Point Lace and Diamonds | Page 7

my merit more,
I'll go beyond the letter;
Love my
neighbor as myself?
Yes, and ten times better.
For she's sweeter
than the breath
Of the Spring, that passes
Through the fragrant,
budding woods,
O'er the meadow-grasses.
And I've preached the word I know,
For it was my duty
To convert
the stubborn heart
Of the little beauty.
Once again success has
crowned
Missionary labor,
For her sweet eyes own that she
Also
loves her neighbor.
MARRIAGE _A LÀ MODE._
A Trilogy.
I.
LOVE'S YOUNG DREAM.
A.D. 1880.
"Thank you--much obliged, old boy,
Yes, it's so; report says true.

I'm engaged to Nell Latine--
What else could a fellow do?

Governor was getting fierce;
Asked me, with paternal frown,
When
I meant to go to work,
Take a wife, and settle down.
Stormed at my
extravagance,

Talked of cutting off supplies--
Fairly bullied me,
you know--
Sort of thing that I despise.
Well, you see, I lost worst
way
At the races--Governor raged--
So, to try and smooth him
down,
I went off, and got engaged.
Sort of put-up job, you know--

All arranged with old Latine--
Nellie raved about it first,
Said her

'pa was awful mean!'
Now it's done we don't much mind--
Tell the
truth, I'm rather glad;
Looking at it every way,
One must own it
isn't bad.
She's good-looking, rather rich,--
Mother left her quite a
pile;
Dances, goes out everywhere;
Fine old family, real good style.

Then she's good, as girls go now,
Some idea of wrong and right,

Don't let every man she meets
Kiss her, on the self-same night.
We
don't do affection much,
Nell and I are real good friends,
Call there
often, sit and chat,
Take her 'round, and there it ends.
Spooning!
Well, I tried it once--
Acted like an awful calf--
Said I really loved
her. Gad!
You should just have heard her laugh.
Why, she ran me
for a month,
Teased me till she made me wince;
'Mustn't flirt with
her,' she said,
So I haven't tried it since.
'Twould be pleasant to be
loved
Like you read about in books--
Mingling souls, and tender
eyes--
Love, and that, in all their looks;
Thoughts of you, and no
one else;
Voice that has a tender ring,
Sacrifices made, and--well--

You know--all that sort of thing.
That's all worn-out talk, they say,

Don't see any of it now--
Spooning on your _fiancée_
Isn't good
style, anyhow.
Just suppose that one of us,--
Nell and me, you
know--some day
Got like that on some one else--
Might be rather
awkward--eh!
All in earnest, like the books--
Wouldn't it be awful
rough!

Jove! if I--but pshaw, what bosh!
Nell and I are safe
enough.--
Some time in the Spring, I think;
Be on hand to wish us
joy?
Be a groomsman, if you like--
Lots of wine--good-bye, old
boy."
II.
UP THE AISLE.
A.D. 1881.
Take my cloak--and now fix my veil, Jenny;--
How silly to cover
one's face!
I might as well be an old woman,
But then there's one
comfort--it's lace.
Well, what has become of those ushers?--
Oh, Pa,
have you got my bouquet?
I'll freeze standing here in the lobby,

Why doesn't the organist play?
They've started at last--what a bustle!

Stop, Pa!--they're not far enough--wait!
One minute more--now!

Do keep step, Pa!
There, drop my trail, Jane!--is it straight?
I hope I
look timid, and shrinking!
The church must be perfectly full--
Good
gracious, please don't walk so fast, Pa!
He don't seem to think that
trains pull.
The chancel at last--mind the step, Pa!--
I don't feel
embarrassed at all--
But, my! What's the minister saying?
Oh, I
know, that part 'bout Saint Paul.
I hope my position is graceful--

How awkwardly Nelly Dane stood!
"Not lawfully be joined together,

Now speak"--as if any one would.
Oh, dear, now it's my turn to
answer--
I do wish that Pa would stand still.
"Serve him, love,
honor, and keep him"--
How sweetly he says it--I will.
Where's
Pa?--there, I knew he'd forget it
When the time came to give me
away--
"I, Helena, take thee--love--cherish--
And"--well, I can't
help it,--"obey."
Here, Maud, take my bouquet--don't drop it--
I
hope Charley's not lost the ring!
Just like him!--no--goodness, how
heavy!
It's really an elegant thing.
It's a shame to kneel down in
white satin--
And the flounce real old lace--but I must--
I hope that
they've got a clean cushion,
They're usually covered with dust.
All
over--ah, thanks!--now, don't fuss, Pa!--
Just throw back my veil,
Charley--there!
Oh, bother! Why couldn't he kiss me
Without
mussing up all my hair!
Your arm, Charley, there goes the organ--

Who'd think there would be such a crowd!
Oh, I mustn't look round,
I'd forgotten,
See, Charley, who was it that bowed?
Why--it's Nellie
Allaire, with her husband--
She's awfully jealous, I know,
Most all
of my things were imported,

And she had a home-made trousseau.

And there's Annie Wheeler--Kate Hermon--
I didn't expect her at all--

If she's not in that same old blue satin
She wore at the Charity Ball!

Is that Fanny Wade?--Edith Pommeton--
And Emma, and Jo--all
the girls!
I knew they'd not miss my wedding--
I hope they'll all
notice my pearls.
Is the carriage there?--give me my cloak, Jane,

Don't get it all over my veil--
No! you take the other seat, Charley--

I need all of this for my trail.
III.
DIVORCE.
A.D., 1886.
The Club Window.

"Yes, I saw her pass with 'that scoundrel'--
For heaven's sake, old
man, keep cool!
No end of the fellows are watching--
Go easy,
don't act like a fool!
'Parading your shame'!--I don't see it.
It's hers
now, alone; for at last
You drove her to