Why Turn From Me Thus With Such Petulant Pride, When I Ask Thee, Sweet Edith, To Be My Bride; When I Offer The Gift Of Heart Fond And True, And With Loyalty Seek Thy Young Love To Woo? With Patience I've Waited From Week Unto Week, And At Length I Must Openly, Candidly Speak. But Why Dost Thou Watch Me In Doubting Surprise, Why Thus Dost Thou Raise Thy Dark, Deep, Melting Eyes? Can'St Thou Wonder I Love Thee, When For The Last Year We Have Whispered And Flirted - Told Each Hope And Fear; When I've Lavished On Thee Presents Costly And Gay, And Kissed Thy Fair Hands At Least Six Times Each Day? What! Do I Hear Right? So Those Long Sunny Hours Spent Wand'Ring In Woods Or Whispering In Bowers, Our Love-Making Ardent In Prose And In Rhyme, Was Just Only A Method Of Passing The Time! A Harmless Flirtation - The Fashion Just Now, To Be Closed, By A Smile, Or A Jest, Or A Bow! Ah, Believe Me, Fair Edith, With Me 'Twas Not So, And I Would I Had Known This But Six Months Ago; I Would Not Have Wasted On False, Luring Smiles, On Graces Coquettish And Cold, Studied Wiles, True Love That Would Give Thee A Life For Thy Life, And Guarded And Prized Thee, A Fond, Worshipped Wife. Oh I Thou'Rt Pleased Now To Whisper My Manners Are Good, And My Smiles Such As Maiden'S Heart Rarely Withstood, My Age Just The Thing - Nor Too Young Nor Too Old - My Character Faultless, Naught Lacking But Gold, And To-Day Might I Claim E'En Thy Beauty So Rare If Good Uncle John Would But Make Me His Heir. Many Thanks, My Best Edith! I Now Understand For What Thou Art Willing, To Barter Thy Hand: A Palace-Like Mansion With Front Of Brown Stone, In Some Splendid Quarter To Fashion Well Known, S?Vres China, Conservatory, Furniture Rare, Unlimited Pin-Money, Phaeton And Pair. It Is Well, Gentle Lady! The Price Is Not High With A Figure Like Thine, Such A Hand, Such An Eye, Most Brilliant Accomplishments, Statuesque Face, Manners, Carriage Distingu? And Queenlike In Grace, - Nothing Wanting Whatever, Save Only A Heart, But, Instead, Double Portions Of Cunning And Art. Ah! Well For Me, Lady, I Have Learned In Good Time To Save Myself Misery - You, Sordid Crime. I Will Garner The Love That So Lately Was Thine For One Who Can Give Me A Love True As Mine; But Learn Ere We Part, Edith, Peerless And Fair, Uncle John Has Just Died And Has Left Me His Heir!