TO DE WITT MILLER.

Dear Miller: You and I despise

The cad who gathers books to sell‘ em,

Be they but sixteen-mos in cloth

Or stately folios garbed in vellum.

But when one fellow has a prize

Another bibliophile is needing,

Why, then, a satisfactory trade

Is quite a laudable proceeding.

There's precedent in Bristol's case

The great collector — preacher-farmer;

And in the case of that divine

Who shrives the soul of P. D. Armour.

When from their sapient, saintly lips

The words of wisdom are not dropping,

They turn to trade — that is to say,

When they're not preaching they are swapping!

So to the flock it doth appear

That this a most conspicuous fact is:

That which these godly pastors do

Must surely be a proper practice.

Now, here's a pretty prize, indeed,

On which De Vinne's art is lavished;

Harkee! the bonny, dainty thing

Is simply waiting to be ravished!

And you have that for which I pine

As you should pine for this fair creature:

Come, now, suppose we make a trade —

You take this gem, and send the Beecher!

Surely, these graceful, tender songs

( In samite garb with lots of gilt on )

Are more to you than those dull tome?

Her pastor gave to Lizzie Tilton!