ken set
By me upon her slender finger?
Or in the dance
Do her eyes glance
At it sometimes,--and sometimes linger?

Be, silver star,
Particular,
And do not be afraid of hurting.
I know her well,
And truth to tell,
I fear my lady love is flirting.

A Slight Surprise.

Come, lovely Laura! strike the lyre,
And I will sing a song to thee
That will thy maiden heart inspire
With love, and love alone for me.

Why hesitate? Come, strike the lyre!
Down where the chord is minor D.
Of wooing thee I'll never tire.
Good gracious! Why do you strike me?

Past vs. Present.

Through all the days I courted her
My memory fondly floats,
When love and I exhorted her
To read, re-read my notes.

But now I love her ten times more,
And my soul fairly gloats
To think that my hard times are o'er,--
For now she pays my notes.

The Usual Way.

Three young maidens sat in a row,
With three grim dragons behind 'em;
And each of these maidens had a young beau,
And they all of 'em made 'em mind 'em.

These three maidens are married now;
In three brown-stone fronts you'll find 'em.
But ever since the very first row
They can none of 'em make 'em mind 'em.

A Difference in Style.

Sweet Phyllis sat upon a stile,
With love and me beside her,
Her red lips in a pouting smile.
A pout? Her eyes belied her.

My thoughts were merry as the day,--
And though the joke was shocking,--
I shouted quick, and turned away:
"A spider's on your stocking!"

The fun, of course, I did not see,
But heard an exclamation
That sounded much like "Gracious me!"
And guessed the consternation.

Then Phyllis sat upon the style
Of men who would deride her;
But she no longer sits the while
With love and me beside her.

Afraid.

Down the broad stairs,
Stranger to cares,
My love comes tripping and smiling and free;
The snows on her breast
Are a blush unconfessed.
I wonder what fate has in waiting for me?

My heart seems to throb
Like a broken-paced cob;
I fear I'm a coward in love, as they say.
She's commencing to laugh;
How the fellows will chaff.
By Jove, I'm not going to ask her to-day.

Ye Retor