A TALE OF CROQUET.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 223, 2 March 1866, Page 3

A TALE OF CROQUET.

I played it onee — I scarcely knew A rover from a mallet ; She showed nae what I had to do, How well do I recall it ! That lesson fraught with so much, bliss, I'd almost said much sorrow ; For pleasures of a day like this Offcim.es are griefs to-morrow. I played again and yet again. Until I grew so skilful That I could beat my teacher ; then She suddenly grew wilful — Pouted and sulked, would not be beat 5 I croqued her unfairly ; She knew I did, and stamped her feet j Oh, I enjoyed, it rarely ! I placed her ball, I held her clip — Oh, wasn't she a clipper ! — That merry eye, that rosy lip, That chignon, and that slipper. The little foot— oh, blessed ball Which Had that foot upon it ! Oh) blessed little black lace shawl ! And still more blessed bonnet ! Sometimes a little hat she wore, And euch a 'witching feather ; And then she 'witched me all the more, Yea, 'witched me altogether. The dainty looped-up skirt — and oh! The petticoat below it ! She knew exactly what to show, And how the best to show it. She croque*d me without remorse j She wired me without mercy ; I could have no revenge of course, The wicked little Dirci. She spooned most awfully, while I Could only play the spoony ; , She really cheated ; but, oh fie ! In her 'twas only funny. At last the game was quite played out j She hit the— what d'ye call it ?— " I mean the stick, and won sans dduie, f\ And I laid down my mallet. And there, upon the smooth-mown grass, I made a stroke, a bold one, — Asked her through one more hoop to pass, That hoop to be a gold one. And she consented j hooped we were To rove through life together j And croque'd on, as partners dear, Through fine or stormy weather. We've had our ups and downs of course, •Missed hoops, been wired, and bullied ; But then tilings really might be worsei We simply strive to keep ow course, Pfceot— Qoitwt— unsulUed,