Page:Once a Week Jun to Dec 1864.pdf/612

Nov. 19, 1864.]

Last year I trod these fields with Di,

And that’s the simple reason why

They now look arid:

Then Di was fair and single—how

Unfair it seems on me, for now

Di’s fair and married!

In bliss we roved, I scorn’d the song

Which says that tho’ young Love is strong,

The Fates are stronger:

Then breezes blew a boon to men—

Then buttercups were bright—and then

This grass was longer.

That day I saw, and much esteem’d

Di’s ankles—which the clover seem’d

Inclined to smother:

It twitch’d—and soon untied (for fun)

The ribbons of her shoes; first one,

And then the other.

Tis said that virgins augur some

Misfortune, if their shoestrings come

To grief on Friday:

And so did Di—and so her pride

Decreed that shoestrings so untied

Are “so untidy!”

Of course I knelt, with fingers deft

I tied the right, and then the left;

Says Di,—“This stubble

Is very stupid, as I live,

I’m shocked, I’m quite ashamed to give

You so much trouble.”

For answer I was fain to sink

To what most swains would say and think

Were Beauty present;

Don’t mention such a simple act.

A trouble? not the least. In fact

It’s rather pleasant.”

I trust that love will never tease

Poor little Di, or prove that he’s

A graceless rover;

She’s happy now—as Mrs. Smith,—

But less polite when walking with

Her chosen lover.

Farewell! And tho’ no moral clings

To Di’s soft eyes and sandal strings,

We’ve had our quarrels;

I think that Smith is thought an ass,

But know that when they walk in grass

She wears balmorals.