Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: "WHAT 'S IN A NAME." Once on a time, where jewels flashed And rose-hid fountains softly plashed, And all the air was sweet and bright With music, mirth and deft delight— A courtly dame drew, smiling, near A poet, greatest of his time, And chirped a question in his ear With voice like silver bells in chime: " Good Master Shakespeare, I would know The name thy lady bore, in sooth, Ere thine ? Nay, little while ago It was, for still we see her youth. Some high-born name, I trow, and yet Though I have heard it, I forget." Then answered he, With dignity, Yet blithely, as the hour was gay : " Ann Hathaway." "WHAT'S IN A NAME." 23 "And good, sweet sir," the dame pursued, Too fair and winsome to be rude— " 'T is hinted here, and whispered there, By doughty knights and ladies fair, That—that—well, that her loyal lord Doth e'en obey her slightest will. Now, my good spouse, I pledge my word, Though loving well, doth heed me ill. Her witchery I pray thee tell," She pleaded, with a pretty frown, " I fain would know what mighty spell Can bring a haughty husband down." Flushing, she raised her eager face To his, with merry, plaintive grace. Then answered he, With dignity, Yet blithely, as the hour was gay: " Fair lady, I can only say, Ann hath a way." THE COMPACT. It was a little boy who lived in Philadelphia town, And a very kind old gentleman, whose name was Mr. Brown. It happened that the self-same day they visited the Fair, And, hand in hand, they walked about, a happy, friendly pair. The little boy looked right and left with eager, wondering eyes, The other gazed more steadily, for he was old and wise; But soon he caught the small boy's way of feeling glad and bright; And the boy no longer aimlessly looked to the l...