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a6)

Beauty and the Beast.

H ! wasn’t she a beauty! a little charming beauty !
And wasn’t he an ugly, a large atrocious beast ?
How could she ever fancy (but women take such fancies) ;
For he was most forbidding, just to say the very least ?

She met him out a-walking,
And somehow they got talking,
I cannot tell you where.
At first she quite forsook him,
For she by chance mistook him,
For some stray dancing bear.
She found him gay and sprightly,
And with him tripped on lightly—
This was enough for one day.
But he followed to her cottage,
And they lunched off treacle-pottage,
And appointments made for
Sunday.
This day they crossed the bean-field,
To go to Doctor Greenfield,
And made love all the way.
She found him most engaging,
His fervour there’s no caging :
Says he, ‘ Let’s name the day,
For earnest is my passion,
Love at first sight’s my fashion.
Be mine, you little duck !
For if you me deride, miss,
T’ll fly to suicide, miss.
Oh, say that I’m in luck!’
Then drooping dropped her eyelids,
Those soft yet dark-fringed shy lids:
‘I think Pll ask mamma,

But you'll promise not to beat me,
And never never eat me,
If I persuade papa ?’
“No, dear, I'll never tease thee,
If you will strive to please me,
And won't say “Nasty beast !”’
‘Then I your lot will share, dear;
Will bear, yes and forbear, dear ;
Nor doubt you in the least.’
“Now, darling, I am happy!’
Cried Bruin, and a tap he
Made on his bounding heart.
‘One hug in my embrace, love,
A warm and snuggish place, love,
From which you ne’er shall part.’
A grand salute he gave her ;
She wished he’d been a shaver,
His bristles tickled so.
But the Fates are not propitious,
And Dame Fortune seems grown
vicious—
Her parents bid them part.
But how can slte endure it ?
Her anguish, what can cure it?
The bear will keep her heart.
Then expired her last fond hope,
When she’s tempted to elope
In most unpropitious weather.