ON THE RINK.
HALF a mile, half a mile,
Half a mile onward,
On to the skating rink
Came the fair trio.
"Skates for the fair trio,
Oil them well before they go,"
Over the smooth rink
Slide the fair trio.
Forward the fair trio!
Was a false step made? No!
Not tho' they all knew
Some one had tumbled.
Theirs but to give a sigh,
Theirs but to let him lie,
Theirs but to pass him by,
Away o'er the rink
Glide the fair trio.
Admirers to right of them,
Admirers to left of them,
Admirers in front of them,
Wonder'd and wonder'd.
"Outside edge," and never fell,
Boldly they skate and well,
"Treble threes and Q.'s."
Any step you choose,—
Over the smooth rink
Glide the fair trio.
Flash'd all their eyes so bright,
Flash'd as they turned in air,
Wounding every fellow there,
With a glance to left and right,
Other girls envying.
"Waltzing" and "Mercury stroke,"
Straight through the line they broke,
Whirling and twirling,
Light as the fairy folk,
Twisting and turning,—
Then they skate back, but not,
Not alone the fair trio.
Admirers to right of them,
Admirers to left of them,
Admirers on all sides of them,
Wonder'd and wonder'd.
Refreshed with coffee and tea,
Sweet cake, but no "Cherry B."
They whom none excel,
They who deserve so well,
They who no scandal tell,
Away o'er the rink
Glide the fair trio.
"When can their beauty fade?"
Oh! the grand show they made,
All the rink wonder'd;
Applaud all the skill displayed,
Admire the fair trio,
Charming fair trio.
The Figaro, April 10, 1876.