The Compliment

Eugene Field (1850–1895)

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?”