Her Little Feet Now the first faction fight in ould Ireland, they say, 59 Some fought for the eighth-for the ninth more would die. And who wouldn't see right, sure they blacken'd his eye! At last, both the factions so positive grew, That each kept a birthday, so Pat then had two, Till Father Mulcahy, who showed them their sins, Said, No one could have two birthdays but a twins." Says he, "Boys, don't be fightin' for eight or for nine, bliss, And we keep up the practice from that day to this. Samuel Lover. HER LITTLE FEET HER little feet! . . . Beneath us ranged the sea, One shoe above the other danglingly, And lo! a Something exquisitely graded, The band was loud. A wild waltz melody Till she made room for some one. It was He! A sense of injury overmastered me. William Ernest Henley. SCHOOL If there is a vile, pernicious, Making man a senseless tool, And the wisdom of a mule; If there's anything improving Out of sight and make us great; James Kenneth Stephen. THE MILLENNIUM TO R. K. As long I dwell on some stupendous "Exactly So" 61 Monstr'-inform'-ingens-horrendous Demoniaco-seraphic Penman's latest piece of graphic. -ROBERT BROWNING. WILL there never come a season When the world shall cease to wonder And a boy's eccentric blunder When mankind shall be delivered When there stands a muzzled stripling, When the Rudyards cease from Kipling And the Haggards Ride no more? James Kenneth Stephen. "EXACTLY SO" A SPEECH, both pithy and concise, Marks a mind acute and wise; What speech, my friend, say, do you know, I have a dear and witty friend Who turns this phrase to every end; Or when a bore his ear assails, Is there remark on matters grave It saves the trouble of a thought— It has another charm, this phrase, Nor need the conscience feel distress, Each mortal loves to think he's right, Then, Christian, you may soothe your foe Whoe'er these lines may chance peruse, Of this more could my muse relate, Lady T. Hastings. Companions 63 COMPANIONS A TALE OF A GRANDFATHER I KNOW not of what we ponder'd Or made pretty pretence to talk, As, her hand within mine, we wander'd Tow'rd the pool by the lime-tree walk, While the dew fell in showers from the passion flowers And the blush-rose bent on her stalk. I cannot recall her figure: Was it regal as Juno's own? Or only a trifle bigger Than the elves who surround the throne Of the Faëry Queen, and are seen, I ween, By mortals in dreams alone? What her eyes were like, I know not: Or as straight as a beadle's wand? That I fail'd to remark;-it was rather dark Then the hand that reposed so snugly In mine, was it plump or spare? Was the countenance fair or ugly? My eyes were p'r'aps blurr'd; and besides I'd heard |