Xariffas Poems

. Too tempting by far! The belle and beau Looked forth at the masker gay; Huzza for the satin that shineth so, For beauty and show to-day. Parasol tiny and lithe rattan, Bootee of patent leather; Panama hat and sandal-wood fan. All shining with the weather. Rich poult de soie and barege Anglais, And petticoats tucked to the knee ; Satinets, cassimers, drap-cPete, And elegant organdie ; THE SUDDEN SHOWER. 31 And gorgeous silks, ten dollars a yard, The exquisite green sunshade ; Young India mull?blest theme for the bard? All join in the masquerade. The gayest masker amongst them all? The good-for-nothing weather? Stirs rich and poor and short and tall, All in a crowd together. Fashion flits by in her brocatelles And Beggary walks behind her, While Folly jingles her merry bells, And Youth flies past to find her. And wee ones, aping the larger ton, Gotten up with wondrous pains, Make up in furbelows, and so on, Whatever they lack in trains. Fair babes in mull and Valenciennes lace, In the blinding sunlight squirm, And " mamma" glides with as grand a grace As if not robed by a worm ! And up and down, in pomp and parade, Simplicity, decked in satins, Flirts in this merry masquerade With wisdom of the Latins. But suddenly, swiftly, where in the world Did all this deluge gather? Where are the blue and the sunshine whirled? What under the sun ails the weather? 32 THE SUDDEN SHOW...