The Meeting of The Clabberhuses III Once to a crowded social fête Both these much-titled people came, And each perceived, when introduced, They had the selfsame name. Their hostess said, when first they met: My good friend Mr. Clabberhuse ""Tis very strange," said she to him, "Such an unusual name!— A name so very seldom heard, That we should bear the same." "Indeed, 'tis wonderful," said he, "And I'm surprised the more, Because I never heard the name Outside my home before. "But now I come to look at you," "I've been so busy with my clubs And in my various spheres I have not seen you now," she said, "For over fourteen years." "That's just the way it's been with me, And then they both politely bowed, 245 Sam Walter Foss. THE IDEAL HUSBAND TO HIS WIFE WE'VE lived for forty years, dear wife, And walked together side by side, And you to-day are just as dear One long, sweet honeymoon of joy, Without the least alloy. I've smoothed all boulders from our path, That I was right and you were wrong. No mad diversity of creed Has ever sundered me from thee; For I permit you evermore To borrow your ideas of me. Our love forevermore endures; For I permit that you should take My views and creeds, and make them yours. And thus I let you have my way, And thus in peace we toil along, For I am willing to admit That I am right and you are wrong. And when our matrimonial skiff Strikes snags in love's meandering stream, I lift our shallop from the rocks, And float as in a placid dream. For I shall always let thee do, In generous love, just what I please. That you are wrong and I am right. Sam Walter Foss. If They Meant All They Said 247 DISTICHS WISELY a woman prefers to a lover a man who neglects her. This one may love her some day; some day the lover will not. There are three species of creatures who when they seem coming are going, When they seem going they come: Diplomats, women, and crabs. As the meek beasts in the Garden came flocking for Adam to name them, Men for a title to-day crawl to the feet of a king. What is a first love worth except to prepare for a secon What does the second love bring? Only regret for the first. John Hay. THE HEN-ROOST MAN DE Hen-roost Man he'll preach about Paul, An' he ain't by 'isself in dat, in dat― Ruth McEnery Stuart. IF THEY MEANT ALL THEY SAID CHARM is a woman's strongest arm; And how tears heighten woman's powers! A woman lives by intuition. Timidity in girls is nice. My cook is so afraid of mice. To feel your cook's afraid of mice. Alice Duer Miller. THE MAN A MAN said to the universe, "However," replied the universe, "The fact has not created in me Stephen Crane. A THOUGHT IF all the harm that women have done The sky could not enfold it, It could not be lighted nor warmed by the sun; Would puzzle the devil, And keep him in fuel while Time's wheels run. But if all the harm that's been done by men The Knife-Grinder THE MUSICAL ASS THE fable which I now present, A stupid ass this morning went And cropped his food, and was content, A flute, which some oblivious gent 66 Hurrah, hurrah!" exclaimed the brute, A fool, in spite of nature's bent, May shine for once,-by accident. 249 Tomaso de Yriarte. THE KNIFE-GRINDER Friend of Humanity "NEEDY Knife-grinder! whither are you going? "Weary Knife-grinder! little think the proud ones, "Tell me, Knife-grinder, how you came to grind knives? Was it the squire? or parson of the parish? Or the attorney? |