... . lhe maiden sat 111 a light canoe, Afloat 011 a mountain lake And a mad idea shot wildly through The brain of her lover (who sat there too), That he, in that self-same light canoe A stolen kiss would take. Now, the maiden sat there, unaware Of the plot that he had hatched And the mountain breezes played with her hair And fanned her cheek and her brow so fair, As she sat there still, quite ...

... . Batsman [talcing guard What guard is that, Umpire Rustic Umpire Yer can't better it, Zur. Batsman But what is it Rustic Umpire Yer can't better it, Zur. Batsman getting irate But what is it middle, leg, or what Rustic Umpire Well, I be damned if I knows ...

... ON A YOUTHFUL PORTRAIT OF 11. L. STEVENSON. A face of youth mature: a mouth of tender. Sad human sympathy, yet something stoic In clasp of lip wide eyes of calmest splendour, And brow serenely ample and heroic The features all lit with a sold ideal. O visionary boy what were you seeing, What hearing, as you stood thus midst the real Ere yet one master work of yours had being Is it a foolish ...

... OMAEIAN ECHOES. The Wheelman. An open sky, a road not over-rough, A seasoned pipe, and some good smoking stuff, A trusty wheel with perfect tyres and cranks, With these, methinlis, 'twere Paradise enough. The Yachtsman. A summer day upon a broad lagoon, A well-trimmed yacht and eke well-filled saloon, Some three or four congenial chums on board, If Heaven grant this I ask no further boon. The ...

... Take, oh take this grille away, And. then they will not say us nay, Stern legislators Battalions of bright eyes, whose glances Are beauty's most effective lances, What boot these when the war doth rage Beneath, and we are in a cage Behind this grille So Phyllis, at the midnight hour, Murmured beneath St. Stephen's Tower In accents tearful. When, in the thickest of the fray, Her champion Mac ...

... [The Queen says that a new game for evening parties is as follows: All the young ladies bring photographs of themselves taken when they were babies, or, at least, very young. These are arranged in a row, and the young man who can ich ntify the greatest number receives the prize.] You think it is a bunch of fluff, Until you 're simply told It's lovely woman in the rough, When scarce a ...

... . No gems have I, no armour old, No chased nor carven treasures, No spacious chambers, white and gold. Wherein to take my pleasures Upon my walls no fabric rare Of Persia's broidered dragons No cabinets of Dresden ware, Or mediaeval flagons. But- see, my Phyllis' golden hair Falls o'er her simple bodice For household gods what need I care, With such a household eoddess It. h. tithe king ton, ...

... . By a Palace Admirer. A long u-ag after Br owning.) Just for a husband called Justin she left us, Just for a circlet to stick on her hand Fled, and of pleasure completely bereft us, Wedded and won in a neighbouring land. All that he did was to take her and marry her, Though he scarce knew if her parents allowed. How all our hearts had gone in her service, All of our Cissy so boastfully proud ...

... B E II I N D II E 11 F A N. Behind her fan, all painted o'er With shepherds' maids and Loves galore. Her chin was lost her laces 'mid, While I, scarce knowing what I (lid, Glanced now at her, then at the floor. I felt that I could kneel before Even the very flowers she wore. Or but the glove of softest kid, Behind her fan. I longed, at once, to seek the door, And to remain and venture more, I ...

... . To Sweet Sixteen I herewith send A little birthday dividend 'Tis not in silver, cheque, nor gold 'Tis just a wish that Joy may mould Your life, that Fortune may attend. I sometimes think that one might mend The broken days if one could wend One's way across the lengthening wold To Sweet Sixteen. Then, Mistress mine, I pray thee, spend The days in gladness. Time will lend Its sombre shadows, ...

... THE ROETS IN ROOKLAND. A LITTLE BOOK. I picked it out among the lot Of scattered books upon the stand Half-worn, un treasured and forgot Something impelled, I knew not what, As I their dusty titles scanned, To pick it out among the lot Of books for sale at second-hand. Love Poems was the only word In faded gilt upon the cover The same sweet songs our mothers read Of skies and flowers and ...

... . The little Brent goes sad and slow Thin and defiled her currents go By fields that knew her pure and sweet, Below the bridge where lovers meet. What water-goddess spilled her first Out from a pitcher-flower reversed, And saw her spreading silverly Would scarcely know her creeping by. Stains sully her shrunk face and wan. Where are her water-lilies gone And where her sapphire kingfisher, A ...