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Dinah Maria Mulock - An honest Valentine
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Returned from the Dead-Letter Office

THANK you for your kindness, 
Lady fair and wise, 
Though love`s famed for blindness, 
Lovers--hem! for lies. 
Courtship`s mighty pretty, 
Wedlock a sweet sight;-- 
Should I (from the city, 
A plain man, Miss--) write, 
Ere we spouse-and-wive it, 
Just one honest line, 
Could you e`er forgive it, 
Pretty Valentine? 

Honey-moon quite over, 
If I less should scan 
You with eye of lover 
Than of mortal man? 
Seeing my fair charmer 
Curl hair spire on spire, 
All in paper armor, 
By the parlor fire; 
Gown that wants a stitch in 
Hid by apron fine, 
Scolding in her kitchen,-- 
O fie, Valentine! 

Should I come home surly 
Vexed with fortune`s frown, 
Find a hurly-burly, 
House turned upside down, 
Servants all a-snarl, or 
Cleaning steps or stair: 
Breakfast still in parlor, 
Dinner--anywhere: 
Shall I to cold bacon 
Meekly fall and dine? 
No,--or I`m mistaken 
Much, my Valentine. 
What if we should quarrel? 
--Bless you, all folks do:-- 
Will you take the war ill 
Yet half like it too? 
When I storm and jangle, 
Obstinate, absurd, 
Will you sit and wrangle 
Just for the last word,-- 
Or, while poor Love, crying, 
Upon tiptoe stands, 
Ready plumed for flying,-- 
Will you smile, shake hands, 
And the truth beholding, 
With a kiss divine 
Stop my rough mouth`s scolding?-- 
Bless you, Valentine! 

If, should times grow harder, 
We have lack of pelf, 
Little in the larder, 
Less upon the shelf; 
Will you, never tearful, 
Make your old gowns do, 
Mend my stockings, cheerful, 
And pay visits few? 
Crave nor gift nor donor, 
Old days ne`er regret, 
Seek no friend save Honor, 
Dread no foe but Debt; 
Meet ill-fortune steady, 
Hand to hand with mine, 
Like a gallant lady,-- 
Will you, Valentine? 

Then, whatever weather 
Come, or shine, or shade, 
We`ll set out together, 
Not a whit afraid. 
Age is ne`er alarming,-- 
I shall find, I ween, 
You at sixty charming 
As at sweet sixteen: 
Let`s pray, nothing loath, dear, 
That our funeral may 
Make one date serve both, dear, 
As our marriage day. 
Then, come joy or sorrow, 
Thou art mine,--I thine. 
So we`ll wed to-morrow, 
Dearest Valentine.
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