The Argosy — page 398: what you’re looking at

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

BIC E. AO Sao Leet S. Rice and slippers, slippers and rice! Quaint old symbols of all that’s nice In a world made up of sugar and spice, With a honeymoon always shining ; A world where the birds keep house by twos, And the ringdove calls and the stockdove coos, And maids are many, and men may choose, And never shall love go pining. For the rice shall be shed and the shoes be thrown, When the bridegroom makes the bride his own, He and she in the world alone, Though many a man came wooing; He and she, and no other beside, Though the ways are long and the world is wide, The proudest groom and the prettiest bride That ever went billing and cooing. Slippers and rice for an omen meet, Fling them out in the open street, High over heads and low under feet, Precious beyond all posies; Glad as the song that greets the day When wedded lovers are whirled away For an everlasting month of May, Or a whole round year of roses. Say, 1s she fair, the wife of an hour? Then fairer was never the fairest flower, Lily or rose, in a maiden’s bower, Blush-white on a summer morning: Or say,is she dark? Then never yet Was southern beauty with eyes of jet, Or dusk-pale syren, or dark brunette, So lovely beyond adorning. Is she rich ? does she bring a dower of gold ? Then good is the treasure to have and to hold Her lover will learn to be twice as bold With fortune at hand to aid him: Is she poor, in all but her own fair worth? Then that is the richest dower on earth, And her lover will laugh at wealth and birth When he owns it was she who made him. It is well, all well, whatever she be, A queen to her lord and to none but he— But the sweetest sight in the world to see Is a bride in her bridal beauty ; And he, he too, is a noble sight, The groom as gallant as belted knight, Who wins a prize in the world’s despite By his vows of love and duty. GEORGE COTTERELL COMNMUC Doo cs) (SO) im