A Girl-s Reverie

Mother says, -Be in no hurry,
Marriage oft means care and worry.-

Auntie says, with manner grave,
-Wife is synonym for slave.-

Father asks, in tones commanding,
-How does Bradstreet rate his standing? -

Sister, crooning to her twins,
Sighs, -With marriage care begins.-

Grandma, near life-s closing days,
Murmurs, -Sweet are girlhood-s ways.-

Maud, twice widowed (-sod and grass-)
Looks at me and moans -Alas! -

They are six, and I am one,
Life for me has just begun.

They are older, calmer, wiser:
Age should aye be youth-s adviser.

They must know - and yet, dear me,
When in Harry-s eyes I see

All the world of love there burning -
On my six advisers turning,

I make an answer, -Oh, but Harry
Is not like most men who marry.-

-Fate has offered me a prize,
Life with love means Paradise.-

-Life without it is not worth
All the foolish joys of earth.-

So, in spite of all they say,
I shall name the wedding day.