GWENDOLEN'S HOBBIES.
Gwendolen, when we were wed,
In her artless manner said,
"Dear, I think I'd better
Choose a hobby, lest I find
Household duties cramp the mind."
Foolishly, I let her.
Books at first were her delight;
Gwendolen grew erudite;
Vain were my petitions,
Till in scientific terms
I dilated on the germs
Haunting first editions.
Then, for one expensive week,
China (guaranteed antique)—
Derby, Sèvres and Lustre—
Charmed her, till our Abigail
Washed them in a kitchen pail,
Dried them with a duster!
Foreign stamps her time engrossed
For a busy month at most;
I endured—and waited.
Who so proud as Gwendolen
Of each gummy specimen
Till the craze abated?
Later (if I seem severe,
Gwendolen, forgive me, dear!)
Art proved all-compelling;
Post-Impressionist indeed
Were the colour-schemes decreed
For our modest dwelling.
With her last experiment
Gwendolen appears content;
Heaven grant she may be!
For, of all the hobbies run
By my wife, there isn't one
Suits her like a baby.