Part 7 (1/2)

Once your smoothly polished face Nestled lightly in a case; 'Twas a jolly cosy place, I surmise;

And a zealous subject blew On your cheeks, until they grew To the fascinating hue Of her eyes.

Near a rusty-hilted sword, Now upon my mantel-board, Where my curios are stored, You recline.

You were pleasant company when By the scribbling of her pen I was sent the ways of men To repine.

Tell me truly (you were there When she ceased that debonair Correspondence and affair) I suppose

That she laughed and smiled all day; Or did gentle tear-drops stray Down her charming _retroussee_ Little nose?

Where the sunbeams, coyly still, Fall upon the mantel-sill, You perpetually will Silence woo;

And I fear that she herself, By the little chubby elf.

Will be laid upon the shelf Just as you.

DE WITT STERRY.

t.i.tLEPAGE DEDICATION.

”Let those smoke now who never smoked before, And those who always smoked--now smoke the more.”

ACROSTIC.

To thee, blest weed, whose sovereign wiles, O'er cankered care bring radiant smiles, Best gift of Love to mortals given!

At once the bud and bliss of Heaven!

Crownless are kings uncrowned by thee; Content the serf in thy sweet liberty, O charm of life! O foe to misery!

J.H.

ANOTHER MATCH.

_AFTER A.C. SWINBURNE._

If love were dhudeen olden, And I were like the weed, Oh! we would live together And love the jolly weather, And bask in suns.h.i.+ne golden, Rare pals of choicest breed; If love were dhudeen olden, And I were like the weed.

If you were oil essential, And I were nicotine, We'd hatch up wicked treason, And spoil each smoker's reason, Till he grew penitential, And turned a bilious green; If you were oil essential, And I were nicotine.

If you were snuff, my darling, And I, your love, the box.

We'd live and sneeze together, Shut out from all the weather, And anti-snuffers snarling, In neckties orthodox; If you were snuff, my darling, And I, your love, the box.