The Rubáiyát of a Bachelor   By: Helen Rowland (1876-)

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[Illustration: PROMISED TO PAY A WOMAN'S BILLS FOR LIFE.]

THE·RUBÁIYÁT OF·A·BACHELOR

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BY HELEN ROWLAND

DECORATIONS ···· BY ···· HAROLD ···· SPEAKMAN

DODGE PUBLISHING COMPANY NEW YORK

COPYRIGHT 1915 BY DODGE PUBLISHING COMPANY

TO MY HUSBAND WILLIAM HILL BRERETON THIS LITTLE BOOK IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED

WAKE! For the Spring has scattered into flight The Vows of Lent, and bids the heart be light. Bring on the Roast, and take the Fish away! The Season calls and Woman's eyes are bright!

BEFORE the phantom of Pale Winter died, Methought the Voice of Spring within me cried, "When Hymen's rose decked altars glow within, Why nods the laggard Bachelor outside?"

AND, at the Signal, I who stood before In idle musing, shouted, "Say no more! You know how little while we have to Love And Love's light Hand is knocking at the door!"

NOW, the New Moon reviving old desires, The gallant Youth to Sentiment aspires; And ere he saunters forth on conquest bent, Himself, like unto Solomon, attires.

[Illustration: HIS WINTER GARMENTS HUNG WHERE, NO ONE KNOWS!]

HOW blithely through the smiling throng he goes, His Winter garments hung where, no one knows! A Symphony in radiant scarfs and hose, Wrought t'inspire a maiden's "Ah's!" and "Oh's!"

INTO a new Flirtation, why not knowing, Nor whence, his heart with madness overflowing; Then out of it and thence, without a pause, Into another , willy nilly blowing.

WHAT if the conscience feel, perchance, a sting? No danger waits him save the Wedding Ring . A Kiss is not the sin that yesterday It was for that was Lent , and this is Spring !

SOME simple ones may sigh for wealth or fame, And some, for the sweet Domestic Life, and tame; But ah! give me a supper, a cigar, A charming Woman and the old Love Game!

SOME blue points on the half shell, in a row, Some iced champagne, a melting bird and Thou Beside me flirting, 'neath a picture hat Oh, single life were Paradise enow!

A COZY CORNER tête a tête what bliss! A murmured word, a sigh, a stolen kiss Ah, tell me, does the Promised Paradise Hold anything one half so sweet as this?

AND yet, since I am made of common clay, One charm I'd add to this divine array; Lord make me careful , and whate'er betide, Without proposing, let me slip away!

FOR, some I've known, the bravest and the best, Who laughed at Love, as but an idle jest, Have, one by one, walked straight into the Net, Helpless, before the Cozy Corner test!

THUS, oft, beside some damsel fond and fair, I've sat, thrilled by the perfume of her hair, And madly longed to murmur, lip to lip, "Beloved, marry me!" but did not dare!

FOR some I've wooed, when I felt blithe and gay, Have looked so different , when we met next day, That I have simply stopped to say, "So charmed!" And shuddering, sped hurriedly away!

LOOK to the Married Men! Alas, their gains Are neither here nor there, for all their pains. For wedding bells are rung and loudly rung To drown the clanking of the Marriage Chains !

A MOMENT'S halt a little word or two And you have done what you can ne'er undo; Promised to pay a Woman's bills for life Anchored yourself and there's an end of you!

AND we, who now make merry at the gloom Of those who thus have gone to meet their doom May we, ourselves, not some day follow suit, Ourselves to be the Butt of jests for whom?