Poems (Schiller)/Ball room gossip
BALL ROOM GOSSIP
In the corner of a ball-room, Sat a lady young and fair;Beside her lolled a gentleman, In a large and easy chair,
"Oh! dear me, Mr. Ashton, I want you just to lookRight straight across from us, And see that Sarah Cook.
"She is all the time a-flirting With young Mr. Hugay,Though I know he really hates her By what all people say.
"And look at rude Belle Adams, She is really kissing her handTo that gentleman over yonder Who looks so very bland.
"And look at that young sprite, So frisky and so antic;And see that queer old maid Who wants to be romantic;
"And see that tall young man Who is so very lank;And his face, it is so red He looks as if he drank.
"And see that pretty mamma She is trying to make a matchFor her last unmarried daughter, I know she'll get some rich old bach.
"Oh, dear! just hear that blonde— I mean the tall brunette—She says she doesn't know a soul With whom to coquet.
"But oh! I know her well, She likes to be fashionably dressed,And cannot go down to the store, Without she has on her best.
"Oh just behold that widow With her powder, curls and paint.I see she is at her old trick again, Making an effort to faint.
"I know that she thinks that by fainting To awake some gentleman's compassion,And catch a third rich husband, In that ridiculous fainting fashion."
But, gentle reader you and I Will leave the lady fairStill talking to the gentleman Who lolls in the easy chair.[Written at 13 years.]