Chapter 3

My kitty sat quietly near the fire As Dolly and I came by; Miss Dolly bowed, and pussy meowed, And opened her yellow eye.

Ah me! if Kit could only talk, And Dolly could but chat, We'd social be as any three-- Talk, sing, and all of that.

I dressed all up in grandma's cap, And put on her glasses too; "Why, Grandma!" I said, as I looked at myself, "I'm almost as old as you."

My mother softly kissed my cheek, And then she blessed me too, Praying that I, as years went by, Might be as good and true.

My birthday song is a merry one, And my heart is warm and light; Kind father, mother, and dear grandma, Sweet dolly and pussy, good night.

Youth and Age

A funny thing I heard to-day, I might as well relate. Our Lil is six, and little May Still lacks a month of eight.

And, through the open play-room door, I heard the elder say: "Lil, run downstairs and get my doll; Go quick, now--right away!"

And Lillie said--(and I agreed That May was hardly fair):-- "You might say 'please,' or go yourself-- I didn't leave it there."

"But, Lillie," urged the elder one, "Your little legs, you know, Are younger than mine are, child, And so you ought to go!"

Children

"I would not be a girl," said Jack, "Because they have no fun; They cannot go a-fishing, nor A-shooting with a gun; They cannot climb up trees for fruit, Nor bathe without a bathing dress, Which is no fun at all."

"I would not be a boy," said May, "For boys are nasty things, With pockets filled with hooks and knives, And nails, and tops and strings And when a boy becomes a man, He's got to buy girls rings;"

A Lost Child

"I'm losted! Could you find me, please?" Poor little frightened baby! The wind had tossed her golden fleece, The stones had scratched her dimpled knees, I stooped and lifted her with ease, And softly whispered "Maybe."

"Tell me your name, my little maid: I can't find you without it." "My name is Shiny-eyes," she said, "Yes; but your last name?" She shook her head: "Up to my house 'ey never said A single word about it."

"But, dear," I said, "what is your name?" "Why, didn't you hear me told you? Dust Shiny-eyes." A bright thought came: "Yes, when you're good. But when they blame You little one,--is it just the same When mamma has to scold you?"

"My mamma never scolds," she moans, A little blush ensuing, "'Cept when I've been a-frowing stones; And then she says (the culprit owns),-- Mehitabel Sapphira Jones. What has you been a-doing?"

Anna E. Burnham

Little Mary

Here stands little, little Mary, With her face of winning grace, Chattering tongue that runs apace, And her ways contrary

Who so gay as Mary? With her laughs of rippling glee Brimming o'er with melody,-- Bonny, blithesome Mary.

Household pet is Mary-- Such a merry, joyous sprite, Filling all our home with light-- Pretty winsome Mary!

Mischief-loving Mary, Busy as the busiest bee, Full of sunshine, life, and glee Is our heart's sweet Mary!

Girl and Angel

As Peter sat at Heaven's gate A maiden sought permission, And begged of him, if not too late, To give her free admission.

"What claim hast thou to enter here?" He cried with earnest mien. "Please sir," said she, 'twixt hope and fear, "I'm only just sixteen!"

"Enough," the hoary guardian said, And the gate wide open threw. "That is the age when every maid Is girl and angel too."

[Page 12--Naughty Girls]

Girl Who Wouldn't Go to Bed

Once I knew a little girl, Who wouldn't go to bed, And in the morning always had A very sleepy head.

At night she'd stop upon the stairs, And hold the railings tight Then with a puff she'd try to blow Out Mary Ann's rushlight.

The bed at last they tuck'd her in, The light she vow'd to keep; Left in the dark she roar'd and cried; Till tired she went to sleep.

Little Girl that Beat her Sister

Go, go, my naughty girl, and kiss Your little sister dear; I must not have such things as this, Nor noisy quarrels here.

What! little children scold and fight Who ought to be so mild; Oh! Mary, 'tis a shocking sight To see an angry child.

I can't imagine for my part, The reason of your folly, As if she did you any hurt By playing with your dolly.

Children Should not Quarrel

Let dogs delight to bark an bite, For God hath made them so; Let bears and lions growl and fight: For 'tis their nature to.

But children you should never let Such angry passions rise; Your little hands were never made To tear each other's eyes.

The Sulky Girl

Why is Mary standing there, Leaning down upon the chair, With pouting lip and frowning brow? I wonder what's the matter now.

Come here, my dear, and tell me true, Is it because I spoke to you About what you just now had done, That you are such a naughty one?

When, then, indeed, I'm grieved to see That you can so ill-tempered be: You make your faults a great deal worse By being sulky and perverse.

Oh! how much better it appears, To see you melting into tears, And then to hear you humbly say, "I'll not do so another day!"

The Little Girl that did not Like to be Washed

What! cry when I wash you! not love to be clean? There, go and be dirty, unfit to be seen; And till you leave off, and I see you have smiled, I'll not take the trouble to wash such a child.

The Girl who Sucked her Fingers

A little girl, named Mary Kate, Whom you may have chance to see, Would have been loved by small and great, But for one thing, which I'll relate; So listen now to me.

A silly habit she's acquired Of putting in her mouth, The pretty fingers of her hand, And sucking them, for hours she'd stand, In a manner most uncouth.

Her play-companions used to laugh, And jeeringly would say, "Oh, pray bring Mary Kate some crumbs, Poor thing! she's dining off her thumbs, She'll eat them all away."

Girl Stealing Treacle

This is Nelly Pilfer; I'll tell you what she earned By stealing off the treacle When Mary's back was turned.

They caught the greedy Nelly With treacle on her hand, They put her in the corner, And there they made her stand.

The Girl who Soiled her Clothes

Little Polly Flinders, Sat among the cinders, Warming her pretty toes; Her mother came and caught her, And scolded her little daughter, For spoiling her nice new clothes.

The Greedy Little Girl

I knew a greedy little girl, Who all day long did roar; Whatever toys were given her, She always wanted more.

Five dolls she had--one was black, A ball and battledore, But held them all so very tight, The roar'd and scream'd for more.

Now this was wicked of the child, As everyone must own; So for the whole of one long day They shut her up alone.

The Girl Who Played with Fire

Mamma, a little girl I met, Had such a scar, I can't forget! All down her arms and neck and face; I could not bear to see the place.

Poor little girl! and don't you know The shocking trick that made her so? 'Twas all because she went and did A thing her mother had forbid.

For once, when nobody was by her, This silly child would play with fire; And long before her mother came, Her pinafore was all in flame.

In vain she tried to put it out, Till all her clothes were burnt about; And then she suffer'd ten times more, All over with a dreadful sore.

For many months before 'twas cured, Both day and night the pain endured; And still you see, when passing by her, How sad it is to play with fire.

Little Miss Consequence

Little Miss Consequence strutted about, Turned up her nose, pointed her toes, And thought herself quite a grand person, no doubt. Gave herself airs; took many cares, To appear old; was haughty and cold. She spoke to the servants like a dog or a cat And fussed about this, and fussed about that.

The Vulgar Little Lady

"But, mamma, now," said Charlotte, "pray don't you believe That I'm better than Jenny my nurse? Only see my red shoes, and the lace on my sleeve; Her clothes are a thousand times worse.

"I ride in my coach, and have nothing to do. And the country folks stare at me so; And nobody dares to control me but you, Because I'm a lady, you know.

"Then servants are vulgar and I am genteel; So, really, 'tis out of the way, To think that I should not be better a deal Than maids, and such people as they."

"Gentility, Charlotte," her mother replied, "Belongs to no station or place; And nothing's so vulgar as folly and pride, Though dressed in red slippers and lace.

"Not all the fine things that fine ladies possess Should teach them the poor to despise; For 'tis in good manners, and not in good dress, That the truest gentility lies."

[Page 13--Naughty Girls]

Peggy Won't

"I won't be dressed, I won't, I won't!" Cried Peggy one morn to mamma. "Very well, dear," was quietly said, "I'll teach you how silly you are."

Peggy then frowned and set her lips Expecting a kiss as of old, But mother had gravely walked away, And Peggy was getting so cold.

The minutes passed, and Peggy sighed, For thoughts of her breakfast arose, And "Mammy, dear," she loudly wept, While stamping her bare little toes.

Then mother came, and firmly said, "I'm taking you, dear, at your word; 'I won't be dressed--I won't, I won't!' Has many times lately been heard.

"So now to bed, my little maid, For you _will not_ be dressed to-day; Then Peggy will be taught to think Before acting in such a way."

Oh, for the tears that Peggy shed! But now every morn, I am told, A wee young maid is quietly dressed, And is always as good as gold.

The Shadows

"Mamma! I see something Quite dark on the wall;-- It moves up and down, And it looks very strange! Sometimes it is large, And sometimes it is small; Pray, tell me what it is, And why does it change?"

"It is Mamma's shadow That puzzles you so, And there is your own Close beside it, my love! Now run round the room, It will go where you go; It rests where you sit, When you rise it will move.

"These wonderful shadows Are caused by the light From fire and from candles Upon us that falls; If we were not here, All that place would be bright, But light can't shine Through us to lighten the wall.

"And when you are out Some fine day in the sun, I'll take you where shadows Of apple-trees lie; And houses and cottages too-- Every one Repose on their shadows Beneath the bright sky.

"Now hold up your mouth, And give me a sweet kiss; Our shadows kiss too!-- Don't you see it quite plain?" "O yes! and I thank you For telling me this, I'll not be afraid Of a shadow again."

Mary Lundie

[Page 14--Naughty Girls]

Little Bo-Peep

Little Bo-Peep has lost her sheep, And can't tell where to find them; Leave them alone, and they'll come home And bring their tails behind them.

Little Bo-Peep fell fast asleep, And dreamed she heard them bleating, But when she awoke, 'twas all a joke-- Alas! they still were fleeting.

Then up she took her little crook, Determined for to find them; She found them, indeed, bit it made her heart bleed, They'd left their tails behind them.

It happened one day, as Bo-Peep did stray Over the meadows hard by, That there she espied their tails side by side, All hung on a tree to dry.

She heaved a sigh, and gave by-and-by Each careless sheep a banging; And as for the rest, she thought it was best Just to leave their tails a-hanging.

Mary's Little Lamb

Mary had a little lamb Whose fleece was white as snow, And everywhere that Mary went That Lamb it would not go;

So Mary took that little Lamb And put it on the spit, And soon it was so nicely done She ate it every bit.

Pemmy

Pemmy was a pretty girl, But Fanny was a better; Pemmy look'd like any churl, When little Fanny let her.

Pemmy had a pretty nose, But Fanny had a better; Pemmy oft would come to blows, But Fanny would not let her.

Pemmy had a pretty song, But Fanny had a better; Pemmy would sing all day long, But Fanny would not let her.

Little Husband

I had a little husband, No bigger than my thumb; I put him in a pint pot, And there I bid him drum.

I bought a little horse, That galloped up and down; I bridled him, and saddled him, And sent him out of town.

I gave him some garters, To garter up his hose, And a little handkerchief, To wipe his pretty nose.

I'm Governess

Now children dear, you all come near And do not make a noise; But listen here, just take and clear That desk of all those toys.

For now I'm Governess you'll find, That its myself will make you mind; So Alice Brown you do your sum, And Betty Snooks don't look so glum.

And Sarah White sit down at once, And Susan Black you are a dunce, And Annie Grey you needn't think I didn't see you spill the ink.

And find your thimble Maggie More, And mind your sewing Jennie Shore; And Linda Cole you know 'tis wrong To make a stitch two inches long.

And you Kate Ross, stop pinching there, Don't scratch! nor pull your sister's hair; And you, you naughty Lucy Moyes, Must not be talking to the boys.

And Bridget Mace don't make that face; And Norah Finn keep your tongue in. Don't be a Tom-boy Emma Pyke, You really must act lady-like.

Now I want all good children in my school, Don't want a single dunce, bad girl or fool, So I will kindly ask you to be brave, And try to very, very well behave.

Yes all be good and learn your lessons well, And then I'll ring the little bell to tell That school is over for the day, And you can all run out to play.

Little Governess

Little Nellie Nipkin, brisk, and clean, and neat, Keeps a little baby-school in the village street; Teaches little pupils all that she can find, And keeps a little birch that teaches them to mind.

My Mamma's Maid

Dingty diddledy, My mamma's maid, She stole oranges, I'm afraid; Some in her pockets, some in her sleeve, She stole oranges, I believe.

My Dolly

I have a little doll, I take care of her clothes; She has soft flaxen hair, and her name is Rose. She has pretty blue eyes, and a very small nose, And a funny little mouth, and her name is Rose.

Tommy Snooks

As Tommy Snooks and Bessy Brooks Were walking out one Sunday, Says Tommy Snooks to Bessy Brooks, "To-morrow will be Monday."

Little Betty Blue

Little Betty Blue, lost her left shoe, What can little Betty do? Give her another, to match the other, And then she may walk in two.

Cross Patch

Cross patch, draw the latch, Sit by the fire and spin; Take a cup, and drink it up, Then call your neighbours in.

Jumping Joan

Hinx, minx! the old witch winks, The fat begins to fry; There's nobody at home but jumping Joan, Father, mother, and I.

Princess Lost Her Shoe

Doodle, doodle, doo, The Princess lost her shoe; Her highness hopp'd The fiddler stopp'd Not knowing what to do.

Hobble Gobble

The girl in the lane that couldn't speak plain, Cried "Gobble, gobble, gobble;" The man on the hill that couldn't stand still, Went "Hobble, hobble, hobble."

Our Girl's Rabbits

Mary, Kate, and Maria went down as agreed, To the hutch in the garden, the rabbits to feed; There was the mother, a steady old bunny, Moving her nose in a manner so funny.

A young rabbit also, tho' seeming to dose, Kept munching his breakfast and moving his nose; Mary, Kate, and Maria gave the rabbits some food, And lovingly stroked them because they were good.

[Page 15--Naughty Girls]

Meddlesome Matty

One ugly trick has often spoiled The sweetest and the best; Matilda, though a pleasant child, One ugly trick possessed, Which, like a cloud before the skies, Hid all her better qualities.

Sometimes she'd lift the teapot lid To peep at what was in it; Or tilt the kettle, if you did But turn your back a minute. In vain you told her not to touch-- Her trick of meddling grew so much.

Her grandma went out one day, And by mistake she laid Her spectacles and snuff-box gay Too near the little maid; "Ah! well," thought she, "I'll try them on, As soon as grandmamma is gone,"

Forthwith she placed upon her nose The glasses large and wide; And looking round, as I suppose, The snuff box she too spied: "Oh! what a pretty box is that; I'll open it." said little Matt.

"I know grandmamma would say, 'Don't meddle with it, dear;' But then she's far enough away, And no one else is near; Besides, what can there be amiss In opening such a box as this?"

So thumb and finger went to work To move the stubborn lid; And presently a mighty jerk The mighty mischief did; For all at once, ah! woeful case, The snuff came puffing in her face.

Poor eyes, and nose, and mouth beside, A dismal sight presented; In vain, as bitterly she cried, Her folly she repented. In vain she ran about for ease; She could do nothing now but sneeze.

She dashed the spectacles away, To wipe her tingling eyes; And as in twenty bits they lay, Her grandmamma she spies. "Heyday! and what's the matter now?" Says grandmamma, with lifted brow.

Matilda, smarting with the pain, And tingling still and sore, Made many a promise to refrain From meddling evermore. And 'tis a fact, as I have heard, She ever since has kept her word.

The Girl who Spilled the Ink

"Oh! Lucy! Fanny! Make haste here! Mamma will be so vexed, I fear, For I've upset the ink! See, on my frock and pinafore, Such great black stains! And there are more Upon my socks, I think."

And Lucy cries, with open eyes, And hands extended in surprise, "Oh, naughty Mary Ann, Those stains can never be washed out; Whatever have you been about? Look at her, sister Fan!"

Mamma comes in: "Heyday! what's this? Why, Mary Ann, I told you, Miss, The inkstand ne'er to move; And little girls who won't obey, And mind each word their parents say, Good people ne'er will love."

The Naughty Girl

A naughty girl had got no toy, And didn't know what to do, So she rumpled her frock And tore her sock, And tried to eat her shoe.

The Girl who was Always Tasting

Little Miss Baster, of Sunnyside, Was known as a taster, far and wide; Picking and licking, spying and prying, Each bottle and dish with her fingers trying. Dangerous practice! dreadful little fact is! Once almost poisoned, and very near dying. Little Miss Baster, of Sunnyside, Has got some poison in paper tied; Harmless she deems it, yes, she must taste, Like sugar seems it, ah! but 'tis paste. Rat's-bane, the mixture. Oh! woe the day! Run for the doctor, bid him not stay. Dreadful her anguish--nearly she died, Did little Miss Baster, of Sunnyside.

Children Stealing Jam

Four naughty little children thought Some jam they'd try and steal; But see how nicely they were caught With a crash that made them squeal.

Their mother who was just next door, And heard the horrid noise, Came in and shook those naughty girls, And whipped those naughty boys.

Sally, the Lazy Girl

Her sister would come to the bedside and call, "Do you mean to sleep here all the day?" I saw Kitty Miles up two hours ago, A-washing and working away.

"The water is boiling, the table is spread, Your father is just at the door; If you are not quick, we shall eat all the bread, And you will not find any more."

Then Sally sat up and half opened her eyes, And gave both a grunt and a groan; And yawning she said, in a quarrelsome voice, "I wish you would let me alone."

But though she was lazy, she always could eat, And wished for a plentiful share, So tumbled her clothes on, and smeared her white face, Forgetting her hands and her hair.

Her frock was all crumpled and twisted away, Her hair was entangled and wild, Her stockings were down and her shoes were untied, She looked a most slovenly child.

She sauntered about till the old village clock Had sounded and then died away, Before she put on her torn bonnet and went To school without further delay.

But soon as she came to the little cake shop, She loitered with lingering eyes, Just wishing that she had a penny to spend, For one of the pretty jam pies.

Again she went on, and she loitered again In the same foolish way as before, And the clock in the school was just warning for ten, As she lifted the latch of the door.

The governess frowned as she went to her place, She had often so spoken in vain, And now only said, with a sorrowful sigh, "There's Sally the latest again!"

She hated her reading, and never would write, She neither could cypher nor sew, And little girls whispered, "We never will be So silly as Miss Sally Slow."

Girl who Wouldn't Comb her Hair

I tell you of a little girl, who would herself have been, As pretty a young lady as ever could be seen, But that about her little head she had no cleanly care. And never, never could be made to brush and comb her hair.

She would have been a pretty child, But, oh! she was a fright-- She looked just like a girl that's wild, Yes, quite as ugly, quite; She looked just like a girl that's wild-- A frightful ugly sight.

The Nasty, Cross Girls

The school was closed one afternoon, And all the girls were gone; Some walked away in company, And some walked on alone.

Some plucked the flowers upon the banks, Some chatted very fast, And some were talking secretly, And whispered as you passed.

And if, perchance, a girl came near, Then one of these would say, "Don't listen to our secrets, Miss, You'll please to go away."

As Nelly White ran home from school, Her work-bag in her hand, She chanced to pass near Lucy Bell, And her friend Susan Brand.

"We don't want you," said Lucy Bell, "You little tiresome chit; Our secrets are not meant for you, You little tell-tale-tit."

Then both girls cried, "Tell-tale-tit," And pushed her roughly by; Poor Nelly said, "I'm no such thing," And then began to cry.

[Page 16--Girl's Stories]

Little Red Riding Hood

Once upon a time there was a dear little girl whose mother made her a scarlet cloak with a hood to tie over her pretty head; so people called her (as a pet name) "Little Red Riding-Hood." One day her mother tied on her cloak and hood and said,

"I wish you to go to-day, my darling, to see your grandmamma, and take her a present of some butter, fresh eggs, a pot of honey, and a little cake with my love."

Little Red Riding-Hood loved her grandmother, and was very glad to go. So she ran gaily through the wood, gathering wild flowers and gambolling among the ferns as she went; and the birds all sang their sweetest songs to her, and the bluebells nodded their pretty heads, for everything loved the gentle child.