THE PROFESSOR'S LETTER. 427 



And so Dobeen, upon his course, 



Love's gallop quick began ; 

 The gal up on the other horse, 



He courted, as they ran. 



The bows around the maid were more 



Than suited to her mind ; 

 Cupid and Sham us rode before, 



The savage rode behind. 



They each pursued the maiden coy, 



Two wooed her a la bow; 

 The arrow tips of one were joy, 



The other's tips were woe. 



'T is said that Shamus won the race, 



And saved his hair and bacon : 

 If Mary loved his wooing pace, 



His heart may stop its achin'. 



And this was the Professor's letter, which had 

 evidently set the aldermanic machine to grinding 

 doggerel again: 



"On the Solomon, | 



Lindsey, Ottawa County, Kansas, j 



. . . . " I have run down here after my mail. 

 Am progressing finely with my studies. Shamus had 

 an adventure yesterday. Mary and he rode over on 

 horseback to a neighbor's, a mile away, and on the 

 return were pursued by an Indian. Hard riding 

 brought them in safely. Mary tells her mistress 

 that, during the terrors of the chase, Shamus would 



