The Project Gutenberg eBook of

How She Felt in Her First Corset, and Other Poems

This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this ebook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.

Title: How She Felt in Her First Corset, and Other Poems

Author: Matthew W. Alderson

Release date: March 30, 2011 [eBook #35714]

Language: English

Credits: Produced by David Edwards, Martin Pettit, Yale Collection

of Western Americana, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript

Library and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at

http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images

generously made available by The Internet Archive)

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HOW SHE FELT IN HER FIRST CORSET, AND OTHER POEMS ***

HOW SHE FELT

IN HER

FIRST CORSET

AND OTHER POEMS.

——

BY

MATT. W. ALDERSON.

——

Let all thy actions have a motive true;

Inwardly feel and love whate'er you do;

Naught but wrong acts e'er cause the blush of shame,

And, right yourself, then scorn another's blame.

BUTTE, MONTANA:

PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR.

1887.

COPYRIGHT, 1887.

BY MATT. W. ALDERSON.

BUTTE, MONTANA:

PRESS OF THE MINER PUBLISHING CO.

SECOND THOUSAND.

HOW SHE FELT IN HER FIRST CORSET.

It occurred at Belgrade, where the genial Tom Quaw,

Gave a party, the first that the town ever saw;

The youth and the beauty, the tillers of soil,

Attended that night, seeking surcease from toil.

There were farmers whose hair had a tinge of the gray;

There were maidens than whom none were ever more gay;

There were youths who could ride anything that wears hair,

And matrons whose faces showed lines of dull care.

Of the ladies who on this occasion took part,

Some were dressed in the nobbiest style of the art;

And the others, unmindful of fashion's decrees,

Were attired to have much more comfort and ease.

There was one blushing damsel, just budding sixteen,

Whose waist by a corset ne'er encircled had been,

But whose mother insisted that on such a night

One should find a place there, and the lacing be tight.

So the girl was rigged out as the mother desired,

But of dancing 'twas noticed the damsel soon tired.

"What's the matter?" was asked by some one at her side.

"I feel just like bucking," the maiden replied.

A LOVER'S VALENTINE.

Sweetheart of mine,

A valentine,

In duty bound, I send thee,

And wish that joy,

Free from alloy,

May evermore attend thee.

Near, or apart,

Still may thy heart

To mine in friendship nestle;

For strong and free,

In love for thee,

'Gainst countless foes I'd wrestle.

Since I am thine,

Pray do be mine,

My heart prompts me to ask thee;

Thy charming face,

And matchless grace,

I own have quite possessed me.

TO THOSE WHO HOLD THE GUIDING REINS.

I have observed a steed, proud-spirited,

Lashed by a cruel driver till the sweat

Stood out in beaded drops upon his side;

And, oftimes, tears have welled up in my eyes

As in my mind I've pictured human hearts

Lashed thus by cruel words and goaded on.

Then when, at other times, the same proud steed

Has passed along the street with arched neck,

With every motion breathing force and vim,

I've noticed kindness held the guiding reins

And kept in check the zealous prancer's power.

My mind has pictured then, with kindlier glow,

A heart ambitious, far too keen to go,

Kept by sweet loving words in proper bounds;

And deepest gratitude, at such a time,

Wells up for those who hold the guiding reins.

HIS FACE IS HIS FORTUNE.

"His face is his fortune;"

Yes, seldom we see

One for "tick" importune,

As boldly as he.

Like one who has riches

Acquired by gift,

He laughs at the stitches

Of gainer by thrift,

For face is his treasure,

And why keep in bank?

One cannot find pleasure

With pocket-book lank.

So credit he uses

Where'er it will pass,

And always abuses

The laboring class.

But "cheek" is like iron

That's coated with tin,

It has a nice face on,

But one rather thin.

A LOVE LETTER AND ITS ANSWER.

A MONTANIAN TO HIS SWEETHEART.

Darling, I love thee! Other words might tell

A trifle of how dear thou art to me,

But these tell all. Of thee I might have said,

And said in truth, at that, that all thy ways,

Thine every motion, look and glance, as well,

Did charm the inmost recess of my soul:

In words of praise, and those in justice due,

I might the beauties of thy mind portray;

For they outrival charms that in thy face

I see, as elsewhere I have failed to find:

Thy modesty, thy grace, thy love of all

That tends to elevate, to purify,

And make a fellow mortal happier,

I might have dwelt on to a length that thou,

And thou alone, deserves from one whose pen

Is feeble in thy praise as is mine own.

Still, had I done so, and withheld the words,

"I love thee!" I had never told thee half.

I love thee, darling! Ah! indeed, I do!

Beyond the shadow of a doubt, I love,

And such a one as any prince or king

Might gladly love and proudly call his own.

But, come to think, this love is all I have:

No titled rank is mine—no Astor's wealth;

And one you know, can't live on love alone;

Ah, no! But better starve for lack of bread

Than want of love; for when we starve for bread,

And hunger knaws with all its well-known force,

A day and all desire for food grows weak,

And in its stead one craves but rest and sleep:

These come, and few the days ere dreamless sleep

Supplies the place of all desires and pains.

But, starve for love, and when doth come relief?

The weary soul still lives, or drags along—

As pris'ner doomed for life goes to his work;

Ambitionless it moves, its purpose dead,

Yet ling'ring like 'twere powerless to go;

Struggling 'twixt hope and fear, as thro' the bars

A gleam of sunshine flitters now and then,

Glad'ning the while it shines, to leave more dark

The gloomy dungeon of an unloved life;

Moving, as moves the lifeless rock or ore

When those with life exert o'er it their power;

Living! Ah, yes! But devil never cursed

His vilest victim with a death so dread;

Standing, as stands an engine on the track,

Perfectly built in all its mighty parts,

Its boiler and its furnace amply fed,

Yet powerless. But, let the flame of love

Touch but one splinter of the waiting pyre,

And all is changed. In gladsome bounds the blaze

Leaps on and on, till burning with one flame,

The fire warms the slumb'ring soul to life;

Warms till, as love directs, its living proves—

When under wisdom's hands—man's highest bliss.

Yes, when love fills the heart, behold how strong,

How powerful one stands! His muscles ache

With pure strength, and long for that on which

Their latent power to show; and not alone

In idle longings doth a lover stand,

But works alike with both his head and hands

To gain desired ends. Doth one lack means?

Then love supplies a purpose and desire,

And rests not still till they are at command.

Doth one feel weak? Then love doth make him strong.

Is one a slave to appetite or care?

Then love doth free him from the galling chains.

Doth one lack knowledge or attainments rare?

Then love spurs on till all of these are gained.

Yes love, and that alone, is all I have;

But, darling, having that, I offer thee

More than all else another man can give,

Who hath abundance, and is rich in all

Save love, and that for thee, and thee alone.

This is my plea. I stand and wait my fate.

If thou dost love me, darling, tell me so;

If not—but that can never be, I know.

THE ANSWER SHE GAVE HIM.

Your note to me, of recent date,

Where you are so importunate,

Has been received, and I have read,

With greatest care, what you have said.

I am quite pleased that you can see

So much to praise in one like me,

And only wish that I could say

Nice things in such a pretty way.

But, tell me! do you really think

That love is better than "the chink?"

Why, money rules the world to-day,

With strong and unresistless sway!

'Tis little schoolboys talk of love.

But as they older grow, improve;

While girls, though they be very young,

Know better but may hold their tongue.

If you have money, then you can

Go where you will, and be a man;

But if you're poor—a genius, too—

Your family can be but blue,

While oft you'll wish for food to eat,

And for firm friends your heart to greet.

You own you're poor, yet ask of me

To share a poor man's misery!

Why men would be real scarce indeed,

Ere I should think to feel the need

Of one who nothing has but love!

Poor men abound where'er we rove,

And I can get one any day:

(When rich, pray call around this way).

Suppose we loved, and married were,

And fortune gave to us an heir,

Pray who would nurse and care for it?

Who train its mind? who mould its wit?

Who'd wash the dishes, cook the food,

Do out-door chores, and cut the wood?

What buggy rides would I receive?

How many friends would to me cleave?

And then there's concerts to attend,

And other places, that transcend

The theaters and balls that now

We with unstinted praise endow.

Oh, no! don't ask of me to wed

A loving fellow, though his head

Be better filled with brains than those

Who dress themselves in finer clothes:

I want a man who's rich in stocks—

(D'ye think I'd ever darn old socks?)

You talk of love and lovers bold,

As though I'd care if icy cold

Were heart of him to whom with pride

My loving heart I'd fondly tied.

I would be rich and nothing care,

For I'd have lover's everywhere;

And when of one I tired grew,

I'd take my pick and love anew.

Now don't be angry with me, pray,

For what I've written you to-day;

You were to me so frank and true

I could not well be less to you;

So I have said what all must feel,

Though some, I know, the facts conceal.

Then do not seek just now to wed,

But wait until you're rich, instead.

THE BABY'S CLOTHES.

Let poets praise, as in days gone by,

The wealth of a loving maiden's sigh;

The bliss ecstatic of every bride,

And honeymoon pleasures that ne'er subside;

I sing of a happier time than those,

The time when making the baby's clothes.

A girlish heart may o'erflow with joy

When with the one she would call "her boy,"

And a doting wife may fail to cloy

A heart kept free from every alloy;

But joys surpassing the sweetest of those

Come when preparing the baby's clothes.

A SISTER'S LOVE.

They say that the angels look down from above

And watch us wherever we stray;

That they are the beings that guide us in love

And bring us the joys of the day.

I am glad it is so, and thank them to-night

For the wealth of a sister's love,

For of all the pleasures they bring to as here

That's nearest the joys above.

I've felt so real often as in my arms

I've clasped her form and kissed her;

But the girl that I kissed was not my own,

She was another fellow's sister.

A SCHOOL-MA'AM'S STORY.

I was a teacher then, as now,

And made a little spending money.

By training big and little sprouts,

In a mining town called Pony.

One night the biggest boy I had,

For having cracked a rigid rule,

Was bade to stay and con his books

Some fifteen minutes after school.

I for a moment turned my back—

On other duties then intent—

The fellow slyly raised a sash

And through the opening quickly went.

Next eve, as extra punishment,

I gave him minutes forty-five;

And, lest he play the prank again,

I kept my every sense alive.

The task performed, he left the room;—

The sun was shining then, no more,—

And when, soon afterwards, I left,

I found him waiting at the door.

"'Tis getting late," the youth remarked,

"For ladies to be out alone,

And, may I have the pleasure, Miss,

Of seeing that you're safely home?"

I smiled and took the gallant's arm,

What else could anybody do?

I've liked the fellow ever since

And have no doubt he likes me too.

TRUE LOVE.

Ask of the winds, that all around

In saddest requiem blow,

Wherein, and where alone, is found

True happiness below;

And when "in love" their answer is,

Would you love's secret know?

Consider both have equal rights,

And treat each other so.

Thus sang a poet months ago,

As o'er the world he roamed

And saw the home of dearest friends,

To desolation doomed;

A home where, years before, the bride

With heart of joy and glee,

Had welcomed to her heart's embrace

A bud of misery.

"A bud of misery," you say?

Yes, thinking it a rose,

And little dreaming that its folds

No fragrance did enclose:

But so the after years have shown,

And blighted hearts are found

Where once affection reigned supreme,

And spread its joys around.

He loved her, but he never thought

That love should be expressed,

And slights that caused her keenest pain,

He never once redressed;

To me he often wished he'd been

To her a better man;

But urged to tell his wife as much,

He would not brook the plan.

Oh, ye! on whom some heart depends,

For all its store of bliss,

Withhold not from that tender soul

The loving word and kiss;

But, give expression to your love,

And make its bliss complete,

By giving those within your home

Unfettered love to greet.

WE'VE GROWN APART IN ALL THESE YEARS.

We were firm friends in years gone by,

Were classmates at the school,

And kept each other company,

Against the master's rule.

For he was righteous and he taught:

"No boys with girls shall play!"

I wonder if he really thought

They'd lead us all astray.

"No messages shall pass between

The scholars in this school!

And, woe to him who first is seen

To violate this rule!"

By fear and awe were all oppressed

And knew not what to do:

But I, more bold than all the rest,

Sent Kate my billets-doux.

She answered them, and sweeter notes

A lover never read;

I've often wondered since that time

They never turned my head.

And when our daily tasks were o'er,

Away from school we ran

To meet within some leafy dell

And both our futures plan.

But now she meets me with reserve,

No welcome, as of yore;

No parting with a warm embrace,

No kisses at the door.

Another fellow charms her now;

She's children pert and tripper

And, many a time, upon her knee,

She spanks them with her slipper.

POLITICAL ECONOMY.

CHAPTER I—PRODUCTION.

A youth, not handsome from an outward view,

Whose features stern belied the mellowness

That dwelt behind his earnest, steadfast look,

Delved in his heart upon a summer day

And found therein a narrow vein of love.

The prospect pleased, and on development

He found the mine was rich. For years he worked

And piled in heaps the ore upon the dump.

Deep 'neath the mountain ridges of his heart

He branched out levels on the silvered streak,

And found almost exhaustless hidden wealth.

He sought association, and he found

A friend who brought the skill to treat the ore.

He wasted not the wealth by labor won,

But, when refined, he stored the bricks away,

Until within himself there was no space,

And he was but a treasure house of love.

CHAPTER II—EXCHANGE.

The youth is lost. Behold, on manhood's verge,

Our hero now. A market for his ware

He seeks at home in vain. There smallest coins

Supply the daily needs, and he must seek

A distant shore, and one to coin his wealth.

Undauntedly, despite unbroken paths,

Unheeding storms and floods, he presses on

To reach her side. An aged man stands guard,

And yet he marches up the walks unchecked.

His very boldness awes. A maiden there

Is pleased with what he brings, and from her heart

She gladly pays him golden coin therefor.

She mints her boughten wealth, and later on

They meet again. They ride the garden gate.

Proximity, free trade promote exchange.

She pays him back his own, each coin a kiss.

The market steady rules, demand is strong.

Supply exhaustless. 'Tis called a fair exchange,

And yet they both are richer made thereby.

CHAPTER III—CONSUMPTION.

Beneath her father's roof we see them next,

And at the altar plight their faith—each heart

By love firm bound, and yet by love left free.

The years roll by and for the staff of life

They live on love. They need conveniences,

And love provides them all. Their luxuries

Are daily feasts of love. There are some days

When, overcome by care and household toils,

Her heart is faint, but when she seeks his side

She meets love's sweet caress and cheering kiss,

And wonders that her spirits ever drooped.

He never leaves her side but with a kiss,

And, when they meet again, he clasps her form

And plants love's token on her waiting lips.

Would'st thou the secret know, of happy homes?

'Tis gallantries like these that make them so.

At times when prostrate on her bed she lays,

She makes sad inroads on his stock of wealth;

Still, freely, lavishly he gives it her,

And wooes her back to health again, thro' love.

About the hearth a troop of children comes,

And as he soothes and cheers their restless hearts,

His garnered wealth, like snow, fast melts away.

The mine can be depended on no more;

Old age creeps on apace, and in his heart

He feels the strained timbers giving 'way.

He feeds now on the wealth in other days

Invested where 'twould bring a safe return.

With tottering steps yet proud he walks the streets,

And still has smiles for everyone he meets.

CHAPTER IV—DISTRIBUTION.

Upon his bed with withered, palsied frame,

Behold an aged man! A life well spent

Is drawing to a close. About him stand

The loved ones of his home. They prop him up

As with a halting voice, yet clear, he speaks:

"My treasured store of love will soon be yours.

Waste not the capital I leave behind

In shedding bitter tears above my grave;

I shall not feel thy love, and if I should,

'Twould make me sad to see you weeping there;

As thou dost love me, seek and cheer the hearts

That find life's road a sad and lonesome way;

My dying wish, yes children, my command,

Is that you love—yes, love—each oth—er here."

He breathes no more.

The last sad rites performed,

The hearts bereaved return with saddened step

And enters once again upon life's tasks.

The father's dying wish rings in their ears;

They check the flow of tears and rise above

The grief that bends them low. Love flows again,

And on the gates the youths and maidens fair

Are gaily swinging back and forth once more,

Fresh coinage from the mint is passing now,

And, as we walk the streets, upon the air

There rings a sound that proves the metal true.

*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HOW SHE FELT IN HER FIRST CORSET, AND OTHER POEMS ***

Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will be renamed.

Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG™ concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use of the Project Gutenberg trademark. If you do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the trademark license is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and research. Project Gutenberg eBooks may be modified and printed and given away—you may do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks not protected by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the trademark license, especially commercial redistribution.

START: FULL LICENSE

THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE

PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK

To protect the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting the free distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase “Project Gutenberg”), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project Gutenberg™ License available with this file or online at www.gutenberg.org/license.

Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works

1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg™ electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in your possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project Gutenberg™ electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8.

1.B. “Project Gutenberg” is a registered trademark. It may only be used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg™ electronic works even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project Gutenberg™ electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg™ electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below.

1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation (“the Foundation” or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the United States and you are located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg™ works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg™ name associated with the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg™ License when you share it without charge with others.

1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project Gutenberg™ work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any country other than the United States.

1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:

1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg™ License must appear prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg™ work (any work on which the phrase “Project Gutenberg” appears, or with which the phrase “Project Gutenberg” is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, copied or distributed:

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.

1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase “Project Gutenberg” associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg™ trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.

1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is posted with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked to the Project Gutenberg™ License for all works posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work.

1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg™ License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg™.

1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project Gutenberg™ License.

1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg™ work in a format other than “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other format used in the official version posted on the official Project Gutenberg™ website (www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg™ License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.

1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg™ works unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.

1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing access to or distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works provided that:

- • You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from the use of Project Gutenberg™ works calculated using the method you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark, but he has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in Section 4, “Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.”

- • You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg™ License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg™ works.

- • You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of receipt of the work.

- • You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free distribution of Project Gutenberg™ works.

1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg™ electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the manager of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark. Contact the Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below.

1.F.

1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project Gutenberg™ collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg™ electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain “Defects,” such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment.

1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the “Right of Replacement or Refund” described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark, and any other party distributing a Project Gutenberg™ electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.

1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further opportunities to fix the problem.

1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you ‘AS-IS’, WITH NO OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.

1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions.

1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone providing copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg™ work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg™ work, and (c) any Defect you cause.

Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg™

Project Gutenberg™ is synonymous with the free distribution of electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from people in all walks of life.

Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg™’s goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg™ collection will remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure and permanent future for Project Gutenberg™ and future generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at www.gutenberg.org.

Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation

The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service. The Foundation’s EIN or federal tax identification number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state’s laws.

The Foundation’s business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up to date contact information can be found at the Foundation’s website and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact

Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation

Project Gutenberg™ depends upon and cannot survive without widespread public support and donations to carry out its mission of increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed in machine-readable form accessible by the widest array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt status with the IRS.

The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate.

While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who approach us with offers to donate.

International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.

Please check the Project Gutenberg web pages for current donation methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate.

Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg™ electronic works

Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg™ concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and distributed Project Gutenberg™ eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support.

Project Gutenberg™ eBooks are often created from several printed editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition.

Most people start at our website which has the main PG search facility: www.gutenberg.org.

This website includes information about Project Gutenberg™, including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.

Table of Contents

HOW SHE FELT IN HER FIRST CORSET AND OTHER POEMS.—— BY MATT. W. ALDERSON. ——

HOW SHE FELT IN HER FIRST CORSET.

A LOVER'S VALENTINE.

TO THOSE WHO HOLD THE GUIDING REINS.

HIS FACE IS HIS FORTUNE.

A LOVE LETTER AND ITS ANSWER.

THE BABY'S CLOTHES.

A SISTER'S LOVE.

A SCHOOL-MA'AM'S STORY.

TRUE LOVE.

WE'VE GROWN APART IN ALL THESE YEARS.

POLITICAL ECONOMY.

THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE