 | [Poems by Cary in] The Poetical Works Of Alice and Phoebe Cary |  |
KATE KETCHEM.
Kate Ketchem on a winter's night
Went to a party dressed in white.
Went to a party dressed in white.
Her chignon in a net of gold
Was about as large as they ever sold.
Was about as large as they ever sold.
Gayly she went, because her “pap”
Was supposed to be a rich old chap.
Was supposed to be a rich old chap.
But when by chance her glances fell
On a friend who had lately married well,
On a friend who had lately married well,
Her spirits sunk, and a vague unrest
And a nameless longing filled her breast—
And a nameless longing filled her breast—
A wish she would n't have had made known,
To have an establishment of her own.
To have an establishment of her own.
Tom Fudge came slowly through the throng,
With chestnut hair, worn pretty long.
With chestnut hair, worn pretty long.
He saw Kate Ketchem in the crowd,
And knowing her slightly, stopped and bowed;
And knowing her slightly, stopped and bowed;
Then asked her to give him a single flower,
Saying he 'd think it a priceless dower.
Saying he 'd think it a priceless dower.
Out from those with which she was decked,
She took the poorest she could select,
She took the poorest she could select,
And blushed as she gave it, looking down
To call attention to her gown.
To call attention to her gown.
“Thanks,” said Fudge, and he thought how dear
Flowers must be at that time of year.
Flowers must be at that time of year.
Then several charming remarks he made,
Asked if she sang, or danced, or played;
Asked if she sang, or danced, or played;
And being exhausted, inquired whether
She thought it was going to be pleasant weather.
She thought it was going to be pleasant weather.
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And Kate displayed her “jewelry,”
And dropped her lashes becomingly;
And dropped her lashes becomingly;
And listened, with no attempt to disguise
The admiration in her eyes.
The admiration in her eyes.
At last, like one who has nothing to say,
He turned around and walked away.
He turned around and walked away.
Kate Ketchem smiled, and said, “You bet
I'll catch that Fudge and his money yet.
I'll catch that Fudge and his money yet.
“He 's rich enough to keep me in clothes,
And I think I could manage him as I chose.
And I think I could manage him as I chose.
“He could aid my father as well as not,
And buy my brother a splendid yacht.
And buy my brother a splendid yacht.
“My mother for money should never fret,
And all it cried for, the baby should get.
And all it cried for, the baby should get.
“And after that, with what he could spare,
I 'd make a show at a charity fair.”
I 'd make a show at a charity fair.”
Tom Fudge looked back as he crossed the sill,
And saw Kate Ketchem standing still.
And saw Kate Ketchem standing still.
“A girl more suited to my mind
It is n't an easy thing to find;
It is n't an easy thing to find;
“And everything that she has to wear
Proves her rich as she is fair.
Proves her rich as she is fair.
“Would she were mine, and I to-day
Had the old man's cash my debts to pay!
Had the old man's cash my debts to pay!
“No creditors with a long account,
No tradesmen wanting ‘that little amount;’
No tradesmen wanting ‘that little amount;’
“But all my scores paid up when due
By a father-in-law as rich as a Jew!”
By a father-in-law as rich as a Jew!”
But he thought of her brother not worth a straw
And her mother, that would be his, in law;
And her mother, that would be his, in law;
So, undecided, he walked along,
And Kate was left alone in the throng.
And Kate was left alone in the throng.
But a lawyer smiled, whom he sought by stealth,
To ascertain old Ketchem's wealth;
To ascertain old Ketchem's wealth;
And as for Kate she schemed and planned
Till one of the dancers claimed her hand.
Till one of the dancers claimed her hand.
He married her for her father's cash;
She married him to cut a dash.
She married him to cut a dash.
But as to paying his debts, do you know,
The father could n't see it so;
The father could n't see it so;
And at hints for help, Kate's hazel eyes
Looked out in their innocent surprise.
Looked out in their innocent surprise.
And when Tom thought of the way he had wed,
He longed for a single life instead,
He longed for a single life instead,
And closed his eyes in a sulky mood,
Regretting the days of his bachelor-hood;
Regretting the days of his bachelor-hood;
And said, in a sort of reckless vein,
“I'd like to see her catch me again,
“I'd like to see her catch me again,
“If I were free, as on that night
When I saw Kate Ketchem dressed in white!”
When I saw Kate Ketchem dressed in white!”
She wedded him to be rich and gay;
But husband and children did n't pay.
But husband and children did n't pay.
He was n't the prize she hoped to draw,
And would n't live with his mother-in-law.
And would n't live with his mother-in-law.
And oft when she had to coax and pout,
In order to get him to take her out,
In order to get him to take her out,
She thought how very attentive and bright
He seemed at the party that winter's night;
He seemed at the party that winter's night;
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Of his laugh, as soft as a breeze of the south
('T was now on the other side of his mouth);
('T was now on the other side of his mouth);
How he praised her dress and gems in his talk,
As he took a careful account of stock.
As he took a careful account of stock.
Sometimes she hated the very walls—
Hated her friends, her dinners, and calls;
Hated her friends, her dinners, and calls;
Till her weak affection, to hatred turned,
Like a dying tallow-candle burned.
Like a dying tallow-candle burned.
And for him who sat there, her peace to mar,
Smoking his everlasting cigar—
Smoking his everlasting cigar—
He was n't the man she thought she saw,
And grief was duty, and hate was law.
And grief was duty, and hate was law.
So she took up her burden with a groan,
Saying only, “I might have known!”
Saying only, “I might have known!”
Alas for Kate! and alas for Fudge!
Though I do not owe them any grudge;
Though I do not owe them any grudge;
And alas for any who find to their shame
That two can play at their little game!
That two can play at their little game!
For of all hard things to bear and grin,
The hardest is knowing you're taken in.
The hardest is knowing you're taken in.
Ah, well, as a general thing, we fret
About the one we did n't get;
About the one we did n't get;
But I think we need n't make a fuss,
If the one we don't want did n't get us.
If the one we don't want did n't get us.
| [Poems by Cary in] The Poetical Works Of Alice and Phoebe Cary | |