The Pretty Roller Skater

A grcup oí inerry f katers at the rink went nlgatly round ; ke the gHndlng of a grlst-mlll rose that dry, persistent sound; And I nlghtly went to watch them from the gallery's lofty place, ror the poetry of motlon ecemcd to fill cach form and face. Rome were full-grown men and women, scir.o were youths and maidens fair. Some were chlldren of all stzes, penetratlng everywhere: All wt re stlr red by sport and f rolle a3 lf llfe were running o'er - 1 was 3 prctty sight to wltness on the hard and burnlshed floer. One. arrayed In brlght, gay euston? , fo bewltchinely did skate Thst my heart when she wes camlng would mest wildlv palpitóte; Without doabt the vlllage beauty was this young and rosy laes, And she tore my heart to tatters every time I saw her pnss. She could step In any fashlon, turn her feet each dangcroua way, 'oee in figures quite ccuettlsb, backward sweep wilh dizzy sway ; On the floor 6he falrly floatcd, tecming free from thought or care, Whlle falry-llkc acd half ecchanted strean-.cd the ribbon from her halr. Sometlmes lc her gay gyratlons upward bcamed her pretty face, Vhlch was all aglow wlth rosta from the ardor of her race ; ["hen I foncied ehe had seen ine for she paused andekated flow, Jut among po many otbers how could fihe my passion know. Tothattown Icmc aslranger- no one knew me there, I tbink, jooilog every nfgbt in wonder on thls slrcn of thcrink; Asd I marvellcd, when so many were in dual marchf6 tfcrown, That she got no f üow's offer, butkept tkatlng on alone. Are the youag rwn all ditnestedi Ihought I as ene wulrlrd a!ong; For thelr coidnees seemed surprlïing, dolng human nature wrong; And I vowed, if ehe would take me (thoueh I knew not how to skate), wouia stumble off on rollers and whlrl wlth her trie a lek So I rallled the director, who was owncr of the rink. And wnile proff erlng my crcdentials, "Tou are Mr. Smith, I thlnk," Said I in the blandeft manter, but with diffldence, I own. 'Would you name me that fair damsel who is skating all alOEe?" icre I thought a shrewd dUcretion was becomtngon my part; It wcald nevcr do to teil hlm ghe had skated through my heart ! 'Whatl that yonng girl in gay costumei', sald he, without stare or frown ; 'Bhe'i our 'Champion Roller-8kater'- she's- a tailor's wlfe, in town !" have ncver tried the rollers, and I never shall, i thlnk; ! have somethlng else to live for than a noisy f kating rlnk. teople say that ell who U3C thim fall and flounder on the floor ; 80 diemtfslng all deluslons, I tkipped straightwav throueh the door.