Compliment

<SPAN name="startofbook"></SPAN> <span class="i6"><b>THE COMPLIMENT.</b></span> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">Arrayed in snow-white pants and vest,</span> <span class="i2">And other raiment fair to view,</span> <span class="i2">I stood before my sweetheart Sue&mdash;</span> <span class="i0">The charming creature I love best.</span> <span class="i0">"Tell me and does my costume suit?"</span> <span class="i2">I asked that apple of my eye&mdash;</span> <span class="i2">And then the charmer made reply,</span> <span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_343" id="Page_343">[Pg 343]</SPAN></span> <span class="i0">"Oh, yes, you <i>do</i> look awful cute!"</span> <span class="i0">Although I frequently had heard</span> <span class="i2">My sweetheart vent her pleasure so,</span> <span class="i2">I must confess I did not know</span> <span class="i0">The meaning of that favorite word.</span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">But presently at window side</span> <span class="i2">We stood and watched the passing throng,</span> <span class="i2">And soon a donkey passed along</span> <span class="i0">With ears like wings extended wide.</span> <span class="i0">And gazing at the doleful brute</span> <span class="i2">My sweetheart gave a merry cry&mdash;</span> <span class="i2">I quote her language with a sigh&mdash;</span> <span class="i0">"O Charlie, ain't he awful cute?"</span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i18"><span class="smcap">EUGENE FIELD</span>.</span></div> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />