I was silly to wear that green satin,
      It’s a shame that I’ve spotted it so—­
    All down the front breadth—­it’s just ruined—­
      No trimming will hide that, I know.

    That’s me!  Have a costume imported,
      And spoil it the very first night!—­
    I might make an overskirt of it,
      That shade looks so lovely with white.

    How horrid my eyes look!  Good gracious! 
      I hope that I didn’t catch cold
    Sitting out on the stairs with Will Stacy;
      If Ma knew that, wouldn’t she scold!

    She says he’s so fast—­well, who isn’t?—­
      Dear! where is Marie?—­how it rains!—­
    I don’t care; he’s real nice and handsome. 
      And his talk sounds as if he’d some brains.

    I do wonder what is the reason,
      That good men are all like Joe Price,
    So poky, and stiff, and conceited,
      And fast ones are always so nice.—­

    Just see how Joe acted last evening! 
      He didn’t come near me at all,
    Because I danced twice with Will Stacy
      That night at the Charity ball.

    I didn’t care two pins to do it;
      But Joe said I mustn’t,—­and so—­
    I just did—­he isn’t my master,
      Nor sha’n’t be, I’d like him to know.

    I don’t think he looked at me even,
      Though just to please him I wore green,—­
    And I’d saved him three elegant dances,—­
      I wouldn’t have acted so mean.

    The way he went on with Nell Hadley;
      Dear me! just as if I would care! 
    I’d like to see those two get married,
      They’d make a congenial pair!

    I’m getting disgusted with parties;—­
      I think I shall stop going out;
    What’s the use of this fussing for people
      I don’t care the least bit about.

    I did think that Joe had some sense once;
      But, my, he’s just like all the men! 
    And the way that I’ve gone on about him,—­
      Just see if I do it again!

    Only wait till the next time I see him,
      I’ll pay him back; wont I be cool! 
    I’ve a good mind to drop him completely—­
      I’ll—­yes I will—­go back to school.

    The bell!—­who can that be, I wonder!—­
      Let’s see—­I declare! why, it’s Joe!—­
    How long they are keeping him waiting! 
      Good gracious! why don’t the girl go!—­

    Yes—­say I’ll be down in a minute—­
      Quick, Marie, and do up my hair!—­
    Not that bow—­the green one—­Joe likes it—­
      How slow you are!—­I’ll pin it—­there!

    A ROMANCE OF THE SAW-DUST.

    Suthin’ to put in a story! 
      I couldn’t think of a thing,
    ‘N’ it’s nigh unto thirty year now
      Since fust I went in the ring. 
    “The life excitin’?” Thunder! 
      “Variety,”