The Shasta courier., 1856-02-23
NUMBER 81.
Ph ixinna.


The immortal John Phenix." Hiber-
nian might with propriety say, "still lives.
While in Oregon last summer, he was written
to by the Executive Committee OF the State As-
rcultural Society. to deliver the poem at their
anniversary festival This letter failed TO reach
it's destination. On his return the other day.
the Editor of the Farmer handed him copy OF
the former letter. 10 which the prince OF humor-
lists returned the the following response Union.
SAN FRAscIsco, February 9TH, 1856.
Col J. L. WARREN, Sec. Cal. State Ag Society:
My DEAR SIR: have the honor to acknowl-
edge the receipt, thus day of your very polite
and fattering invitation dated August %, 1881
to deliver poem of my own composition before
the annual meeting of the State Agricultural So
ciefy in September last. Though somewhat
ditfident regarding my powers IN the poetlcai
line, (feeing very much like the lrishman I'M
mortalized by Miller, who when asked 1t he
could play upon the fiddle, replied that ''he pre-
sumed he could. though he had never tried,)
shall accept the invitation, and shall endeavor
to discharge the duty deyoying upon me 10 the
best of my ability. You do me more than
justice in suPposing that take strong interest
in the newly deveored resources of our glorious
State, in an agricultural point of view; and
have in fact, you may be aware devoted some
little time 10 the pleasing science of horticulture
in my endeavors to show up the greens OF Cali
fornia.
| see nothing to regret in the late arrival of
your invitation, II gives me Sufhclent tlme 10
prepare, and | doubt not that by the return OF
last September shall be able to present to the
Society poem that will be among poems what
Niagara is among cataracts, or Oregon among
civilized nations.
| already begin to feel grand agricultural,
floral, horticultural and pomoogical poetic fer
vor stealing over me, under the influence of
which, have without much effort composed the
| following admirable lines beginning:
Here's to the land of potaloes and carrots
Whose banks grow wild, rich bacon and parrots;
Where each apple and pear dollar piece is,
And man may devour just as much as he pleases,
| (Spoken-B he's the money to pay for hem.)
Where the soil is teemng with vegetable treas
ures,
And pumpkin ten feet in circumference meas
ures;
Where to root up turnip and OK team en-
| ployed is;
By each aborer very large salary enjoyed Isl
| Play on the scord celery)
And kind Colonel Warren with interest watches
| The growth of his parsley and marrowfat
squashes,
And s,irs up the farmers, and gives them rules
OF action, and incentives 10 exertion, and con-
stanlly teaches,
How they ought not to let Oregon GET ahead
of them but establish nurseries at once, where
they could raise at very trifing expense, all
kinds of grated fruit, pears and apples and
the most dellclons peaches, &c, &c, &c.
That last line seems little exuberant prob
ably it results from the rich nature of the SOIL
but there is plenty Of time TO apply The pruning
knife. Thanking you heartily for your kind
ness and presenting my compliments to the So
ciety. TO whom [ beg you will communicate my
acceptance of their polite invitation,
remain, with great respect and esteem,
| Your friend and obedient servant,
| GEO. II. DERBY.