_by O Hana San_.
_Illustration by Adrian Machefert._
Yes, ma’am, to the right. No, ma’am, not this store.”
“Say, Sade, ain’t those dames a terrible bore
With their questions all day?
Perhaps now I can say
What I want to you, of me friend Johnny Ray.
Was the party real swell? Well,
I’m dying to tell
You of the dandy fine floor, and just what I wore――
The price of that, ma’am? Well, ain’t she a ham
To get off her ear just because it’s too dear?
As I was just sayin’, there was dancin’ and playin’,
And cute Johnny Ray, say! was with me all day――
Two yards of that lace? (My, Sade, what a face!)
Sure, ma’am, I’ll attend;
I don’t mean to offend
Either you or any other old lady.
Fresh? Can you beat that now, Sadie?
She’s gone to complain to the floorwalker chap—
It’s all up with me, maybe, but I don’t give a rap.
[Illustration: “_As I was just sayin’._”]
’Cos Johnny wants me for his own little pet,
And maybe I ain’t lookin’ for marriage just yet!
I can beat it—and quick—to a store on Broadway.
Hear me hand that to him,
With a merry ‘Good day?’”
* * * * *
And she did, and what happened is easy to write;
She married young Ray; that’s her end, so good night.
* * * * *