The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-11-30
VERSES BY EUGENE FIELD.

The Cafe M%olincau.
The cafe Mo!ineau is where
A dainty little mink
Serves Cod as best she can
BY serving meats and drinks.
Oh. such an air the creature has,
And such a pretty face!
! took delight that autumn night
In hanging round the place.
I know but very little French vi
have not long been here: ~
But when she spoke. her meaning broke
Full swee,,y on my ear.
Then, too, she seemed TO understand
Whate'er | had to say.
Though most I knew was "oony poo"
Bong zhoor," and "see VOC play"
The female wit Is always quick,
And of all womankind
Ills here in French that you, perchance.
The keenest wits shall FIND.
And here you'll find that subtle gift.
That rare distinctive touch,
Combined with grace of form and face,
That glads men Overmuch.
"Ou girls at home" ] unused aloud
Lack either that or this;
They don't combine the art divine
AS does the Gallo miss:
Far be 1t from me to maIiSn
Our bellies across the sea,
And yet I'll swear none can compare
With this ideal She"
And then I praised her dainty foot
In very awful French.
And p~arlcyvooed in g~uileful mood
Until the saucy wench
Tossed back her naughty uburn head,
Ard froZe me with disdain:
There are on me TO flies" said She.
For ! come from Bangor, Maine"
-:o:-
The Game OF "Booh!''
On afternoons. when baby boy has had a
splendid nap
And sits. like any monarch on his throne.
In nurses LAP,
In some such wise my handkerchief hold
before my face,
And cautiously and quietly I move about
the place;
Then. with a cry, I suddenly expose my
face to view.
And you should hear him laugh and crow
when l say "Booh!'
Sometimes that rascal tries to make be-
lieve that he Is scared:
And. really, when / first began, he stared
and stared and stared;
And then his under lip came out and fur
ther out IT came,
Till mamma and the nurse agreed 1t was a
"cruel shame
But now what does that same wee todd
ling. lisp!ng baby DO
But laugh and kick his little heels when I
say 'Booh!'
He laughs and kicks his little heels in
r%apturous glee. and then
In shriii. despotic treble bids me 'do it all
aden;"
And I-of course l do it; for. as his pro-
genitOr,
1t is such pretty H. pleasant play as this
And It Is. oh. such fun! and I am sure
that I shall rue
The time when we are both too old to
play the game of "Booh!"
10
The Dead Babe.
| Last night, as my dear babe lay dead,
In agony ] knelt and said:
"Oh, God, what have | done.
Or in what wise offended Thee,
That Thou shouldst a k away from me
My little SON.?
Upon the thousand useless lives,
Upon the guilt that Wanting thrives,
Thy wrath were better spent;
Why shouldst Thou take my little SON
Why shouldst Thou vent Thy wrath upon
This innocent"
Last night, as my dear babe lay dead,
Before mine eyes the vision spread
OF things that might have been:
L,cent!ous riot, cruel strife.
Forgotten prayers. a wasted life,
Dark red with sin!
Then. with sweet music in the air.
i saw another vision there.
A Shepherd, In whose keep
a little lainb-my little child
| OF worldly wisdom undeGlcd,
Lay fast asleep!
Last night, as ny dear babe lay dead,
In those two messages / read
A wisdom manifest;
, And, though my arms be chi!dless now,
! am cortert-to him ! bow
Who knoweth best.
conscientious Debtor.