The New York herald., 1922-10-15


Bret Harte.
was quite little girl when one day
we children were told that a distinguished
stranger was coming to visit our parents.
He had come from far from the Wild
West of America; he was going to give
lecture in the town (Birmingham), and
would afterward spend the night at our
house. Long before the hour of his ar
rival 1 had gone to bed-no doubt specu-
lating timidly on the coming of a cowboy"
of the Buffalo Bill type. armed to the
teeth with pistols and bowie knives-so
did not make his acquaintance until the
next morning. When the breakfast bell
rang l went cautiously into the dining
room. man with thick, curly, brown
hair, wearing a brown velveteen coat,
was standing in the recess of the
bay window. Fear, shyness vanished;
l liked him at once: He was caress-
Ing Jungfrau. who was gazing up at
him with the intense look of alteration
mingled with bewilderment so characteris-
tic of her species. l drew near and was
greeted with kind words spoken in an
attractively soft, whimsical voice. and
kind blue eyes looked down into mine.
This is my first recollection of Bret Harte,
whom 1 was to know so well many years
later. He had evidently lost his heart to
Jungfrau and before he left us he begged
to be allowed to have one of her puppies
should she ever become the mother of a
family.
Time passed. and on one never to be for
i. III
fascinating balls of fur, tipped with little
wrinkled noses. and mouths that twisted
and squeaked with hungry anticipation:
Jungfrau's puppies They were named
Shem. Ham and Japheth. I do not know
why, except that the names come easily
in connection with a well known trio
Which will be Mr.. Bret Harte's puppy?"
one Of US asked. for We had not forgotten
him OF his request. He shall choose be-
tween Shem and Ham," said my father.
"Japheth is already promised"
We eagerly awaited the decision, for the
puppy Bret Harte did not choose was 10
remain in the family circle. After a few
days letter came from him-from Gre
field in Germany.
UNITED STATES CONSULATE
CREFELD. May 25, 1879.
MY DEAR PEMBERToN:
I think I prefer. all things considered
"Shem." Ham" might be preferable If
he had the color attributed by the best
authorities to his Noachian namesake
black st. Bernard would be as beauti-
full and as terrible as a thunderstorm
But am very grateful, my dear fellow,
for "Shem." "Shem'' let it be, then.
Vivat Shemi
You have forgotten to tell me how old
he is So 1 cannot tell if he will be
able to bear the fatigue and excitement
Of Continental travel / don't want to
expose him prematurely to foreign
temptation and habits without some
previous home experience or to take
him from you and his mother rashly.
Therefore, please let me know at once
Meanwhile consider him mine; act for
me vicariously; let him have the best
at my expense.
Procure for him a collar with a sill
yer plate-not too expensive, but suit
able to mn degree, and his-which shall
bear the legend: "Shem." Let him do
as he likes, short of active aggression
upon the persons of your family, and
send the bill to me.
Yours ever
BRET HARTE
So it was decided: Shem was to go out
into the world and become the property of
a well known master, But he was not to
when he was five months old Bret Hare
wrote as follows:
CREFEID, February 9th, 1880.