CHARLES Fernando Simpkins, '80

Was a votary of the dance,

Who oft tripped the toe fantastic

Masking with the Liederkrantz.

At the last ball our Fernando,

Being up to any lark,

Smooth of face and short of stature,

Went disguised as Joan of Arc.

In a corner quite secluded

Sits a maid without a mate;

Joan moves up, sends off her escort,

Settles for a tete-a-tete.

Little girl at first is timid,

Then her shyness 'gins to wane,

And her pretty girlish prattle

Patters like a summer rain.

Now the talk grows confidential,

Fair unknown takes Charley's hand,

Asks if they may not be sisters

With a look he can't withstand.

Half ashamed, yet curious growing,

Charles Fernando 's led to ask,

"Why should we girls be so stupid?

Come, dear, let us both unmask."

Drop the masks, the faces showing,

Mutual wonder, mutual stare,

For it was the Freshman rooming

Opposite to Charles, in Thayer.