Page:History of Oregon Literature.djvu/271

 a

man has honor save in his own country, aptly describe the experience of our poet. By now I think all will agree with me in saying that a goodly portion of the productions of the good gray poet of Oregon will live long after he has been gathered to his fathers. From my point of view, I see in him a true poet of nature, a fitting mouthpiece to depict the transcendent beauties and majesty of our beloved snow- crowned and emerald state. There is a reference to Specimens in one of his let ters to his sister at the Warm Springs Reservation, dated April 28, 1868, at Canyon City... . Last week I sent you a small volume of my poems. I desire that you have them bound so that you can keep them while you live. You will direct the binder to put heavy state and fly leaves on the sides so as to give it bulk. If finely bound with the title "Specimens" and the author's name on the side, it will be a nice ornament for your center table. They can be bound in Portland. If I live another year or two, I will publish a large book and have it found and put in market. This larger, but not very much larger, book, Joaquin, Et ... , came into existence the next year, as has already been described... was not altogether with out favorable notice, being given the following very nice puff in the Eugene City Guard, in his home town... the issue of April 24, 1869: The abov... the title of a volume of poems composed by Hon. C. H. Miller, Judge of Grant County. The volum... entirely Oregonian, having been written, printed, bound and published within this State. The mechanical work in the pro duction of this neat little volume cannot be surpassed any where... was printed by Messrs. Carter & Himes, bound by A. G. Walling and published b... J. McCormick. A careful perusal of the contents proves that the poet possesses true genius and real poetical fire. H... among the poets