Page:St. Nicholas - Volume 41, Part 1.djvu/26

“WE WATCHED IN ADMIRATION.”

V For what will Alexander do when, grown to man’s estate, He wildly longs to waltz, and finds, alas! it is too late? “And how will Alexander feel,” despairingly we cried, “When he cannot tell a two-step from an Andalusian glide!” VI And as we spoke, we heard a noise directly overhead, A bump, a thump, a slip, a slide, a military tread; We flew to Mother’s dressing-room as quickly as we could, And there before the looking-glass our Alexander stood! VII He bowed with grave politeness, he bounded to and fro;: He grimly pirouetted on one neatly slippered toe. And we watched in admiration as he piloted with care An imaginary maiden to a secat that was n't there.

VIII

And when he had his breath again, he turned to us to say,
As he rearranged his collar in an unembarrassed way:
“It must be time for dancing-school! I thought I heard you call;
I 'm really very sorry if I 've made you wait at all.”

VII

He paused to pick a table up, then said in even tones:
“Of course I do not wish to dance ‘as well as Thomas Jones,
But I thought, perhaps, I 'd practise. just a little. out of sight.
For if I 've got to do it, I am going to do it right!”

"HE REARRANGED HIS COLLAR IN AN UNEMBARRASSED WAY.”

12