Over the Way

Where he as gladly folded her in,

And kissed her mouth and dimpled chin?

Oh, Ellery Vane! you little thought
An hour ago, when you besought
This country lass to walk with you,
After the sun had dried the dew,
What perilous danger you'd be in

As she tied her bonnet under her chin.

125

Nora Perry.

OVER THE WAY

OVER the way, over the way,

I've seen a head that's fair and gray;
I've seen kind eyes not new to tears,
A form of grace, though full of years-
Her fifty summers have left no flaw-
And I, a youth of twenty-three,

So love this lady, fair to see,

I want her for my mother-in-law !

Over the way, over the way,
I've seen her with the children play;
I've seen her with a royal grace
Before the mirror adjust her lace;

A kinder woman none ever saw;
God bless and cheer her onward path,
And bless all treasures that she hath,
And let her be my mother-in-law !

Over the way, over the way,

I think I'll venture, dear, some day
(If you will lend a helping hand,
And sanctify the scheme I've planned);
I'll kneel in loving, reverent awe
Down at the lady's feet, and say:

"I've loved your daughter many a day-
Please won't you be my mother-in-law?"

Mary Mapes Dodge.

CHORUS OF WOMEN

66

FROM THE THESMOPHORIAZUSÆ."

THEY'RE always abusing the women,
As a terrible plague to men;
They say we're the root of all evil,
And repeat it again and again-
Of war, and quarrels, and bloodshed,
All mischief, be what it may.
And pray, then, why do you marry us,
If we're all the plagues you say?
And why do you take such care of us,
And keep us so safe at home,
And are never easy a moment

If ever we chance to roam?

When you ought to be thanking Heaven
That your plague is out of the way,
You all keep fussing and fretting-
"Where is my Plague to-day?"
If a Plague peeps out of the window,
Up go the eyes of men;

If she hides, then they all keep staring
Until she looks out again.

THE WIDOW MALONE

DID you hear of the Widow Malone

O hone!

Who lived in the town of Athlone

Alone?

O, she melted the hearts
Of the swains in them parts;
So lovely the Widow Malone,
O hone!
So lovely the Widow Malone.

Aristophanes.

The Widow Malone

Of lovers she had a full score

Or more;

And fortunes they all had galore

In store;

From the minister down

To the clerk of the Crown,

All were courting the Widow Malone
O hone!

All were courting the Widow Malone.

But so modest was Mrs. Malone,
"Twas known,
That no one could see her alone,

And says he, "You're my Molly Malone,

My own."

Says he, "You're my Molly Malone."

And the widow they all thought so shy

My eye!

Never thought of a simper or sigh;

For why?

"O Lucius," said she,

"Since you've now made so free,

You may marry your Mary Malone,
Your own;

You may marry your Mary Malone."

127

There's a moral contained in my song,
Not wrong;

And one comfort it's not very long,

If for widows you die,

But strong:

Learn to kiss-not to sigh,

For they're all like sweet Mistress Malone!

O hone!

O they're all like sweet Mistress Malone!

Charles Lever.

THE SMACK IN SCHOOL

A DISTRICT School, not far away,

Mid Berkshire's hills, one winter's day,
Was humming with its wonted noise
Of threescore mingled girls and boys;
Some few upon their tasks intent,
But more on furtive mischief bent.
The while the master's downward look
Was fastened on a copy-book;
When suddenly, behind his back,

Rose sharp and clear a rousing smack!
As 'twere a battery of bliss

Let off in one tremendous kiss!

"What's that?" the startled master cries;
"That, thir," a little imp replies,
"Wath William Willith, if you pleathe,-
I thaw him kith Thuthanna Peathe!"
With frown to make a statue thrill,
The master thundered, "Hither, Will!"
Like wretch o'ertaken in his track,
With stolen chattels on his back,
Will hung his head in fear and shame,
And to the awful presence came,-

A great, green, bashful simpleton,
The butt of all good-natured fun.

With smile suppressed, and birch upraised,
The thunderer faltered,-"I'm amazed
That you, my biggest pupil, should

'Späcially Jim

Be guilty of an act so rude!

Before the whole set school to boot-
What evil genius put you to't?"
""Twas she herself, sir," sobbed the lad,
"I did not mean to be so bad;

But when Susannah shook her curls,
And whispered, I was 'fraid of girls
And dursn't kiss a baby's doll,
I couldn't stand it, sir, at all,
But up and kissed her on the spot!
I know-boo-hoo-I ought to not,
But, somehow, from her looks-boo-hoo-
I thought she kind o' wished me to!"

129

William Pitt Palmer.

'SPÄCIALLY JIM

I wus mighty good-lookin' when I wus young-
Peert an' black-eyed an' slim,

With fellers a-courtin' me Sunday nights,
'Späcially Jim.

The likeliest one of 'em all wus he,

Chipper an' han'som' an' trim;

But I toss'd up my head, an' made fun o' the crowd, 'Späcially Jim.

I said I hadn't no 'pinion o' men

An' I wouldn't take stock in him!

But they kep' up a-comin' in spite o' my talk, 'Späcially Jim.

I got so tired o' havin' 'em roun'

('Späcially Jim!),

I made up my mind I'd settle down

An' take up with him;

So we was married one Sunday in church, "Twas crowded full to the brim,

"Twas the only way to get rid of 'em all,

'Späcially Jim.

Bessie Morgan.