I wot poor Charlie did not dream
  The telegram was but a scheme
        To mulct Sir Slosson’s pelf;
  For in the absence of his friend
  The Honest Knight made bold to send
        That telegram himself.

  Oh, honest Field I to keep aright
  The credit of an absent Knight—­
        And undefiled his name! 
  Upon such service for thy friends
  Such knightly courtesies depends
        Thy everlasting fame!_

Two days later I received a postal written in a disguised hand by Ballantyne, I think, and purporting to come from “Charlie,” showing the progress of the conspiracy to mulct Sir Slosson’s pelf.  It read: 

  FRIEND THOMPSON,

  Fields and Ballantyne gave me the telegram tonight ordering one
  supper.  But they have been eating all the week at your expense.  Is
  it all right?

  Yours,

  CHAS. BURKEY.

And by the same mail came this comforting epistle from the arch conspirator: 

  CHICAGO, July the 22d, 1885.

  DEAR SIR KNIGHT: 

I have been too busy to reply to your many kind letters before this.  On receipt of your telegram last night, we went to Boyle’s and had sumptuous cheer at your expense.  Charlie has begun to demur, and intends to write you a letter.  Browne wrote me a note the other day.  I enclose it to you.  Please keep it for me.  I hope your work will pan out more successfully.

I had a long talk with Stone to-night, and churned him up about the paper.  He agreed with me in nearly all particulars.  He is going to fire W——­ when D——­ goes (August 1).  He said, “I am going to have a lively shaking up at that time.”  One important change I am not at liberty to specify, but you will approve it.  By the way, Stone spoke very highly of you and your work.  It would be safe for you to strike him on the salary question as soon as you please.  The weather is oppressively warm.  Things run along about so so in the office.  Hawkins told me he woke up the other night, and could not go to sleep again till he had sung a song.  The Dutch girls at Henrici’s inquire tenderly for you....  Hastily yours,

  EUGENE FIELD.

The note from Mr. Browne here mentioned related to the proposed publication of a collection of Field’s verse and stories.  The Browne was Francis F., for a long time editor of The Dial, and at that time holding the position of principal reader for A.C.  McClurg & Co.  As I remember, Mr. Browne was favorably disposed toward putting out a volume of Field’s writings, but General McClurg was not enamoured of the breezy sort of personal persiflage with which Field’s name was then chiefly associated.  This was several years before Field made the Saints’ and Sinners’ Corner in McClurg’s Chicago book-store famous throughout the bibliomaniac world by fictitious reports relating to it printed occasionally in his “Sharps and Flats” column.  It was not until 1893 that McClurg & Co. published any of Field’s writings.