Chapter 10

but touching the chords of mirth with certainty and irresistible effect. Field might have added, that none of the comedians he has named ever gave to the experience of "Johnny Jones and His Sister Sue" in public recitation the same melancholy humor and pathetic conclusion as did the author of their misfortunes and untimely end himself. As a penance, perhaps, for the injustice done to "The Little Peach" in the quoted comment, Field spent several days in 1887 in translating it, so to speak, into Greek characters, in which it appears in the volume given to Mrs. Thompson, which is herewith reproduced in facsimile as a specimen of one of the grotesque fancies Field indulged:

For the benefit of those unfamiliar with the Greek characters, I have retranslated this poem into corresponding English, which the reader can compare with his version of "The Little Peach."

_THE PEAR

(In English Equivalent.)

A little pear in a garden grue A little pear of emerald 'ue Kissed bi the sun and bathed bi the due, It grew.

One da, going that garden thro' That little pear kame to the fue Of Thomas Smith and 'is sister Sue Those tou!

Up at the pear a klub tha thrue Down from the stem on uikh it grue Fell the little pear of emerald 'ue Peek-a-boo!

Tom took a bite and Sue took one too And then the trouble began to brue Trouble the doktors kouldn't subdue Too true (paragorik too?).

Under the turf fare the daisies grue They planted Tom and 'is sister Sue And their little souls to the angels flue Boo 'oo!

But as to the pear of emerald 'ue Kissed bi the sun and bathed bi the due I'll add that its mission on earth is thro' Adieu._