enough to bury him, and that he had never been obliged to any man for a sixpence. This was a Poor Relation.

MRS. SMITH.

BY FREDERICK LOCKER.

LAST year I trod these fields with Di,
And that's the simple reason why
They now seem 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 scorned the song

Which says

young Love is strong

that though young

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 esteemed
Di's ankles-which the clover seemed
Inclined to smother :

It twitched 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 actA trouble? not the least. In fact It's rather pleasant."

I trust that Love will never tease
Poor little Di, or prove that he'ş
A graceless rover,

She's happy now as Mrs. Smith

But less polite when walking with
Her chosen lover.

Heigh-ho! Although no moral clings To Di's soft eyes, and sandal strings, We've had our quarrels !—

I think that Smith is thought an ass,

I know that when they walk in

She wears balmorals.

grass