CONVERSATIONAL
“HOW’S your father?” came the whisper,
Bashful Ned the silence breaking;
“Oh, he’s nicely,” Annie murmured,
Smilingly the question taking.
Conversation flagged a moment,
Hopeless Ned essayed another:
“Annie, I—I,” then a coughing,
And the question, “How’s your mother?”
“Mother? Oh, she’s doing finely!”
Fleeting fast was all forbearance,
When in low, despairing accents,
Came the climax, “How’s your parents?”
Anonymous.