Part 23 (2/2)

And certain burning lines of Blake's, And Ruskin on the fowls of air, And Coleridge on the water-snakes.

At Emerson's ”Forbearance” he Began to feel his will benumbed; At Browning's ”Donald” utterly His soul surrendered and succ.u.mbed.

”Oh, gentlest of all gentle girls!

He thought, beneath the blessed sun!”

He saw her lashes hang with pearls, And swore to give away his gun.

She smiled to find her point was gained And went, with happy parting words (He subsequently ascertained), To trim her hat with humming birds.

--_From the Century._

A dozen others equally good must be reserved for that encyclopaedia! This specimen, of _vers de societe_ rivals Locker or Baker:

PLIGHTED: A.D. 1874.

BY ALICE WILLIAMS.

”Two souls with but a single thought, Two hearts that beat as one.”

NELLIE, _loquitur_.

Bless my heart! You've come at last, Awful glad to see you, dear!

Thought you'd died or something, Belle-- _Such_ an age since you've been here!

My engagement? Gracious! Yes.

Rumor's. .h.i.t the mark this time.

And the victim? Charley Gray.

Know him, don't you? Well, he's _prime_.

Such mustachios! splendid style!

Then he's not so horrid fast-- Waltzes like a seraph, too; Has some fortune--best and last.

Love him? Nonsense. Don't be ”soft;”

Pretty much as love now goes; He's devoted, and in time I'll get used to him, I 'spose.

First love? Humbug. Don't talk stuff!

Bella Brown, don't be a fool!

Next you'd rave of flames and darts, Like a chit at boarding-school; Don't be ”miffed.” I talked just so Some two years back. Fact, my dear!

But two seasons kill romance, Leave one's views of life quite clear.

Why, if Will Latrobe had asked When he left two years ago, I'd have thrown up all and gone Out to Kansas, do you know?

Fancy me a settler's wife!

Blest escape, dear, was it not?

Yes; it's hardly in my line To enact ”Love in a Cot.”

Well, you see, I'd had my swing, Been engaged to eight or ten, Got to stop some time, of course, So it don't much matter when.

Auntie hates old maids, and thinks Every girl should marry young-- On that theme my whole life long I have heard the changes sung.

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