Deux Enfants Perdus [pp. 504-506]

DEUX ENFAVTS PERDUS.
caution. Each felt that his reputation
was at stake. Blows were returned and
stopped in all directions; carte, tierce,
prime, second, were resorted to without
effect. Such splendid fencing had never
before been witnessed by the admiring
spectators. Faster and more furious
became the contest as the parties warmed to their work, until both stepped
backwards, pointing their weapons down,
until they could recover from exhaustion and renew the conflict. An officer
of rank, however, stepped forward and
succeeded in obtaining an apology from
the offending party, upon which the
principals immediately embraced and
started for the cantine, where their recent animosity was soon drowned in
pietits verres d'absynthlie.
The Spanish islands formed the exceptions to the otherwise universal
practice of duelling then in vogue
throughout the West Indies. But it
has since nearly died out with the
decay and emigration of old families, which gradually subsided when
slavery was blotted from the social
sytsem.
DEUX ENFANTS PERDUS.
Have you trimmed your coat this morning,
My robin over the street?
I opened the window an hour ago
And harked for your whistle, sweet.
Still in your swing
You will not sing
What is it makes you blue?
No trouble twixt me and you robin,
Deux enfants 5erdus?
Last night Grisette was roving
'Tis always the way, of course.
Perhaps she left you out in the damp You've caught a cold and are hoarse.
For pity's sake
Do, robin, wake!
Say if my tale is true,
No secrets with me and you robin,
Deux einfants perdus.
Do you still sometimes remember
The summer we stole away,
And hunted the farmer's berries out
Plotting a grand foray? O, now you mock
My foolish talk,
I think I'll hurry through
With the story of me and you robin
Deux enfants 5erdus.
[DEC.
504