The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-10-19
NO. 80.
g0etrp,
A MARRIAGE OF CONVENIENCE.

n MhhhlAGE UF CUN fENlENCE.
He held her hand and she neld his
She sighed dear Jim, he Whispered Liz"
Her eyes were turned toward the floor
Hes scanned her through the specs he wore
Thus had they sat for nights and nights
Each had the other dead to rights.
Her age was thirty-may be more ;,
He was a youth of eighty-fonr
His love was based upon the fact,
That she had fine housekeeping tact.
While she somehow or other TOOK
Unto her lovers pocket book,
Ills always thus when youth and age
Get in the matrimonial cage.
Anon the aged lover said
please name the day that we shall We'd"
And she, while blushing like rose.
Replied. "Most.any time. SUPPOSE"
SO saturday, 18th OF May,
Was chosen as the happy day.
Her father vas much pleased indeed
For he was somewhat run to seed.
And as for Bizzie's mother, she
Was Just as glad as she could he:
For now she argued, II can get
pull back, and be happy yet
To dress their daughter in 4 style
BETTING her aged lovers pile.
Her father mortgaged his estate.-.
Likewise his furniture and plate, -
The day arrived-the two were hitcled
And into the wedding dinner pitched
The bridegroom was quite full OF fun
And said his Life had Just begun. ~
Whic h statement was considered thin.
AS his nose came most too near his chin
And as his actions said, in spite of sherry,
That he'd soon go to the cemetery.
That night he asked his blushing bride
If she was quite well satisfied.
Her answer was: Il want some stamps
To ease my pas financial cramps
my wealth is in the bank" said he,
''And 1 will draw a cheek for thee
Alas! upon that fatal night s
The bank went higher than q kite
And the sheriff called on Lizzie's dad
AID sold out everything he had
In the poor-house Lizzie's mother sits.
EurIIfed in melancholy fits.
And she often signs and say SID orter
Let some mechanic had my daughter.
From the Boston Transcript
FATE.
lie surges on with ceaseless ebb and flow,
ust like the tides of ocean, and We so
pom its heaving pillows to and fro,
because an IRON fate hath willed it So.
md, like tangled seaweed, we must ride
pom this ever restless varying tide,
hIeh losses us, forever far and wide
pom the mighty shores where it doth glide
life taketh some in its imperious way,
ma where the shadows and the qnicksands lay
Dr. where the breakers and the pillows play,
throws them down, and blinded with the sDray
ike the lost mariner. benumbed and sore
'hese md 1hemselves upon dreary shore
Vhefe doubt and danger and the tempest's ros
re OF their lives part forever more.
nd some it taketh, and with direful strain
'ashes them on the rocks which edge the main,
nd there they lie all quiv ering with pain,
ntll the tide shall bear them out again.
ut TO mighty crest life comes some day
nth anxious, heaving breast, and like the spray
I hottest water, throws some far away
rom where the shadows and the ouicksands 10
throws them far above the chaneina tide
Vhere mowers forever bloom, and far and wide
catter their perfume sweet, and they abide
pom the mountain peaks of power and pride
uch are the heirs of fortune and of fame,
II farest sesame for now name
'afth's every portal opens, and the aim
u heaven it is to thunder them acclaim
UGH are the heirs of WEAKNESS an, wee
dark, mysterious fate! that some must 20
IL treachefous paths where thorns and thistle
dark and rugged paths which lead below.
or as late throws us down so we remain.
ONE with the joy of gods and some with pain
ONE have the sweetest wine. and some mus
ne bitter dregs of life, and ebb again.