[Illustration: ORIGINAL TEXT OF "LITTLE BOY BLUE" _With drawings in colors by Eugene Field._ The little toy dog is covered with dust But sturdy and stanch he stands, And the little toy soldier is red with rust And his musket moulds in his hands. Time was when the little toy dog was new And the soldier was passing fair, And that was the time when our Little Boy Blue Kissed them and put them there. "Now, don't you go till I come," he said, "And don't you make any noise!" So, toddling off to his trundle-bed, He dreamt of the pretty toys. And, as he was dreaming, an angel song Awakened our Little Boy Blue-- Oh! the years are many--the years are long-- But the little toy friends are true! Aye, faithful to Little Boy Blue they stand-- Each in the same old place, Awaiting the touch of a little hand, The smile of a little face. And they wonder--as waiting the long years through In the dust of that little chair-- What has become of our Little Boy Blue Since he kissed them and put them there.] EUGENE FIELD A STUDY IN HEREDITY AND CONTRADICTIONS By SLASON THOMPSON With Portraits, Views and Fac-Simile Illustrations VOLUME II Published, December, 1901 Charles Scribner's Sons New York 1901 CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. OUR PERSONAL RELATIONS 1 II. INTRODUCTION TO COLORED INKS 15 III. SOME LETTERS 44 IV. MORE LETTERS 71 V. PUBLICATION OF HIS FIRST BOOKS 107 VI. HIS SECOND VISIT TO EUROPE 138 VII. IN THE SAINTS' AND SINNERS' CORNER 169 VIII. POLITICAL RELATIONS 198 IX. HIS "AUTO-ANALYSIS" 234 X. LAST YEARS 261 XI. LAST DAYS 297 APPENDIX 321 INDEX 341 ILLUSTRATIONS DRAWINGS IN COLORS AND IN FAC-SIMILE PAGE ORIGINAL TEXT OF "LITTLE BOY BLUE" _Frontispiece_ _With drawings in colors by Eugene Field._ THE LITTLE DRESS-MAKER 23 _From a drawing by Eugene Field._ A PROPER SONET 26 _From a drawing in colors by Eugene Field._ FIELD AND BALLANTYNE AWAITING THE ARRIVAL OF A BISCUIT FROM NEW BRUNSWICK 27 _From a drawing by Eugene Field._ THE GOOD KNIGHT SLOSSON'S CASTLE 29 _From a drawing by Eugene Field._ A TRAGEDY IN FIVE ACTS 30, 31 _From drawings by Eugene Field._ HOW MARY MATILDA WON A PRINCE: _From drawings by Eugene Field._