POPPING THE QUESTION. I knew by his looks what he'd come for: I plainly had seen from the first, It must come to this sooner or later; and I'd made up my mind for the worst. So I hid myself under the curtains, where the loving pai couldn't see me, In order to watch their proceedings, and hear what he said unto she. I saw he was fearfully nervous, that in fact he was suffering pain, By the way that he fussed with his collar, and poked all the chairs with his cane; Then he blushed; then he wouldn't look at her, but kept his eyes fixed on the floor, And took the unusual precaution of taking his seat near the door. He began, "It is-er-er-fine weather,-remarkable weath. er for May." Do you think so?" said she; "it is raining."-" Oh! so it is raining to-day. I meant, 'twill be pleasant to-morrow," he stammered; "erer-do you skate?" "Oh, yes!" she replied, “at the season; but isn't May rather too late?" The silence that followed was awful: he continued, “I see a sweet dove ('Twas only an innocent sparrow; but blind are the eyes of true love), "A dove of most beautiful plumage, on the top of that widespreading tree, Which reminds me,"--she sighed,-"O sweet maiden! which reminds me, dear angel, of thee." Her countenance changed in a moment: there followed a terrible pause: I felt that the crisis was coming, and hastily dropped on all fours, In order to see the thing better. His face grew as white as a sheet: He gave one spasmodic effort, and lifelessly dropped at her feet. She said What she said I won't tell you. She raised the poor wretch from the ground. I drew back my head for an instant what was that sound? Good heavens! Oh! I eagerly peered through the darkness,-for twilight had made the room dim, And plainly perceived it was kissing, and kissing not all done by him. I burst into loud fits of laughter: I know it was terribly mean; Still I couldn't resist the temptation to appear for a while on the scene. But she viewed me with perfect composure, as she kissed him again with a smile, And remarked, 'twixt that kiss and the next one, that--she'd known I was there all the while. RETURN OF THE HILLSIDE LEGION.-ETHE LYNN, What telegraphed word, Why eagerly gather the people; At crossing and gate Why flutters the flag on the steeple? Why, stranger, do tell- Since our sogers went marchin' away, To show the boys how We can welcome the Legion to-day. Bill Allendale's drum Will sound when they come, And there's watchers above on the hill, When the big bugles blow, To hurrah with a hearty good will. All the women folks wait With posies all drippin' with dew; The Legion shan't say We helped them away, And forgot them when service was through. My Jack 's comin' too, Hark, the rattle and roar of the train! Our sogers have come! Hurrah! for the boys home again. 'Stand aside! stand aside! Stepped off, and the Legion was back. In the space far and wide, As they welcomed the worn weary men; And the bugle was silent again. I asked Farmer Shore A question no more, For a sick soldier lay on his breast! While his hand, hard and brown, Stroked tenderly down, The locks of the weary at rest. ARCHIE DEAN.-GAIL HAMILTON. Would you laugh, or would you cry? Like my handsome Archie Dean, And should go to Kittie Carrol, Vowing all he had before? Prithee, tell me, would you cry, Always, in the old romances Those that pleased my girlish fancy, Who was never, never true; And when they were widely parted, Then she died, poor broken-hearted, Like a lily in the blast Say, would you, if you were me? True, I do love Archie Dean, Archie Dean! Archie Dean! It is writ on my heart, but o'er it now Is drifting the cold snow. Archie Dean! Archie Dean! There's a pain in my heart while I speak; I wonder if always the thought of your name Archie Dean! Archie Dean! I remember that you said Your name should be mine and I should be The happiest bride e'er wed. I little thought of a day like this But there goes the clock, the hour is near I'll go and dance and dance and dance I'll whirl before him as fast as I can, And I know that before the morn He'll wish that Kittie Carrol had never been born, And that he could be sitting again Close by my side in the green meadow lane, Vowing his love in a tender strain. But when I see him coming, I'll turn my eyes with softest glance On somebody else-then off in the dance KKKK And if he should happen to get the chance, For having been false to me he loves true, What you'd better do, Jennie Mars Not a bit. 'Tis the very thing he's after. But what is a man to do Why, the darling little innocents Ah! she was a pretty maiden, 'Tis the way he takes to woo her, By slyly showing to her, What a dashing, slashing beau is at her feet, And of all the pretty pratings About a woman's deathless loving And her ever faithful proving, And her womanly devotion, I've a very wicked notion That to carry off the one That Mary here is sighing for, Now if I were a man, Jennie Marsh! Jennie Marsh' For a day I'm a maiden, so I can't |