A KISS IN THE DARK.

WHICH I wish to remark,

That a pleasure in vain

Is a kiss in the dark

When it leaveth a stain:

And a maid who strikes quickly her colours

When pressed, I shall never maintain.

It was at a "surprise,"

Where fair ladies are found

To kill time, while it flies,

With their beaux, who were bound

On having a social re-union,

At the cost of—well, more than a pound.

Just here let me say

To the ladies below,

Who in polka display

Their fantastic light tow,

That their husbands, upstairs, also "poker"

Yes, ladies, you well may cry "Owe!"

If the husbands but knew

How their wives flirt below,

They would sing to them—"Glou!"

For they'd stick to them so

That the popinjays all would look elsewhere,

Nor want for a trip of the toe.

In the waltz I embraced

A fair maid with soft eyes;

O! the size of her waist

Made me waste many sighs:

And I likened her cheeks to red roses,

And whispered, "Sweet love never dyes."

Then together we strayed

In the light of the moon,

Where I kissed that sweet maid;

She pretended to swoon,

But her faint was a feint, so I kissed her

Again, for I relished the boon,

Back again on the floor,

With my sweetheart I danced,

While the people there wore

Merry smiles, as they glanced

At my partner, so stayed—in her manner,

And at me, so completely entranced.

When my love turned around

I was shocked at the sight;

Where the roses were found,

One had met with a blight;

While a cheek was still blooming and rosy,

The other was fearfully white.

From my good-looking lass,

Filled with fright, I straight flew

To a bad looking-glass,

Where I gazed: then I knew

That my nose, which was formerly turn-up,

Was radish—bright crimson in hue.

Which is why I remark,

That a pleasure in vain

Is a kiss in the dark

When it leaveth a stain;

And a maiden who runs when you kiss her,

Is fast—which I'll ever maintain.

Merry Folks.