GEORGE the point grew warm on;

Changed religion,

Like a pigeon,*

And became a Mormon !

* "Like a bird."-Slang expression.

A

MAIDEN sat at her window wide,

Pretty enough for a Prince's bride, Yet nobody came to claim her. She sat like a beautiful picture there, With pretty bluebells and roses fair, And jasmine-leaves to frame her. And why she sat there nobody knows; But this she sang as she plucked a rose, The leaves around her strewing:

"I've time to lose and power to choose; 'Tis not so much the gallant who woos, But the gallant's way of wooing!"

A lover came riding by awhile,

A wealthy lover was he, whose smile
Some maids would value greatly-
A formal lover, who bowed and bent,
With many a high-flown compliment,
And cold demeanour stately.

"You've still," said she to her suitor stern, "The 'prentice-work of your craft to learn, If thus you come a-cooing.

I've time to lose and power to choose; 'Tis not so much the gallant who woos, As the gallant's way of wooing!"

A second lover came ambling by-
A timid lad with a frightened eye

And a colour mantling highly.

He muttered the errand on which he'd come, Then only chuckled and bit his thumb,

And simpered, simpered shyly.

"No," said the maiden, "go your way;
You dare but think what a man would say,
Yet dare to come a-suing!

I've time to lose and power to choose;
'Tis not so much the gallant who woos,
As the gallant's way of wooing!"

A third rode up at a startling pace-
A suitor poor, with a homely face-

No doubts appeared to bind him.

He kissed her lips and he pressed her waist, And off he rode with the maiden, placed

On a pillion safe behind him.

And she heard the suitor bold confide
This golden hint to the priest who tied
The knot there's no undoing;

"With pretty young maidens who can choose,
'Tis not so much the gallant who woos,
As the gallant's way of wooing!"