A Modern Courtship.

Why turn from me thus with such petulant pride,     When I ask thee, sweet Edith, to be my bride;     When I offer the gift of heart fond and true,     And with loyalty seek thy young love to woo?     With patience I've waited from week unto week,     And at length I must openly, candidly speak.     But why dost thou watch me in doubting surprise,     Why thus dost thou raise thy dark, deep, melting eyes?     Can'st thou wonder I love thee, when for the last year     We have whispered and flirted - told each hope and fear;     When I've lavished on thee presents costly and gay,     And kissed thy fair hands at least six times each day?     What! Do I hear right? So those long sunny hours     Spent wand'ring in woods or whispering in bowers,     Our love-making ardent in prose and in rhyme,     Was just only a method of passing the time!     A harmless flirtation - the fashion just now,     To be closed, by a smile, or a jest, or a bow!     Ah, believe me, fair Edith, with me 'twas not so,     And I would I had known this but six months ago;     I would not have wasted on false, luring smiles,     On graces coquettish and cold, studied wiles,     True love that would give thee a life for thy life,     And guarded and prized thee, a fond, worshipped wife.     Oh I thou'rt pleased now to whisper my manners are good,     And my smiles such as maiden's heart rarely withstood,     My age just the thing - nor too young nor too old -     My character faultless, naught lacking but gold,     And to-day might I claim e'en thy beauty so rare     If good Uncle John would but make me his heir.     Many thanks, my best Edith! I now understand     For what thou art willing, to barter thy hand:     A palace-like mansion with front of brown stone,     In some splendid quarter to fashion well known,     Svres china, conservatory, furniture rare,     Unlimited pin-money, phaeton and pair.     It is well, gentle lady! The price is not high     With a figure like thine, such a hand, such an eye,     Most brilliant accomplishments, statuesque face,     Manners, carriage distingu and queenlike in grace, -     Nothing wanting whatever, save only a heart,     But, instead, double portions of cunning and art.     Ah! well for me, lady, I have learned in good time     To save myself misery - you, sordid crime.     I will garner the love that so lately was thine     For one who can give me a love true as mine;     But learn ere we part, Edith, peerless and fair,     Uncle John has just died and has left me his heir!