The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1889-03-30
THE BACHELOR.
A Study in Strained Sentiment.

From LOngman's Magazlne.
PART THE FIRST.
Beside his fire the Bachelor sat,
friendless man in furnished flat;
The light OF youth from his eyes had fed,
The hair was sparse on the top of his head;
Angular, cynical, bilious, grim
Was there one in the world to care for him?
Thus he mused-as often he'd unused before
Wheu,the hammer sounded at his front door.
And he rose. impelled by repeated knocks.
To find on his threshOid-a boy with box.
A plain deal box of medium size,
Which the Bachelor took in blank surprise.
He made no purchase OF late-theu, swift,
The Inference followed-it must be gift
From some former friend he had long forgot;
SO he fetched his scissors, and severed the
knot.
And IN eager haste he lifted the lid,
All unsuspicious Of what it hid.
Then-his fury broke in frantic curse.
Too vigorous TO repeat in verse!
What unknown hand had dealt this stroke?
What fend conceived SO cruel joke.
As to send-ah, smile at 1t those who can!
dainty doll 10 a childless man?
He flung it from HINT fell on chair,
And smiled through Its fleece of golden hair,
Straight up in his face-till it made him start.
And ssudden compunction smote his heart;
For the eyes, and The amber tresses above,
Resembled those of his early Love,
Whose eyes were as round and devoid CT
guile,
Who had just that placid, persistent smile,
Ere maternal moniiIons she obeyed
And married man in the timber trade?
So he stopped and touched the dolls limp
hand
And she seemed In some way TO understand =,
When he raised her gently-for. wondrous
thing
AS though his fingers had found a spring
Which set in motion some secret gear,
She spoke In silVer-toned accents clear;
"I'se 'oor dolly--'oo must be
Always very tind 10 me,
Gike me best of all 'OOr TOYS
Hide me thafe fom naughty BOYS,
Never yeave me near re fab,
In re vain, or in re miah,
And I'll peat when 'poken TO.
90 yoye mean PIl yove 'Oel"
1t thrilled his pulse to a faster throb:
lie WAS fain TO swallow rising sob:
For his inty bosom he could not steel
'GaInst the innocent guile of that appeal;
Aud his furrOwcd face grew strangely mild
AS he nursed the doll like a little child.
Through the long night she.softly slept
In the drawer where he his clean shirts kept :;
While his yields closed in vain,
For there rang in his ears that naive refrain
All. well! il came from pbonogragh-
Yet doubt if many will dare TO laugh.
Aud malice itself might feel some shame
PART THE SECOND,
All through the next succeeding day,
From the time his breakfast was cleared
away,
TIL after he had taken tea,
lie nursed the doll on his elderly knee.
He had it still upon his Lap
When. once again, he heard rap;
And, thru-tine the doll with guilty air
Between the cushions that lined his chair,
He sat up, sitter than before,
And grimly led his opening door;
Then he felt bi. brain, in confusion wh,rl-
For his visitor was little girl!
A small rarrician in plush and fur,
With little trace of the child in her.
And he caught his br, ath with gaspins
choke
We'll he guessed her object ere ever she spoke |
She sat down, prctnng her parasol,
Then We come to ask If you've seen nv
doll.
81 ordered it yesterday afternoon.
And they promised me they would SEM
soon;