THE LOCO GERM.

When it enters your system, don’t try to squirm; just take your

medicine, it’s a loco germ. It may not come till you’re old and gray,

but every guy takes it on some day. It cuts no ice if her feet are big,

and if in your heart you don’t like her rig; if her hands are coarse and

a little bit red, and horse-hair rats are in her head. You will see the

defects and will says, “By Jove! She’s the one for me.” You’re in love.

She’ll be indifferent, it’s just their way; a little bit selfish, a

little bit gay, but she touched your hand and she makes you thrill; then

lookout, old chap, you are losing your will. You’ll notice the paint if

she uses such, but you’ll never think she has on too much. You’ll see

she ain’t real, where she ought to be, and a thousand other defects

you’ll see. But, no matter, you only think of the bliss, of getting from

her the fatal kiss. You’re in love.

All your traditions are quite upset; what your mother taught you, you’ll

quite forget; you’ll get suspicious of those you knew, and you’ll think

your pals are in love with her, too. You’ll spend your coin, and you’ll

spend it well, on the richest things the Chinks have to sell, and you’ll

lay them down on the floor at her feet, and your heart will throb when

her glance you meet. You’re in love.

You may have cherished a grand ideal all your former days, but there’s

nothing real; the ones you knew in the days gone by will fade from your

mind, and you will not sigh. The loved one’s voice may be rather strong,

her chin may be weak and her nose too long; her manners, too, are a

little crude, and she isn’t herself when she plays the prude. The

grammar she uses is not in tone with the district school ma’am away back

home. You’re in love.

You are caught in a net she has woven for you--a net from which have

escaped a few; and if on the whole she offends your taste, being

forty-five inches about the waist, and if you don’t fancy that seven

shoe, never mind; she’s the one for you. You’ll forget and forgive if

she has a past; you think you’re her first real love, and her last. You

are hot all over, your heart beats fast. You’re in love.

Droll stories of Isthmian life · 第 40 / 46 题