[ILLUSTRATION: "WHAT'S THAT?" SAID MRS. SEVERANCE SHARPLY] YOUNG PEOPLE'S
PRIDE

_A NOVEL_

BY STEPHEN VINCENT BENET

ILLUSTRATIONS BY HENRY RALEIGH COPYRIGHT, 1922

BY

HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY

_First printing, August 1922_ _TO ROSEMARY

If I were sly, I'd steal for you that cobbled hill, Montmartre,
Josephine's embroidered shoes, St. Louis' oriflamme,
The river on grey evenings and the bluebell-glass of Chartes,
And four sarcastic gargoyles from the roof of Notre Dame.

That wouldn't be enough, though, enough nor half a part;
There'd be shells because they're sorrowful, and pansies since
they're wise,
The smell of rain on lilac-bloom, less fragrant than your heart,
And that small blossom of your name, as steadfast as your
eyes.

Sapphires, pirates, sandalwood, porcelains, sonnets, pearls,
Sunsets gay as Joseph's coat and seas like milky jade,
Dancing at your birthday like a mermaid's dancing curls