Page 64 - Poetry-Books
P. 64

You’re asked to see Niagara,
                And pressed to spend the day—

             There’s no time to be weary:
                Before one has a chance
             Up pops a “gent” in shirt-sleeves,
                And with a backward glance
             Displays invitingly a pair
                Of his “Three Dollar Pants.”

             Typewriters by the dozen
                Dazzle our eager eyes,
             And each one “holds the record,”
                And each one “took the prize”;
             And when we read of any
                The others we despise.

             Of powders made for baking
                There’s but one pure in ten,
             As proved by affidavits
                Of scientific men;
             You turn the page—and all’s disproved
                By men as wise again.

             Behold a Queen Anne cottage
                Where Cupid loves to dwell!
             ‘T is built for really nothing
                Just how, “our book will tell”;
             And here are patent shingles
                To roof the pretty shell.

             Lo! fountain-pens, unnumbered,
                “On trial,” and the rest,
             All used by Twain and Tennyson,
                All guaranteed the best,
             All worth their weight in—promises
                After a six-months’ test.

             We read of schools on mountain tops,
                Of railroads to the sea,
             Of cameras, revolvers,
                Of tricycles and tea,

                                        ~ 62 ~
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