I  'm  bound  to  say  the  choice  he  made
A  creditable  taste  displayed;
Although  —  I  can't  say  what  it  meant  —
The  little  maid  looked  ill-content.
His  task  was  then  anew  begun  —
To  kneel  before  the  wittiest  one.
Once  more  that  little  maid  sought  he,
And  went  him  down  upon  his  knee.
She  bent  her  eyes  upon  the  floor  —
I  think  she  thought  the  game  a  bore.
He  circled  then  —  his  sweet  behest
To  kiss  the  one  he  loved  the  best.
For  all  she  frowned,  for  all  she  chid,
He  kissed  that  little  maid,  he  did.
And  then  —  though  why  I  can't  decide  —
The  little  maid  looked  satisfied.
IN   SCHOOL   HOURS.
A    REAL    ROMANCE.2

YOU  remember  the  moments  that  come
In  a  school-day  afternoon  :
When  the  illegitimate  hum

Subsides  to  a  drowsy  swoon  ?
When  the  smell  of  ink  and  slates

Grows  oppressively  warm  and  thick ;
Sleep  opens  her  tempting  gates ;
And  the  clock  has  a  drowsy  tick  ?

Forgetful  of  watch  and  rule,

The  teacher  has  time  to  think
Of  a  "  recess  "  in  life's  long  school ;

Of  a  time  to  "  go  out  and  drink  "
At  the  spring  where  the  Muse  has  sipped,

And  laurel  and  bay-leaf  bloom  —
And  a  contraband  note  is  slipped,

Meanwhile,  across  the  room.
51


ELSEWHERE.
From  a  trembling  hand  it  flies

Like  a  little  white  dove  of  peace ;
And  away  on  its  mission  it  hies

In  an  "Atlas  of  Ancient  Greece."
And  the  sender  hides  her  face ;

For  her  eyes  have  a  watery  shine,
And  saline  deposits  trace

The  recent  tear-drop's  line.
From  the  dovecote  side  it  goes

Across  to  the  ruder  half —
Where  a  large  majority  shows

A  suppressed  desire  to  laugh.
