Will sure afford a much more free Mode of communication. I'm tantalized and cribbed and checked I know a style more brief, direct— By permission. H. C. BUNNER. "POSSUM "-I CAN. HER eyes are as blue as the heart of a berg; If they melted an instant, it was not in ruth I've wondered ofttimes-she's so frostily fair— If blood in her veins really ran; While sipping an ice I've asked myself where Ice ended and woman began. "My heart," she once told me, “is dead as a stone, Or missing in Nature's nice plan; Some women, perhaps, can not live without hearts," Her eyes spoke a haughty "I can." The stingiest sultan would lay at her feet Her coach, of all turn-outs this year at the Was drawn by the handsomest span; Her crest on its panels, a leopard passant, Her motto is "Possum "—I can. Regarding the carriage with critical air "Some folks, maybe, can't see no difference between Dat ting and a 'possum--I can. "Why, dat ain't no 'possum; it's more like a cat, Or Spot, dar, your pert black-and-tan : I ought to know 'possums-I'se hunted 'em till Each 'possum in Georgia knows Dan. "Curusest ob varmints dar is in dis world Is 'possums and women," said Dan; 'Dey's nebber so sleek, so indif'rent, and cool, As when dey's deceibing some man. "I 'members de fust one dat ever I cotchedIt tried de same little ole plan: I found it like dead at the foot ob a tree; "Was walking away when it opened one eye, Says I, 'Missus 'Possum, I can.'" The tale was a short one, and not too refined, As told by our swart Caliban : It fed, by the thought it aroused in my mind, Could she play at 'possum, her heart all alive Worth love and worth trust, can I credit the thought? My heart made me answer- “I can.” Her soul is alive, and now tell me, my heart, Canst rise to the fate like a man, Receiving thy doom or thy bliss from her lips? Again I heard, "Possum-I can." "You can love?" The answer is easily guessed (Fit rallying-cry for a clan), It came with a kiss, and a ring with the crest A leopard: 'twas "Possum-I can!" LIZZIE W. CHAMPNEY. PAST AND PRESENT; OR, ROMANCE VERSUS REALITY. A Duet. HE (shutting his Froissart with a slap). "OH, for the days of olden time, The champion roved through every clime SHE (smiling maliciously). "Ha, ha! nice figure you'd have made |