urvive in stone.

Still, if the charm called Beauty lies
In ampleness of ear and lip,
And nostrils of exceeding size,
You are a gem, my ladyship!

Here, squatting by the doubtful flame
Of three poor sticks, without a roof
Above your head, impassive dame
You live on--somewhat hunger-proof.

The current scandals of the day
Don't trouble you--you seem to take
Things in the coolest sort of way--
And _wisest_--for you have no ache.

You smoke a pipe--of course, you do!
About an inch in length or less,
Which, from a sexual point of view,
Mars somehow your attractiveness.

But, rather than resign the weed,
You'd shock us, whites, by chewing it;
For etiquette is not indeed
A thing that bothers you a bit.

Your people--take them as a whole--
Are careless on the score of grace;
And hence you needn't comb your poll
Or decorate your unctuous face.

Still, seeing that a little soap
Would soften an excess of tint,
You'll pardon my advance, I hope,
In giving you a gentle hint.

You have your lovers--dusky beaux
Not made of the poetic stuff
That sports an Apollonian nose,
And wears a sleek Byronic cuff.

But rather of a rougher clay
Unmixed with overmuch romance,
Far better at the wildwood fray
Than spinning in a ballroom dance.

_These_ scarcely are the sonneteers
That sing their loves in faultless clothes:
_Your_ friends have more decided ears
And more capaciousness of nose.

No doubt they suit you best--although
They woo you roughly it is said:
Their way of courtship is a blow
Struck with a nullah on the head.

It doesn't hurt you much--the thing
Is hardly novel to your life;
And, _sans_ the feast and marriage ring,
You make a good impromptu wife.

This hasty sort of wedding might,
In other cases, bring distress;
But then, your draper's bills are light--
You're frugal in regard to dress.

You have no passion for the play,
Or park, or other showy scenes;
And, hence, you have no scores to pay,
And live within your husband's means.

Of course, his income isn't large,--
And not too certain--still you thrive
By steering well inside the marge,
And keep your little ones alive.

In short, in some respects you set
A fine example; and a few
Of those white matrons I have met
Would