The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-04-07
HEsK

See, what beauty HaIf-shut eve~
Hide all buf. and without a break
To the tails brown tuft that mostly lies
50 quiet one thinks her scarce awake.
but pass toe near, one step too free
You fnd heF slumber DEVILS truce.
Op comes that paw-all plush. you sea--
Out four claws, ft for Satans use.
Ware just sleoves breadth closer then,
And your last appearance on anv sfssgef
Loli- Il you Ike, By Daniels Den.
- But clear and away from Hebe's cage
That's Heoe, listen TO that purr.
humbilng as from the ground below;
Strange. when the ring begins % stir,
The heshings always vex her 90.
You think 'twere rougher task by far
10 tame her mate with the sooty manel
A splendid br0nze for a sh0wmans car,
And quite enough for bit and rein.
But Hebe is-iust like all her sex
Not good then bad-be sure Of that.
In either case 'twould SAGE perplex
To make them cut. both woman and cat.
A curious record. Hebe's. Reared
In Italy, age-that's hard 70 tx;
Trained from cub until she feared
The lash, and learned her round Of tricks:
Always a traveler-cne Of two
A wOman-tamer took in hand.
Whipped them, coaxed them-and 80 they
To fawn or COVER at her command
None but Fl0rina-that was her name
And this the story Of Hebe here
Entered their cage: the brItes were tame
As kittens, though their mistruss near.
A tai, proud wench assver was seen.
supple and handsome full Of grace;
The world would bow 20 a real queen
That had Florina's form and face.
Her Iov-pr--f,r or. sba 1,a5 % ,,,-..
Was Marco, acrobat. circus-star,
The hghtest foot on a running horse
The surest leap from a swinging bar:
And she--sO jealous he dared not touch
A womans hand. and. truth to say,
be bad no hu1nor 20 tease her much
iii giri IN spangles crossed their way
Twas at Marseilles. the final scene:
This pretty rider joined the ring,
Ma m selle Celeste or Victorine.
And captured him under Fl0rina's wing.
Iney hld their meetings, but when. you see
Doubt holds the candle love will show.
And In loves division the one Of three.
Whose share is lessened, needs must know
One night, then. after the throng outpoured
From the show, and the lions my 1ady's
power
Had been made to feel. with lash that scored
And eye that cowed them, a snarling
hour
They we're just in the mood for pleasantly
Of those holidays when saints were thrown
10 beast. and the Romans. eurrance-free
Capped handsD-that night, as she stood
alone.
florina, Queen Of the Lions, called
sir Marco toward her, while her
Stlll touched the spring of door that walled
her subjects safe within Li0n-land
de came there painting, hot from the ring
So brave figure that one might know
Among all his tribe he must be king
II In some Wild tract you met him SO.
'Do you love me STILL > she asked. las when
You swore tt hrstf' Have never a
doubtF1
But have q fancy-men are men
And one Whim drives another out
What fancyi Is this alls Have done:
You tire me.7 Look YOU Marco oh.
should die If another woman won
Your iove-but would dl you first, you
known
hill me. and how-with a jealous tongueE'
Inns quOth Florina- and slipped the
OF the cages door. and headlOng flung
Sir Marco, ere be could breathe. the doltl
Plump on the lion be bounced, and Zen
Beyond, and Hebe leapt for him there
No need for their lafiyis voice To tai
fhe work IN hand for that ready uair
They say ons wouldn't have cared 10 see
The group connuingled- man and beast
Or 20 hear the shrieks and roars-au three
One red, the feasters and the FEAST
Guns, pistols blaced- TIL the Ion sprawIe,i-
shot dead, but Hebe held 70 her prev
And drank his blood while keepers bavlea
And their hot irons made yon scars that
day.
But the WOman' True, had forgot;
She never iinched at the havoc made
Nor gave one cry, but there on the spot
Drove TO the heart her poniarJ-biaCie.
Straight, Ike a man. and fell. nor stirred
Again; 50 that fms pair were dead:
One led, and the other kept her word
And death pays debts when all is said
30 they hustled Hebe cut Of France,
To Spain, or maybe 70 England first
Then hirherWard over seas, by chance.
she came ~ you see her, always stiliFst.
As IL Ike the tigresses that sink
IN the village canes Of HindOstan-
W one rare draught she loves 70 think,
ana ever % get IL must plan and plan.
-EdHH1ad c. Stsdma1. in the CeAtHry