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: CATHARINE PLOUFFE. This gray-hair'd spinster, Catharine Plouffe— Observe her, a contrast to convent chits, At her spinning wheel, in the room in the roof! Yet there are those who believe that the hoof Of a horse is nightly heard as she knits— This gray-hair'd spinster, Catharine Plouffe— Stockings of fabulous warp and woof, And that old Benedict's black pipe she permits At her spinning wheel, in the room in the roof, For thirty years. So the gossip. A proof Of her constant heart? Nay. No one twits This gray-hair'd spinster, Catharine Plouffe; The neighbours respect her but hold aloof, Admiring her back as she steadily sits At her spinning wheel, in her room in the roof. Will they ever marry ? Just ask her. Pouf! She would like you to know she's not lost her wits— This gray-hair'd spinster, Catharine Plouffe, At her spinning wheel in the room in the roof! BENEDICT BROSSE. I. Hale, and though sixty, without a stoop, What does old Benedict want with a wife ? Can he not make his own pea soup ? Better than most men—never droop In the August noons when storms are rife ? Hale, and though sixty, without a stoop, Supreme in the barn, the kitchen, the coop, Can he not use both broom and knife ? Can he not make his own pea soup ? Yet Widow Gouin in command of the troop Of gossips, can tell of the spinsters' strife. Hale, and though sixty, without a stoop, There's a dozen would jump through the golden hoop, For he's rich, and hardy for his time of life, —Can he not make his own pea soup ? But Benedict's wise and the village group He ignores, while he smokes and plays on his fife. Hale, and though sixty, without a stoop, Can he not make his own pea soup ? As for Catharine—now, she's a woman of sense, Though hard to ...