Choosing a Wife by a Pipe of Tobacco
Tube, I love thee as my life;
By thee I mean to choose a wife.
Tube, thy color let me find,
In her skin, and in her mind.
Let her have a shape as fine;
Let her breath be sweet as thine;
Let her, when her lips I kiss,
Burn like thee, to give me bliss;
Let her, in some smoke or other,
All my failings kindly smother.
Often when my thoughts are low,
Send them where they ought to go;
When to study I incline,
Let her aid be such as thine;
Such as thine the charming power
In the vacant social hour.
Let her live to give delight,
Ever warm and ever bright;
Let her deeds, whene’er she dies,
Mount as incense to the skies.
Gentleman’s Magazine.