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."

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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