STEVENSON'S LETTERS
penthouse of his brows with a gipsy-like and transitory suggestion.
"The Sprite" someone called him. And it was a true word. For here he had no continuing city. Doubtless, though, he lightens some Farther Lands with his bright wit, and such ministering spirits as he may cross on his journeying are finding him good company. Talofa Tusitala, do not go very far away! We too would follow you down the "Road of Loving Hearts."
1899.
TO COUNT GIROLAMO NERLI.
(We are indebted to Mrs. Jeanne Butler, of Westbury-on-Trym, for a copy of the following verses written by Stevenson while sitting to Count Nerli for his portrait. "Count Nerli was a friend of my husband's," writes Mrs. Butler, "and gave him the verses on his return from the island.")
Did ever mortal man hear tell of sae singular a ferlie
As the coming to Apia here of the painter, Mr. Nerli.
He cam, and O for a human friend, of a' he was the perli;
The pearl of a' the painter folk was surely Mr. Nerli.
He took a thraw to paint mysel', he painted late and early,
O, wow, the mony a yawn I've yawned in the beard of Mr. Nerli.
Whiles I would sleep, and whiles would wake, and whiles was mair than surly,
I wondered sair, as I sat there, fornenst the eyes of Nerli:
Oh will he paint me the way I want, as bonny as a girlie?
Or will he paint me an ugly tyke, and be damned to Mr. Nerli!
But still, and on, and whichever it is, he is a canty kerli—
The Lord protect the back and neck of honest Mr. Nerli.
Vailima,
Samoa.
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