 | Poems and verses by Mary Mapes Dodge |  |
92
MAMA'S “DAYS” AT HOME.
Now, Bessie, you're my dearest friend,
My very best, you know;
Our Thursdays without you, dear,
Would be just dull and slow.
So, darling, please be sure to come;
We'll both “receive” in style;
Mama is bored, and as for me,
It hardly seems worth while,
Since everybody knows quite well
That I am “caught” at last,
A willing and a happy bird,
By Jack's dear hand held fast.
My very best, you know;
Our Thursdays without you, dear,
Would be just dull and slow.
So, darling, please be sure to come;
We'll both “receive” in style;
Mama is bored, and as for me,
It hardly seems worth while,
Since everybody knows quite well
That I am “caught” at last,
A willing and a happy bird,
By Jack's dear hand held fast.
Who came last week? Well, let me see:
Oh, it was grand! The air
Was keen and bright, alive with light
And gladness everywhere.
At three o'clock in walked my boy—
Dear Jack, you know; and, Bess,
How perfectly absurd he was,
And nice, you 'd never guess.
Then others came: a stupid lot,
Just fops, some eight or nine;
And then a crowd of silly girls.—
But Jack, he stayed to dine.
Well, Bess, such grand times as we had,
With whispering and chaffing!
No one was there but mama's friends;
I thought we 'd die with laughing.
When Jack was gone, two dismal bores
Named Jones came in; and then
I almost yawned: you never saw
Such dreary, gawky men!
Oh, it was grand! The air
93
And gladness everywhere.
At three o'clock in walked my boy—
Dear Jack, you know; and, Bess,
How perfectly absurd he was,
And nice, you 'd never guess.
Then others came: a stupid lot,
Just fops, some eight or nine;
And then a crowd of silly girls.—
But Jack, he stayed to dine.
Well, Bess, such grand times as we had,
With whispering and chaffing!
No one was there but mama's friends;
I thought we 'd die with laughing.
When Jack was gone, two dismal bores
Named Jones came in; and then
I almost yawned: you never saw
Such dreary, gawky men!
But when the clock struck half-past eight,
Who should come in but Jack?
'T was perfectly ridiculous,
And looked quite queer, alack!
'T was such relief to hear his voice
And see his noble form!
(If Jack should go upon the stage
He 'd take the world by storm!)
He stayed an hour, and all the while
They came by strings and strings,
And wished me, oh, so many “joys,”
The kindly, tiresome things!
And so it went—a glorious day
Last Thursday was; and then—
Well, you must know that foolish Jack
Came back again—at ten!
And until midnight we two sat
And talked and laughed together,
While poor mama saw all the rest,
And talked about the weather.
Who should come in but Jack?
'T was perfectly ridiculous,
94
'T was such relief to hear his voice
And see his noble form!
(If Jack should go upon the stage
He 'd take the world by storm!)
He stayed an hour, and all the while
They came by strings and strings,
And wished me, oh, so many “joys,”
The kindly, tiresome things!
And so it went—a glorious day
Last Thursday was; and then—
Well, you must know that foolish Jack
Came back again—at ten!
And until midnight we two sat
And talked and laughed together,
While poor mama saw all the rest,
And talked about the weather.
'T was splendid, dear. And now, my love,
You can't know how I'll grieve
If you don't come to us next week,
And help me to receive.
“A dismal prospect,” do you say?
Now how can that be true?
Jack is no snob, and really, dear,
He 's very fond of you.
You can't know how I'll grieve
If you don't come to us next week,
And help me to receive.
95
Now how can that be true?
Jack is no snob, and really, dear,
He 's very fond of you.
| Poems and verses by Mary Mapes Dodge | |