I know my speech is mum-mum-mum-mum-marred,
But still my heart beats tut-tut-tut-tut-true;
And that's what mum-mum-makes it very hard
To sus-sus-say, my love, a-dud-dud-dieu.
So tut-tut-take this sonnet from your bard,
Until to-morrow bub-bub-brings me you!

Joking

ANONYMOUS.

We had paused to watch the quiver,
Of faint moonbeams on the river,
By the gate.

We had heard something calling
And a heavy dew is falling,
Yet we wait.

It is no doubt very silly
To stay out in all this chilly
Evening mist.

Still I linger hesitating,

For her lips are plainly waiting
To be kissed.

So I stooped to take possession
Of the coveted concession

On the spot.

But she draws back with discreetness,
Saying with tormenting sweetness,
"I guess not.'

Her whole manner is provoking;
"Oh, well, I was only joking,"
I reply;

She looks penitently pretty,
As she answers: "What a pity!
So was I."

The Dreams

BY FRANK L. STANTON.

Just keep on a’dreamin'

I.

Of the roses of the May,

The clouds can't rain the roses

Of your dreams away.

Deep in the winter, with the daisies,

You can still have holiday

And weave the icy snowflakes into blossoms!

Just keep on a'dreamin'

II.

For all the winter's blight,

The bee knows where the bloom is,
And the lilacs are in sight;

And dream your soul forever
To meadows of delight,

And weave the icy snowflakes into blossoms!

Playing

ANONYMOUS.

A cow and a bull wanted something to do!
Moo-moo-moo!-something to do!

"O! let us do something that's perfectly new!
Moo-moo-moo!-perfectly new!"

"Let's play that we're people," said Billy the Bull, Moo-moo-moo!-said Billy the Bull!

"Let's dress up like dandies, of fun we're so full! Moo-moo-moo!-of fun we're so full!"

"I'll be a lady," said Kitty the Cow, Moo-moo-moo!-said Kitty the Cow!

"And you'll be a gentleman-if you know how! Moo-moo-moo!-if you know how!"

And they rollicked and romped, as I've heard it said,
Moo-moo-moo!-I've heard it said;

Till the farmer's boy caught them and sent them to bed, Moo-moo-moo!-sent them to bed!

On a Visit

BY MARIE LOUISE TOMPKINS.

When I

[In Harper's Weekly.]

go to my Gram'ma's an'

She gets done kissin' me,

I wonder what's to happen nex'.

(Don't have to 'cite no "Golden Tex'"
At Gram'ma's-no, sir-ee!)

My Gram'ma, she puts on her specs
(That's so's 'at she can see).
"More like his father ev'ry day;

Don't favor his ma's folks," she'll say,
"A mite, it 'pears to me.'

My Gran'pa, when we go outdoors

To give th' horse his feed,

Stands me up 'gainst th' big barn door
An' marks it where I've grow'd some more.
I'm "growin' like a weed!"

My Gram'ma knows it's dreffle hard

For busy folks like me

To have to stop an' take a nap,

An' so I sleep right on her lap;

An' after-we go see
If Mr. Gingersnap is home-

He has a roun', tin house-
An' I can "help myse'f to some,"
An' mus'n't drop a single crum',
So's not to call th' mouse.

My Gram'pa says I'll help him lots
If I'll hunt 'round an' see
W'ich pocket's got his wintergreens
An' peppermints-I know he means
His candy! Some's for me!

W'en I'm all grow'd up tall an' big
I don' know w'ich I'll be-
A Gram'ma or a Gram'pa, 'cause
They're bof so good to me!

Lides to Bary Jade

ANONYMOUS.

The bood is beabig brighdly love,
The sdars are shidig, too;
While I abb gazing dreabily

Add thigkig, love, of you;
You caddot, oh, you caddot kdow,
By darlig, how I biss you-
(Oh, whadt a fearful cold I've got―
Ck-tish-u! Ck-ck-tish-u!)

I'b sittig id the arbor, love,

Where you sat by by side,

Whed od that calb, Autubdal dight
You said you'd be by bride.
Oh, for wud bobedt to caress
Add tederly to kiss you;
Budt do! we're beddy biles apart-
(Ho-rash-o! Ck-ck-tish-u!)

This charbig evedig brigs to bide
The tibe whed first we bet;

It seebs budt odly yesterday,

I thigk I see you yet.

Oh, tell be, ab I sdill your owd?
By hopes, oh, do dot dash theb!

(Codfoud by cold, 'tis gettig worse-
Ck-tish-u! Ck-ck-thrash-eb!)

Good-by, by darlig Bary Jade,
The bid-dight hour is dear,
Add it is hardly wise by love
For be to ligger here!
The heavy dews are fallig fast;
A fod good-dight I wish you;
(Ho-rash-o-there it is agaid-
Ck-tish-u! Ck-ck-trash-eb!)

A Shy Little Maid

A love-lorn lad wooed a coy maid once,
All of a summer's day he pled,

Oft he spoke of the bonds of love-the dunce!
And shyly she shook her head.

When from his heart hope had almost fled,
He spoke of bonds he had in town,
Still the silly little maiden shook her head,
But she shook it up and down.

-Anonymous.

Watchin' the Sparkin**

BY FRED EMERSON BROOKS.

Say, Jim, ye wanter see the fun?
Jemimy's sparkin's jess begun!
Git deown-this box won't hold but one
Fer peekin' through the winder!
Yeou stay down thar jess whar ye be;

I'll tell ye all thar is to see;

Then you'll enjoy it well as me;

An' deon't yeou try to hinder!

[From "Old Ace and Other Poems." Forbes & Co.]