But dem dat try ter tote erroun' er great big las' ye'r's shote, An' do lack dey hain't got hit dar-hit mek me t'ar my coat. Virginia Frazer Boyle. Ye Laste Wylle and Testymente of Hyr Trewe Luvyer I, HYR Trewe Luvyer, ryche butte in yntente, Beeyng of sounde and, eke, dysposeyng mynde, Welle knoweyng Dethe may clayme me when ynclyned, Declayre thys my laste wylle and testymente, To witte: One Herte whych throbbes for Hyr alone; Item, One Soule-ye halle-marque is Hyr Owne; Item, One Luve whych doth my lyfe uppelyftButte, by Luv'ss Bowe! I gave Hyr these long syne; Soe I confyrme my former deedes of gyfte And bidde Hyr tayke whate'er She wylle of myne. William E. P. French. A Question As Wisdom, at his task applied, Tricked out in guise of courtly page, She smiled, and tossed the wondering sage He left his scroll, he closed his book,- And since the day his heart has known Margaret Ridgely Schott. Ballade of the Melancholy Bard No more for me are gauds or gear; Without my threshold, hungerly, The wolf cries loud for all to hear, And tradesmen lurk with threat and plea. Alas, not thus it used to be! Erstwhile the magazines liked well My lines of dark intensity; Now only comic verse will sell. A melancholy bard, the sear, Sad songs of life meant bread to me. Death and disease, things dank and drear, Drew coin into my treasury. Why should the magazines agree My muse rhymes only doubt and fear Or sing a heartbreak wittily! L'ENVOI OH, editor, this prayer to thee: Theodosia Garrison. Train-time ONE summer, when my funds were low, I went where Northern breezes blow It was the last-or should have been, Had fructified his native talents; But daily, as each passing train Stopped, while the engine puffed derision, The band struck up in such a strain Of joyous sound that (I 'll explain That distance caused its charm to gain) There came of gay delights a vision; And those whose tickets took them past Mourned o'er lost joys unknown and vast. Nor did they dream, as on their way That not a note that band would play, Until the next train passed the station. |