Fredericksburg College - Quips and Quibbles Yearbook (Fredericksburg, VA)

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Page 91 Q UIP S AND QUIBBLES Shall I compare thee to the rose, One of the loveliest flowers that blows? That nods its head with queenly air And than which there is none more fair? But on its stem there is a thorn By which my hand is deeply torn As I try to capture the lovely prize. And I listen as the south wind sighs And softly in sorrow creeps away, For he has wooed her many a day, Since from a little bud she grew Beneath the summer skies so blue; But at him smiled she in disdain As oft he came again and again. When close he came to whisper his love, As soft as the cooing of a dove, Back sprang he with a start; S. T. L., ’02. Of a sudden he felt a smart— The cruel thorn had torn his heart! And you were fairer than any flower That ever graced a lady’s bower. And joyfully you smiled when you saw my pain, But let me come again and again. And when I ventured to tell my love And hoped for rapture like that above, And thought how I ' d press you to my heart, Of a sudden I, too, felt a smart; For you answered me only with words of scorn Which were sharper than ever rose ' s thorn.

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Page 90 QUIPS AND QUIBBLES The Aspen Leaf heads above ground with bold assurance that winter was past. Birds were mating. Blossoms lent fragrance to the moisture¬ laden air. Life was bursting forth on every hand. A church, a fairy-land of flowers; a priest, in festive robes; a gathering, exuberant with joy. The naturalist, the butterfly—which was the happier? “ ‘I pronounce you man and wife: Whom God hath joined together let not man put asunder.’ ” A couple inside a rapidly moving carriage- The naturalist looked triumphantly at the butterfly in his arms. “I have caught you at last!” The butterfly fluttered coyly as if to break loose: “Yes, but what a chase I’ve led you.” F. II. S., ’99 A PRAYED The way seemed long and dark, I struggled with the feelings in my heart Which tried to whisper to me, And I bade them from me to depart. The voice of the tempter murmured— And we know sometimes his tone is sweet— “Child, for you the battle is too hard, You can but perish in your sad defeat; Give up the struggle now for aye, Strive not for what you call the good, Make cease the conflict ’gainst the evil. Then you ' ll be happy, as you should.” Thus far I listened and tempted was, Then o ' er me poured a mighty tide Of shame for harkening thus. And yielding to the tempter at my side. And I shook my shoulders settling Beneath their load of care, And with trusting eyes looked upward, Breathing out this heartfelt prayer— “Father, I am thine own servant, Here to do Thy holy will, Look in pity now upon me, Say unto me ‘Peace, be still ' ; And my soul will loose its burden Which just now so great did seem, And ' twill pass into the distance As the memory of some dream. ' ’ Brighter seemed each thing around, And my path was plain before me, As the birds sang up above, And a great, sweet calm came o ' er me. S. T. L., ’02.

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Page 92 QUIPS AND QUIBBLES Past Understanding E was nervous and excited, as she sat in a ig arm chair before the open fire listening agerly for a certain step that she hoped and et dreaded to hear. The room was elegantly furnished, and lighted only by the firelight, which cast flickering shadows here and there, but fell in full splendor on the girlish form seated just before it. She was beautiful, and the firelight brought out the gold in the light brown hair, and set forth the delicate face in its exquisite charm of intelligence and purity. She was dressed simply, in a dress of soft white cassimere, having as her only ornament at her throat a heavy gold pin which reflected the light. And as she sat thus before the fire, leaning back in the chair with her white hands clasped tightly together, there came a step on the porch, then a ring at the bell, and she dared not move for fear it was not he. The door was opened and the maid came forward bearing a card on her silver waiter. The girl seized it with trembling fingers, glanced at the name, and said: “Show him in, Suzanne; but if there are any other callers, understand that I wish to see no one this evening.” He came in, a tall, dark, handsome man, with a figure that showed he had gone in for athletics at college. She arose as he entered, and extended her hand, which he took, and did she imagine it, or was it true, that he held it a moment longer than was necessary? They sat down and tried to talk; but never, not even the first time when they met, two years ago, had they found it so hard. She had fully awakened to the fact several days before that she was in love, and with him. Her heart told her that he too loved, though she feared to trust herself to believe it until she heard him say the words that she knew would be the sweetest ever spoken. They struggled on with the conversation awhile, then lapsed into silence, and he leaned back in his chair, and gazed at the girl sitting so near him. It seemed to her that his eyes burned into her very heart, and she feared that she would not be able to resist their charms, but would cast herself into his arms. Just then there came to them the sounds of music, and she arose and opened the window to listen. But the air was cold, and the music died away in the distance. She lowered the