Judge — December 19, 1896 — page 23: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE MOONLIGHT ON THE FLOOR. HE moon came up at ten o'clock, A big. round, silver glory, And on the floor it left a block Of moonlight white and hoary. One corner silvered o'er our feet, Our chairs could get no nearer, And lest we waste our nonsense sweet Each whispered to each hearer. A common impulse moved our chairs Away from Luna's spying, Then, freed from gossip fears and cares, Resumed our happy sighing. And [ had almost reached that word _ Which man and wife would make us, When Lucy screamed and quickly stirred To see that light o'ertake us, i} ‘We moved along. Secure once more Saw through the window streaming, ‘The great white square upon the floor From Luna's silvery gleaming. ‘Then smiling joined in whispers sweet Love's broken conversation, Until that light about our feet We saw with consternation, Then Lucy laughed so merrily, Like songs of woodbirds gushing, And in the moonlight turned to me ‘The while her cheeks were blushing, And said, ‘* I can no farther go, The moon in chase has kept you Until she has us cornered, so T think I must accept you. : Christmas Judge * Let's take a good long move this time, On yonder corner pitching ; We're fighting without rule or rhyme By this eternal hitching. Now here I'll say what T've to say, And, Lucy, you shall hear me If it should take till break of day ; You shall not flout and jeer me And pretty Lucy, bashful, coy, Was on the point of blessing My warm petition, and my joy Fast toward my lips was pressing, When ob, that horrid square of light, Of youthful love a scorner, Had left to us no chance of flight, But penned us in a corner ! And ever on October nights When white the moon is glowing, Ere any lamp our comfort lights, Our cozy ingle showing, T love to see the silver square Across the carpet gliding, ‘That cornered once the blushing fair And made our love abiding. ALT. WORDEN,