SAMUEL AND SELINA.
Reading edition
By JEAN C. ARCHER.
LONDON GRANT RICHARDS. 1902.
In Spring, While softly cooed The Dove, Sam Told Selina of His Love.
The Summer Moon smiled on them both, Selina plighted him her Troth.
But Autumn brought a gayer Swain— Selina broke it off again.
'Tis Winter now— Selina's slack— She'd give her thumbs to have him back.
Yet— When they met She tossed her head; He Stared at her and Cut her dead!
But Fate at last to them was kind: It sent a Roaring, Raging Wind! Which, Just as Sam was passing by, Blew off Selina's Hat! Oh! My!
Sam Caught it—by a daring jump. Selina's Heart went Thump! Thump!! Thump!!! "Oh, Sam!" she cried; Tears dimmed her sight— And after that it all came right.
They made it up—and very soon They started on their Honeymoon.
Selina proved a model wife, Her Sam was all her joy in life; She fetched his shoes and darned his hose, And sympathized with all his woes.
And, As she let him have his say, He loved her more from day to day; And—on her birthday—for a spree, Took her to the Menagerie.
She revelled in the Monkey Walk, Where Apes, of motley hue, Each jumped—upon a yellow stick— All shining and brand new.
And picture, children, how the Snarks Rejoiced her frugal mind; They ate the Buns, they ate the Bag, And even stale cheese rind.
The Jub-jub birds Selina fed, But they were rude and rough; They fought and scratched, Nor would they stop When they had had enough.
At last, When happy, hot and tired, They found no more to see, Sam took her to a shady spot And treated her to tea. Selina's hat and dress he praised, She clapped his feeblest puns; It was a perfect carnival Of sentiment and Buns!
Much time, alas! they cannot spare, Since holidays are few; Soon, hand in hand, they start afresh To seek adventures new. And all about along the walks Stern "Cautions" they espy; "You need not fear," said Samuel, "While I, my love, am nigh."
Alas! how brief are mortal joys; There comes an awful burbling noise!
As, terror-struck, he turns to fly, Too late he hears her anguished cry, "O Samuel! O Samuel!! Beware! The awful Camuel"!!!
The Camel rushed! The Camel flew! Till all its spots were streaks of blue; To Samuel it seemed to be Itself a whole Menagerie!
The Camel chased him round and round; He sank—exhausted—on the ground; The Camel never noticed that, But pranced along— with Sammy's hat.
And—when it found its victim gone, Imagine how the brute went on; It bucked and reared and kicked and shied, Till, finally, It Bust! and died.
When Sammy heard the loud report And saw the pieces fly, He felt that sure as eggs was eggs, He, too, must surely die. But brave Selina, though her tears Fell all the while like rain, Washed off the dirt and set him up Upon his feet again.
She found the remnants of his hat, And led him to the gate; But there the Camel's owner stood As large and grim as fate. Before they left, that greedy man Took all the cash they had, And turned their pockets inside-out (Which made Selina mad).
How different their coming home From their gay start at morn; They creep along—a sorry sight— Bedraggled and forlorn. He knows he showed a want of pluck, Whatever she may say; She feels that it was all her fault For having a birthday.
But—once at home—the ruddy blaze Each drooping spirit cheers; Sam sets Selina by the fire And wipes away her tears. He draws her closer to his side; He tootles on a comb, And sings her, as her sobs subside, A verse of "Home, Sweet Home."
