Page:History of Oregon Literature.djvu/540



sharing of that emphasized funny spell in the nation, a far frontier influence of the mirthful celebrities of that period?

The first Oregon Wards, Nasbys and Nyes relied considerably on dialect and bad spelling for humor- ous effects, following the custom of that day. "To the Mune", along this line, is definitely remindful of the verses of Josiah Allen's Wife. The best they had was of a creditable satirical nature, shown in this chapter by "The Willamette Bridge" and "Susan Sophiar Sofronia Spriggs Writeth". 1 To THE MUNE From the Democratic Era, May 26, 1871 On June 2, the poem was reprinted in the New Northwest, with this note: "The above choice morsel of literature, it is hardly neces- sary to state, is stolen from the Democratic Era. We don't know who that paper hooked it from.—Ed. New Northwest." How bewtiful is this 'ere night! How bright the stars du shine! And all natur sleeps in trankliness! But this 'ere self of mine. Our dog has quit a-barkin' now At fellers a passin' bi; Hese gazin' at the far-oph mune With kalm and plasid i. Wen vuin the, thow pail-faced thing, A hangin' in the skize, Upwerd on wild untrameled wing My thauts cuts dust and flize. O cud I kwit this klod of kla, And sore above the kroud