WHY DON’T THE MEN PROPOSE?

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VIII, Issue 43, 24 October 1891, Page 507

WHY DON’T THE MEN PROPOSE?

Why don’t the men propose, mamma? Why don’t the men propose? Each seems just coming to the point, And then away he goes ; It is no fault of yours, mamma, That everybody knows; You f6te the finest men in town. Yet, oh ! they won’t propose. I’m sure I’ve done my best, mamma, To make a proper match ; For coronets and eldest sons I’m ever on the watch ; I’ve hopes when some distingue beau A glance upon me throws ; But though he’ll dance and smile and flirt, Alas ! he won’t propose. I’ve tried to win by languishing, And dressing like a blue ; I’ve bought big books and talk’d of them As if I’d read them through ! With hair cropp’d like a man, I've felt The heads of all the beaux ; But Spurzheim could not touch their hearts, And oh ! they won’t propose. I threw aside the books and thought That ignorance was bliss ; I felt convinced that men preferr'd A simple sort of Miss ; And so 1 lisp'd out nought beyond Plain * yesses ’ or plain ‘ noes,’ And wore a sweet unmeaning smile ; Yet, oh ! they won’t propose. Last night, at Lady Ramble's rout, I heard Sir Henry Ciale Exclaim, * Now I propose again— ’ I started turning pale ; I really thought my time was come, I blushed like any rose; But oh ! I found ’twas only at Ecarte he’d propose. And what is to be done, mamma ? < >h ! what is to be done ? I really have no time to lose, For I am thirty-one. At lialls I am too often left Where spinsters sit in rows ; Why don’t the men propose, mamma? \\ by don’t the »

Thomas Haynes Bayley.