The following admirable parody of Bret Harte's pathetic poems on miner's life in California was written by Mr. Charles H. Ross, the Editor of Judy. It is a favourite recitation with Mr. Odell, the popular actor:—
THE BLOOMIN' FLOWER OF RORTY GULCH.
IT war Bob war the Bloomin' Flower,
They know'd him on Poker Flat;
He'd gouged a few down Gilgal way,
But no one complained o' that.
He scored his stiffs[7] on the heft of his knife—
Forty I've heern 'em say;
It might have been more—Bob kept his accounts
In a loosish sorter way.