Be a sweet recollection, and you, who were kinder
Than I ever deserved or dared hope, said you would.

Then we parted. Life seemed to be painfully lonely,
Though I dreamt of a future with you by my side,
Till my common-sense seemed to say, "_You_, who are only,
Just a poor needy teacher, have _Her_ for a bride!"

It was true, and I knew it. Yet why had I met you?
Why had Fate kept such bitter-sweet fortune in store?
So determined I set myself then to forget you,
And to let my thoughts dwell on yourself nevermore.

First your hair with its gold, next your eyes with their laughter,
I forgot in a thoroughly workman-like style.
Persevering, I never desisted till after
Many months I but faintly remembered your smile.

I completely forgot you (I thought) and the warning
Was to save me, I chortled, a future of pain,
But you undid it all with your picture this morning,
And the same old, old trouble starts over again.

The Fates are a trifle hard, putting it mildly,
For they well might have spared me this finishing touch
Of your portrait, which speaking quite calmly yet Wildely,
I admire all the more since I hate it so much.

I shall treasure it, though. Thanks--a thousand--to you, dear.
When in sweet meditation your fancy runs free,
Is it asking too much that a stray thought or two, dear,
From your kindness of heart may come straying to me?

* * * * *

POLITICS AND POLITENESS.

DEAR MR. PUNCH,--I see that the Duke of ARGYLL, when he received the
freedom of the Burgh of Paisley, the other day, told the following
interesting story:--

"I was going once to call on a lady in London, and when the
door was opened and the servant announced my name, I saw
the lady advancing to the door with a look of absolute
consternation on her face. I could not conceive what
had happened, and thought I had entered her room at some
inconvenient moment, but, on looking over her shoulder, I
perceived Mr. and Mrs. GLADSTONE sitting at the tea-table, and
she evidently thought that there would be some great explosion
when we met. She was greatly gratified when nothing of the
kind occurred, and we enjoyed a cup of tea as greatly as we
had ever done in our lives."

Now, my dear _Mr. Punch_, I have great sympathy with "the Lady," and
think (with her) the meeting, as described by his Grace