NURSERY REMINISCENCES.
I REMEMBER, I remember,
When I was a little Boy,
One fine morning in September,
Uncle brought me home a toy.
I remember how he patted
Both my cheeks with kindliest mood;
"Then," said he, "you little fat head,
There's a top because you're good."
Grandmamma—a shrewd observer—
I remember gazed upon
My new top, and said with fervour,
"Oh! how kind of Uncle John!"
While mamma, my form caressing,—
In her eye the tear-drop stood,
Read me this fine moral lesson,
"See what comes of being good!"
I remember, I remember,
On a wet and windy day.
One cold morning in December,
I stole out and went to play;
I remember Billy Hawkins
Came, and with his pewter squirt,
Squibb'd my pantaloons and stockings,
Till they were all over dirt!
To my mother for protection
I ran quaking every limb.
She exclaim'd, with fond affection,
"Gracious goodness! look at him!"
Pa cried when he saw my garment—
'Twas a newly-purchased dress—
"Oh! you nasty little Warment,
How came you in such a mess?"
Then he caught me by the collar—
Cruel only to be kind—
And to my exceeding dolour,
Gave me several slaps behind.
Grandmamma, while yet I smarted,
As she saw my evil plight,
Said—'twas rather stony-hearted—
"Little rascal! sarve him right!"
I remember, I remember,
From that sad and solemn day,
Never more in dark December
Did I venture out to play.
And the moral which they taught, I
Well remember; thus they said—
"Little boys, when they are naughty,
Must be whipped, and sent to bed!"
The Ingoldsby Legends.
A correspondent, writing to Notes and Queries as far back as June 10, 1871, mentions a parody, of which, unfortunately, only the two verses following are given:—
"I remember, I remember,
The day that I was born,
When first I saw this breathing world,
All naked and forlorn.
They wrapped me in a linen cloth,
And then in one of frieze;
And tho' I could not speak just then,
Yet I contrived to sneeze.
"I remember, I remember,
Old ladies came from far;
Some said I was like mother dear,
But others thought like par;
Yet all agreed I had a head,
And most expressive eyes;
The latter were about as large
As plums in Christmas pies."
UNEDA.
Philadelphia.