POETRY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1266, 4 June 1896, Page 14

POETRY.

THE WAY WITH THE NEW WOMAN. She is beautiful, stately and tall, With reposeful and elegant airs ; You may not believe it, but yet, all tho same, She's tho girl that I kissed on tho stairs. She is studying Latin and Law; She is tracking old crimes to their lairs— Which is all very well while she doesn't forget Who kissed her, last night, on tho stairs. She's a woman that's newer than now ; She everything ventures and dares ; She'd preside at a club in a bicyclo suit, And she'd sit out a dance on the stairs ! Do you think I'm afraid ? Not a whit! I shan't kick at tho costume she wears— I have coaxed her to try orango blossoms and white—■ And she promised—last night on tho stairs! THE EMPTY CRIB. Lizzie Clakk Hardy. A little crib stands empty by my bed, Its downy pillows bear the impress still, Where, only yesterday, a baby head With tangled curls pressed close the dainty frill. And only yesterday a baby mouth With warm, red lips against my own was pressed : And, like, a bird flown from the far-off South, A tired baby nestled on my breast. I hold within my hand a .sunny curl, Clipped from the mass of shining, golden hair ; The angels envied me my baby girl, But will they lovo her, as I loved her, there? The littlo crib is empty, and I miss The crooning voice and clinging baby hands; And lifo is empty; yet I well know this— The angels loved her and God understands. —Farm and Field. THE PHILOSOPHY OF FLIRTATION. I sing the sweet romances of a day, The littlo loves that make lifo worth tho living ; The winning smiles wo meet with by tho way, And clasp of hands so gentle in tho giving. Let others love but once, and then for aye, Nor recognise again lovo with his quiver ; I'll stay to greet him twenty times a day Whene'er wo chanco to meet by road or river. And somo may scorn my creed, and some dospiso ; For all their railings 1 shall no'cr ho sorry ; I'll find a solace in naive Winnio's eyes. Or—better still—in kisses from fair Florrio. Who takos the little god in serious vein Will find the fraud out to his costto-morrow; I pluck his dainty shafts out without pain, Nor ever find a causo for any sorrow. To night's sweet whisper in tho lamp-lit hall Is all tho sweeter for its predecessor ; Nell is contest that I've forgotten all, And jokes with May at being hor successor. And as for that old age that most men fear, If my quiet den and firosido shall seom lonely, I know 1 never caused my wifo a tear, And May and Nell will gaily say, " If—only."

-Nethergate Nomad.

TIIE CHILDREN

Only to keep them so, Soft, warm and youug, The wee, feeble fingers, Tho babbling tongue. Tears that wo kiss away, Smiles that wo win, Careless of knowledge, As guiltless of sin.

Only to keep them so, Frank, true and pure, Of our full wisdom So lovingly sure. Our frown all they shrink from, Our fiat their law, Our store whence all gladness They fearlessly draw.

Only to keep them so, Sweet hands that cling, Sweet lips that laugh for us, Sweet tones that ring. Curls that we train to wavo, Feet that wo guide, Each fresh step a wonder, Each new word a pride.

Only to keep them so, Women an I men Aro tho Union that circled u.^ Lovingly then. (Initio and goo 1 to US, Patient ami strong, Guarding our weaknesses, Hearing us long.