Volume Ii Part 77 (1/2)

These gray hairs are by chance, you see-- Boys are sometimes gray, I am told: Rose came by with a smile for me, Just as I thought I was getting old.

Walter Learned [1847-1915]

THOUGHTS ON THE COMMANDMENTS

”Love your neighbor as yourself,”-- So the parson preaches: That's one half the Decalogue,-- So the prayer-book teaches.

Half my duty I can do With but little labor, For with all my heart and soul I do love my neighbor.

Mighty little credit, that, To my self-denial, Not to love her, though, might be Something of a trial.

Why, the rosy light, that peeps Through the gla.s.s above her, Lingers round her lips,--you see E'en the sunbeams love her.

So to make my merit more, I'll go beyond the letter:-- Love my neighbor as myself?

Yes, and ten times better.

For she's sweeter than the breath Of the Spring, that pa.s.ses Through the fragrant, budding woods, O'er the meadow-gra.s.ses.

And I've preached the word I know, For it was my duty To convert the stubborn heart Of the little beauty.

Once again success has crowned Missionary labor, For her sweet eyes own that she Also loves her neighbor.

George Augustus Baker [1849-1906]

THE IRONY OF LOVE

”SIGH NO MORE, LADIES”

From ”Much Ado About Nothing”

Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more, Men were deceivers ever; One foot in sea, and one on sh.o.r.e; To one thing constant never.

Then sigh not so, But let them go, And be you blithe and bonny, Converting all your sounds of woe Into Hey nonny, nonny.

Sing no more ditties, sing no moe Of dumps so dull and heavy; The fraud of men was ever so, Since summer first was leavy.

Then sigh not so, But let them go, And be you blithe and bonny, Converting all your sounds of woe Into Hey nonny, nonny.