LINES IN PLEASANT PLACES.
VI.—Kew Gardens.
In the gardens at Kew
It were certainly sweet
To be wand'ring with you,
Far from city and street;
'Twere the one thing, dear Nellie, my joy and content to complete
In the gardens at Kew.
In the gardens at Kew,
If my way I might take
By the water with you,
Oh! how merry we'd make,—
I am sure you would dote on the dear little ducks in the lake
In the gardens at Kew.
In the gardens at Kew,
Having tea à la fraises,
We would cheerfully stew
'Neath the fierce solar rays,
And in "eloquent silence" you'd meet my affectionate gaze
In the gardens at Kew.
In the gardens at Kew
We would sit in the shade
For an hour or two,
Without chaperone's aid,
And your head on my shoulder (who knows?) might be lovingly laid
In the gardens at Kew.
In the gardens at Kew,
Far away from the crowd,
Though I'm longing for you,
To stern Fate I have bowed:
For it grieves me, dear Nellie, to tell you, "No dogs are allowed"
In the gardens at Kew!
NOT MASTER OF HIMSELF THOUGH CHINA FALL.
["The Emperor (of China) is still cursed with the violent temper of his adolescence, and "breaks things."—"Times" Correspondent at Pekin.
Oh! is this announcement plain truth?
Or is it mere genial mockery?
And what does this choleric youth
Of China thus break—is it crockery?
It does seem unfitting, you know—
At least as we Westerners see things—
That the lord of Souchong and Pekoe
Should be guilty of smashing up tea-things!
Of course, if he had an idea
Of breaking the Japanese bondage,
Or breaking their hold on Korea,—
Well, youth is a fiery and fond age,
And old age might find an excuse
For breaking the peace; but kind wishes
Can hardly invent an excuse
For breaking the plates and the dishes.
He is youthful, like little Ah Sid,
It would be very mean to malign a
Mere boy; yet a true Chinese kid
Should not start with the smashing of China!