A little girl, a charming tiny tot,
I well remember you with many a curl,
Although I recollect you said "I'm not
A _little_ girl."
We parted. Mid the worry and the whirl
Of life, again, alas! I saw you not.
I kept you in my memory as a pearl
Of winsome childhood. So imagine what
A shock it was this morning to unfurl
My morning paper, there to see you've got
A little girl!
* * * * *
THE POET AND HIS LOVE--(A LAPSUS LINGUÆ.)--_He._ "I see that you wear
brown boots, sweetheart--a sign of the falling of the year." _She._
"Yes, it is in concord with the decadence of the leaf." _He._ "Say
rather of the cutting of the corn." (_And then the match was broken off
through no fault of his._)
* * * * *
[Illustration: A SAFE MORTGAGE
_Angelina._ "Edwin, promise me you'll never describe me as your
'relict.'"
_Edwin._ "Dearest, I never will! I'd die sooner!"]
* * * * *
[Illustration:
_Brown_ (_who has been dining at the club with Jones_). "Just come in a
minute, old fellow, and have a night-cap."
_Jones_. "I'm afraid it's getting a little late. Let's see, how's the
enemy."
_Brown_. "Oh! that's all right. _She's_ in bed."]
* * * * *
THINGS ONE WOULD RATHER HAVE LEFT UNSAID.--"Well, but if you can't bear
her, whatever made you propose?" "Well, we had danced three dances, and
I couldn't think of anything else to say!"
* * * * *