Melville crieth it from the battlements that he will go into a far country next week.  Meanwhile the valorous Sir Ballantyne saweth wood but sayeth naught.  That winsome handmaiden Birdie quitteth our service a week hence; marry, I shall miss the wench.

The fair lady Julia doth commend thy prudence in getting out of the way ere she reproaches thee for seducing the good Knight into that Milwaukee journey, of the responsibility of which naughtiness I have in very sooth washed my hands as clean as