Poems of Cheer

<h2><SPAN name="page103"></SPAN><span class="pagenum"></span>A REMINISCENCE</h2> <p class="poetry">I saw the wild honey-bee kissing a rose<br/> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A wee one, that grows<br/> Down low on the bush, where her sisters above<br/> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Cannot see all that&rsquo;s done<br/> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As the moments roll on.<br/> Nor hear all the whispers and murmurs of love.</p> <p class="poetry">They flaunt out their beautiful leaves in the sun,<br/> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And they flirt, every one,<br/> With the wild bees who pass, and the gay butterflies.<br/> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And that wee thing in pink&mdash;<br/> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Why, they never once think<br/> That she&rsquo;s won a lover right under their eyes.</p> <p class="poetry">It reminded me, Kate, of a time&mdash;you know when!<br/> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; You were so petite then,<br/> Your dresses were short, and your feet were so small.<br/> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Your sisters, Maud-Belle<br/> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And Madeline&mdash;well,<br/> They <i>both</i> set their caps for me, after that ball.</p> <p class="poetry"><SPAN name="page104"></SPAN><span class="pagenum">p. 104</span>How the blue eyes and black eyes smiled up in my face!<br/> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &rsquo;Twas a neck-and-neck race,<br/> Till that day when you opened the door in the hall,<br/> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And looked up and looked down,<br/> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; With your sweet eyes of brown,<br/> And <i>you</i> seemed so tiny, and <i>I</i> felt so tall.</p> <p class="poetry">Your sisters had sent you to keep me, my dear,<br/> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Till they should appear.<br/> Then you were dismissed like a child in disgrace.<br/> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; How meekly you went!<br/> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But your brown eyes, they sent<br/> A thrill to my heart, and a flush to my face.</p> <p class="poetry">We always were meeting some way after that.<br/> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; You hung up my hat,<br/> And got it again, when I finished my call.<br/> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sixteen, and <i>so</i> sweet!<br/> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Oh, those cute little feet!<br/> Shall I ever forget how they tripped down the hall?</p> <p class="poetry">Shall I ever forget the first kiss by the door,<br/> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Or the vows murmured o&rsquo;er,<br/> Or the rage and surprise of Maud-Belle?&nbsp; Well-a-day,<br/> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; How swiftly time flows,<br/> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And who would suppose<br/> That a <i>bee</i> could have carried me so far away.</p> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />