Partingtonian patchwork Blifkins the martyr : the domestic trials of a model husband. The modern syntax : Dr. Spooner's experiences in search of the delectable. Partington papers : strippings of the warm milk of human kindness. New and old dips from an unambitious inkstand. Humorous, eccentric, rhythmical |
 |
|
|
|
| 1. |
| 2. |
|
| 1. |
| 2. |
| 3. | PART III. |
 | Partingtonian patchwork |  |
3. PART III.
“On with the dance!” and with agile feet,
The music breathing its cadence sweet,
The dancers flitted with measure meet,
The gay hours moving on pinions fleet,
With saltatory joy replete,
And Madaline,
Again serene,
Moved in the throng the regnant queen,
The blissful scene enhancing;
There were polks and waltzes, galops and reels,
And those rare movements the dancer feels,
Thrilling all through from head to heels,
That make the acme of dancing.
The music breathing its cadence sweet,
The dancers flitted with measure meet,
197
With saltatory joy replete,
And Madaline,
Again serene,
Moved in the throng the regnant queen,
The blissful scene enhancing;
There were polks and waltzes, galops and reels,
And those rare movements the dancer feels,
Thrilling all through from head to heels,
That make the acme of dancing.
Again, “Choose partners!” every set
In just accordancy has met
For the gracefulest, grandest trial yet;
There are twists and twirls,
And swirls and whirls,
And glowing bright are Madaline's curls
On the happy shoulder of George Manett!
(Perhaps that wasn't the very name,
But the truth of the tale is just the same.)
About they go in the mazy dance—
Chassez! Balancez! Back! Advance!
When, just at the critical turning,
Fair Madaline seemed struck with a trance;
Her feet stood still, and with look askance,
Astonishment in her countenance,
Her eyes in their sockets burning!
In just accordancy has met
For the gracefulest, grandest trial yet;
There are twists and twirls,
And swirls and whirls,
And glowing bright are Madaline's curls
On the happy shoulder of George Manett!
(Perhaps that wasn't the very name,
But the truth of the tale is just the same.)
About they go in the mazy dance—
Chassez! Balancez! Back! Advance!
When, just at the critical turning,
Fair Madaline seemed struck with a trance;
Her feet stood still, and with look askance,
Astonishment in her countenance,
Her eyes in their sockets burning!
The dancers stopped in sore dismay;
The caller's call none would obey;
And there they stood in the light's full ray,
Looking with vacant stare,
Till Madaline her finger put on
Her wondering partner's third vest-button,
Where, gleaming like gold,
On his waistcoat's fold
Was a lock of golden hair!
The caller's call none would obey;
And there they stood in the light's full ray,
Looking with vacant stare,
Till Madaline her finger put on
Her wondering partner's third vest-button,
198
On his waistcoat's fold
Was a lock of golden hair!
Like the fierce wild red man of the west,
Swinging a scalp as his valor's test,
So Manett wore on his sturdy breast
A lock of hers he loved the best,
And he vowed a vow that none of the rest
Should lift a hand to pick it;
Though how it came there he didn't know,
But Madaline the spot could show,
Where late the golden curl did grow,
That was torn by its roots from its soil of snow,
In the midst of the golden thicket.
Swinging a scalp as his valor's test,
So Manett wore on his sturdy breast
A lock of hers he loved the best,
And he vowed a vow that none of the rest
Should lift a hand to pick it;
Though how it came there he didn't know,
But Madaline the spot could show,
Where late the golden curl did grow,
That was torn by its roots from its soil of snow,
In the midst of the golden thicket.
And that was the secret of Madaline's scream,
Mingled with noise of spoons in the cream,
And waking the “spoons” from their little dream,
Coupled with glance of her eyes' fierce gleam,
That carried such a start with it;
And Manett clings to his beautiful scalp
As firm as the foot of an amorous Alp,
Determined never to part with it;
And Madaline she
Don't disagree,
Seeing he has his heart with it.
Mingled with noise of spoons in the cream,
And waking the “spoons” from their little dream,
Coupled with glance of her eyes' fierce gleam,
That carried such a start with it;
And Manett clings to his beautiful scalp
As firm as the foot of an amorous Alp,
Determined never to part with it;
And Madaline she
Don't disagree,
Seeing he has his heart with it.
| Partingtonian patchwork | |