THE BACHELOR. A Study in Strained Sentiment. PART THE FIRST.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 358, 10 April 1889, Page 4

THE BACHELOR. A Study in Strained Sentiment. PART THE FIRST.

Besidk his fire the Bachelor sat, A friendless man in a furnished flat ; The licht of youth from his? eyes had fled, The hair was sparse on the top of his head ; Angular, 'cynical, bilious, grim ' ' ' Was there one in the,,wovld to care for him 1 Thus he mused—as of fen he'd mused before— When,' itic'hammer sounded at his front door, 1 And he rose, impelled by repeated knocks, , To tfind on his^hreshold— a boy, with a box., , A plaiti'deal box of medium size, ' Which the Bachelor, took in blank surprise. He.had made jio purchase of late— then, swift, .The inference foil owed— it ririist be a gilt i From some former friend he had long forgot : . So he fetched his scissors, and severed the knot. And in eager haste he lifted the lid, All; unsuspicious of what it hid.' . u , * 1 Then — his fury broke in a frantic curse, Too vigorous to repeat 'in verse! ' ' What unknown .hand had dealt this stroke? What fiendconceiyed so.cruel a joke, M ,As to send— ah, smile at it those who can !— A dainty doll to a childless man ? < ' J; ■ ' He flunk it f roinhim— i t fell on a chair, „And smiled,' through its'fteece r of golden hail', . • .m, ?> t,i ■ 'i! i.. . 'will. Btraight,u,p i,n his f ace— ttjill it,m«,de him start, "And a sudden compunction smqte^his heart : ,<., For the eyes, and the amber tresses above. Resembled those of his early Love,

WKos6 eyes'were as round'"and devoid of guile, Who had just that placid persistent smile,

, , ! HEREDITY'S v;JILLv ;JlLL A MISTAKE. ' W mi? t t t 1 Y ak( * s i^^ eir . cheeks tfa at beautiful : glbw; «X h & tlo T elsrll 88 h Mnhereye, , ,' • What makes her neck as white as the snow. What gives to her lips their bright dye ? What gives her that graceful and willowy form, , , That hand' so shapely and small, lhese graces of hers— bewitching they are— Oh, does she inherit them all ? No, her, father was homely, her mother was 1 , • plain ; ' Her loveliness came not that way ; " ' She diets, takes exercise, wears low-heeled shoes,, ,'),»• "■> ;And^ walks several miles every day. '. *, She's growinsr more lovely the older she grows. •And never knows illness ok ache: '* •• She's making experiments trying to show • '• Heredity's all a mistake.' •i ' _ 4 Boston Courier.' „ Confidential (in giggling u v?hisper) ;' 1 Poor me! ' When do you suppose my turn will come ? Hee— hee— hee !'