432
POEMS OF ARTHUR HUGH CLOUGH.
Half to excuse his present lawless way,
He to the grocer happened once to say
Marriage would cost him more than others dear;
Cost him, indeed, three hundred pounds a-year.
''Deed,' said the man, 'a heavy price, no doubt,
For a bit form that one can do without.'
And asked some questions, pertinent and plain,
Exacter information to obtain;
He took a little trouble to explain.
The College Audit now, to last at least
Three weeks, ere ending with the College Feast,
He must attend, a tedious, dull affair,
But he, as junior Bursar, must be there.
Three weeks, however, quickly would be fled,
And then he'd come,—he didn't say to wed.
With plans of which he nothing yet would say,
Preoccupied upon the parting day,
He seemed a little absent and distrait;
But she, as knowing nothing was amiss,
Gave him her fondest smile, her sweetest kiss.
A fortnight after, or a little more,
As at the Audit, weary of the bore,
He sat, and of his future prospects thought,
A letter in an unknown hand was brought.
'Twas from Macfarlane, and to let him know
To South Australia they proposed to go.
'Rich friends we have, who have advised us thus,
Occasion offers suitable for us;
Christie we take; whate'er she find of new,
She'll ne'er forget the joy she's had with you;
'Tis an expensive pilgrimage to make
You'll like to send a trifle for her sake.'
Nothing he said of when the ship would sail.
That very night, by swift-returning mail,
He to the grocer happened once to say
Marriage would cost him more than others dear;
Cost him, indeed, three hundred pounds a-year.
''Deed,' said the man, 'a heavy price, no doubt,
For a bit form that one can do without.'
And asked some questions, pertinent and plain,
Exacter information to obtain;
He took a little trouble to explain.
The College Audit now, to last at least
Three weeks, ere ending with the College Feast,
He must attend, a tedious, dull affair,
But he, as junior Bursar, must be there.
Three weeks, however, quickly would be fled,
And then he'd come,—he didn't say to wed.
With plans of which he nothing yet would say,
Preoccupied upon the parting day,
He seemed a little absent and distrait;
But she, as knowing nothing was amiss,
Gave him her fondest smile, her sweetest kiss.
A fortnight after, or a little more,
As at the Audit, weary of the bore,
He sat, and of his future prospects thought,
A letter in an unknown hand was brought.
'Twas from Macfarlane, and to let him know
To South Australia they proposed to go.
'Rich friends we have, who have advised us thus,
Occasion offers suitable for us;
Christie we take; whate'er she find of new,
She'll ne'er forget the joy she's had with you;
'Tis an expensive pilgrimage to make
You'll like to send a trifle for her sake.'
Nothing he said of when the ship would sail.
That very night, by swift-returning mail,
