Something Else Again Part 4

I hope that doubly blows the gale, With billows twice as high as ever, So that the captain, fain to sail, May not achieve his mad endeavour!

The winds, when that they cease to roar, Shall find me wailing on the sh.o.r.e.

Yet merit thou my love or wrath, O False, I pray that Galatea May smile upon thy watery path!

A pleasant trip,--that's the idea.

Light of my life, there never shall For me be any other gal.

And sailors, as they hasten past, Will always have to hear my query: "Where have you seen my Cynthia last?

Has anybody seen my dearie?"

I'll shout: "In Malden or Marquette Where'er she be, I'll have her yet!"

Fragment

_"Militis in galea nidum fecere columbae."_--PETRONIUS

Within the soldier's helmet see The nesting dove; Venus and Mars, it seems to me, In love.

On the Uses of Adversity

_"Nam nihil est, quod non mortalibus afferat usum."_--PETRONIUS

Nothing there is that mortal man may utterly despise; What in our wealth we treasured, in our poverty we prize.

The gold upon a sinking s.h.i.+p has often wrecked the boat, While on a simple oar a s.h.i.+pwrecked man may keep afloat.

The burglar seeks the plutocrat, attracted by his dress-- The poor man finds his poverty the true preparedness.

After Hearing "Robin Hood"

The songs of Sherwood Forest Are lilac-sweet and clear; The virile rhymes of merrier times Sound fair upon mine ear.

Sweet is their sylvan cadence And sweet their simple art.

The balladry of the greenwood tree Stirs memories in my heart.

O braver days and elder With mickle valour dight, How ye bring back the time, alack!

When Harry Smith could write!

Maud Muller Mutatur

In 1909 toilet goods were not considered a serious matter and no special department of the catalogs was devoted to it. A few perfumes and creams were scattered here and there among bargain goods.

In 1919 an a.s.sortment of perfumes that would rival any city department store is shown, along with six pages of other toilet articles, including rouge and eyebrow pencils.

_--From "How the Farmer Has Changed in a Decade: Toilet Goods," in Farm and Fireside's advertis.e.m.e.nt._

Maud Muller, on a summer's day, Powdered her nose with _Bon Sachet_.

Beneath her lingerie hat appeared Eyebrows and cheeks that were well veneered.

Singing she rocked on the front piazz, To the tune of "The Land of the Sky Blue Jazz."

But the song expired on the summer air, And she said "This won't get me anywhere."

The judge in his car looked up at her And signalled "Stop!" to his brave chauffeur.

He smiled a smile that is known as broad, And he said to Miss Muller, "h.e.l.lo, how's Maud?"

"What sultry weather this is? Gee whiz!"

Said Maud. Said the judge, "I'll say it is."

"Your coat is heavy. Why don't you shed it?

Have a drink?" said Maud. Said the judge, "You said it."

And Maud, with the joy of bucolic youth, Blended some gin and some French vermouth.

Maud Muller sighed, as she poured the gin, "I've got something on Whittier's heroine."

"Thanks," said the judge, "a peppier brew From a fairer hand was never knew."

And when the judge had had number 7, Maud seemed an angel direct from Heaven.

And the judge declared, "You're a lovely girl, An' I'm for you, Maudie, I'll tell the worl'."

And the judge said, "Marry me, Maudie dearie?"

And Maud said yes to the well known query.

And she often thinks, in her rustic way, As she powders her nose with _Bon Sachet_,

"I never'n the world would 'a got that guy, If I'd waited till after the First o' July."

And of all glad words of prose or rhyme, The gladdest are, "Act while there yet is time."