Sutter's Claim. Imitated

Say! _you_ feller! _You_ --
With that spade and the pick! --
What do you 'pose to do
On this side o' the crick?
Goin' to tackle this claim? Well, I reckon
You'll let up ag'in, purty quick!

No bluff, understand, --
But the same has been tried,
And the claim never panned --
Or the fellers has lied, --
For they tell of a dozen that tried it,
And quit it most onsatisfied.

The luck's dead ag'in it! --
The first man I see
That stuck a pick in it
Proved _that_ thing to me, --
For he sort o' took down, and got homesick,
And went back whar he'd orto be!

Then others they worked it
Some -- more or less,
But finally shirked it,
In grades of distress, --
With an eye out -- a jaw or skull busted,
Or some sort o' seriousness.

The _last_ one was plucky --
He wasn't afeerd,
And bragged he was "lucky,"
And said that "he'd heerd
A heap of bluff-talk," and swore awkard
He'd work any claim that he keered!

Don't you strike nary lick
With that pick till I'm through;
This-here feller talked slick
And as peart-like as you!
And he says: "I'll abide here
As long as I please! "
But he didn't. He died here --
And I'm his disease!