The Compliment

Arrayed in snow-white pants and vest,   And other rainment fair to view,   I stood before my sweetheart Sue— The charming creature I love best. “Tell me and does my costume suit?”   I asked that apple of my eye—   And then the charmer made reply, “Oh, yes, you do look awful cute!” Although I frequently had heard   My sweetheart vent her pleasure so,   I must confess I did not know The meaning of that favorite word. But presently at window side   We stood and watched the passing throng,   And soon a donkey passed along With ears like wings extended wide. And gazing at the doleful brute   My sweetheart gave a merry cry—   I quote her language with a sigh— “O Charlie, ain’t he awful cute?”