The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-09-21

our hooks, and we can't play lawn tennis,
because there isn't level place IN YER
mont big enough for a court. ara we've
talked to eacn other till we're all cross, ana
what can we do. Professor
"NObOdy 10 bait your hooks" The fro-
fessor was moved 10 righteous disgust py
this. "You hayn't any genius Tor alnuse-
ment." he continued. "Why don't you
write poetryi Come, there's heaps oil fun
in it. Let's try with one stanza each
30 for lack of anything better 1t was
agreed that each member Of the party, the
Professor included. should put into rhyme
and four lines his or her most liVeiy
thought. \ half hour was allowed Tor lne
work, and at the end Of that time the Fro
fessor, who had been slyly consulting the
back pages of a dictionary where many
rhymes are set forth, gathered the manu-
scripts in his hat, shook them up, and pro-
ceeded 10 read the first that came to hand.
This was the pOeni
There are men enough In the mountains,
But wOel there are none for me;
They're all a-gOne on another girl,
The famous Annie ROOnee.
"II'm," unused the Professor, "thats a
rather forced rhyme" but mis- comment was
cut short by a chorus Of why NY y
"WhO-@p and a series Of ast0nshed gig
:
became serious when the Professor, after a
puzzled glance at them over his spectacles,
read the next one:
In vain have lured the nice yOnng man
Who comes to the hills to be spooney,
4 mean old thing got hold of him hrst.
And her name is annie Rooney.
The girls were as silent as if they were
mourners at funeral of their dearest
hopes. and the Professor peered sharply at
one and another through his glasses.
II hardly expected this display of jesl
ousy. girls" ne said. gravely, as he took up
another manuscript and read:
If were a nice young man, which I'm glad
I'm not.
III have a girl to myself, or go without:
And I'm sure wouldn't sing Of the same old
girl
That every other fellow IS singing about.
This" cried the Professor, "undoubted-
" refers TO the same young lady, and | am
surprised and mortified that sensible people
like you should be so silly. say nothing
Of the wretched metre or the defiance Of ali
laws Of prosody. It's the sentiment, girls,
the sentiment. that strikes me TO the heart.
! won't have anything more 10 do with it,
and he laid down the poems with a slam.
'YOu began it. Professor" said the girls.
"and you must see il through" and so by
dnt of persuasion he was led to read
another poem.
Blow high. blow low, We mountain winds.
"NOw, that's like poetry" he interrupted
himself to say, and nc began again with
marked satisfaction
Blow high, blow low, We mountain winds,
Blow ye from near or far,
But blow me the sound Of some other tune
Than the young mans Annie X.
~ fear" said the Professor, that this
simply masks the same evil spirit more plain
" exposed in the others; but maybe not.
maybe not. Wen try another" And he read
She's on his lips the whole day long.
OF her ne sings and signs;
II ever meet Miss Rooney, Myi
III scratch ont both her eyes!
The Professor rose hastily, and his face il
possible, was Iedder than when he came
back from the pond.
"lOung ladies'" he exclaimed, III this
wasn't a conspiracy 10 befOol a simple old
man. 1T has been an exhibition Of most sur
prsing seltshness. Why. these sentiments
are unchristian. tpat's just what they are,
unchristianw and be left the rOOm, tearing
his own rhymes to pieces as he went.