Page 19 - Poetry-Romance

“Cruel, cruel Arabella! now your fate is in my hand!”
And he thrust it in his pocket as he strode along the strand.
In the gloomy little cabin the unhappy couple sat:
Arabella, lightly shrieking, dropped her chignon and her hat,
Upon which she had been making indispensible repairs,
As with sudden clank and clatter Brown came stumbling down the stairs.
Then upleaped her faithful Colonel, in no amicable mood;
Face to face, with lowering foreheads, the two rivals, stooping, stood,
For they both were rather tallish, and the cabin roof was low.
“Sir,” says Brown, “you do not know me, or you wouldn’t meet me so.
“I have come to do a service to that lady weeping there;
For, Miss Bent, I know your secret, and I beg you won’t despair.
You shall go to church on Tuesday; you shall wear your bridal wreath!”
And from out his trowsers pocket he produced the missing teeth.
‘Mine!” (upspringing Arabella gave her head a fearful thump.)
“Brown! oh, Brown! where did you get them? I declare, you are a trump!
I had lost them in the ocean!” “And I found them on the shore!”
For he didn’t deem it kindness at the time to tell her more.
“Why, what did you think?” “At first,” said he, “I thought it was a spoon!”
She replied, “Who would have thought that they could wash ashore
so soon!”
And she dipped them in a tumbler, turned her back upon the two—
(While Brown whispered to the Colonel: “H—m!” “You don’t say!”
“Yes, I do!”)
For a moment; then she turned again, and, to be brief, she had
No more cause to use a muffler, nor occasion to be sad.
Then the Colonel spoke: “Excuse me, Brown; I didn’t understand;
You’re an honorable fellow, and I offer you my hand.”

With a smile the other took it, while the grateful lady said,
As before The Mermaid’s mirror she arrayed her graceful head,
“Brown, I wish I could reward you, but I cannot marry two;
But some other time I trust that I may do as much for you.”

“Do not think of it, I beg you. Though it’s been a bitter cup,
I’ve been cured of some illusions, and I freely give you up.
I shall change my occupation, and do better now, I hope;
I am going out of poetry, and going into soap.”
‘And you’ll be our friend?” says Bella. “So we’ve settled this affair!
Now let’s go and have some chowder, for I’m hungry as a bear.”

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