I Don't Care
Matilda was a pretty girl,
And she had flaxen hair;
And yet she used those naughty words
"I'm sure I do not care."
She once her lessons would not learn,
But talk'd about the fair,
And lost her tickets, but she said,
"I'm sure I do not care."
As she advanced to riper years,
I'm sorry to declare,
She still preserved those naughty words,
"I'm sure I do not care."
She grew a woman, and for life
'Twas time she should prepare,
But still she said "there's time enough,
If not, I do not care."
Duties neglected, warnings spurn'd,
Her mother in despair;
And though she saw the evil done,
She said, "I do not care."
Still on she went from bad to worse,
She spurned her father's prayer;
Who feared she'd find an awful end,
Because she would not care.
Afflictions came, and death in view,
Which filled her with despair;
Her God neglected, and she feared
For her He would not care.
Could you have then Matilda seen,
Or heard her broken prayer,
She urged her friends never to use
Those awful words—Don't Care.
Little Miss Meddlesome
Little Miss Meddlesome
Scattering crumbs,
Into the library
Noisily comes—
Twirls off her apron,
Tilts open some books,
And into a work-basket
Rummaging, looks.
Out goes the spools spinning
Over the floor,
Beeswax and needle-case
Stepped out before;
She tosses the tape-rule
And plays with the floss,
And says to herself,
"Now won't mamma be cross!"
Little Miss Meddlesome
Climbs to the shelf,
Since no-one is looking,
And mischievous elf,
Pulls down the fine vases,
The cuckoo-clock stops,
And sprinkles the carpet
With damaging drops.
She turns over the ottoman,
Frightens the bird,
And sees that the chairs
In a medley are stirred;
Then creeps on the sofa,
And, all in a heap,
Drops out of her
Frolicsome mischief asleep.
But here comes the nurse,
Who is shaking her head,
And frowns at the mischief
Asleep on her bed.
But let's hope when Miss Meddlesome's
Slumber is o'er,
She may wake from good dreams
And do mischief no more.
Careless Matilda
"Again, Matilda,
Is your work astray,
Your thimble is gone!
Your scissors, where are they?
Your needles, pins, your thread,
And tapes all lost—
Your housewife here,
And there your work-bag tost.
Fie, fie, my child!
Indeed this will not do,
Your hair uncomb'd,
Your frock in tatters too;
I'm now resolv'd
No more delays to grant,
This day I'll send you
To your stern old aunt."
In vain Matilda wept,
Repented, pray'd,
In vain a promise
Of amendment made.
Arriv'd at Austere Hall,
Matilda sigh'd.
By Lady Rigid,
When severely eyed.
"You read, and write,
And work well, as I'm told,
Are gentle, kind, good-natur'd,
Far from bold.
But very careless,
Negligent, and wild—
When you leave me,
You'll be a different child."
The little girl
Next morn a favour asks:
"I wish to take a walk,"
"Go learn your tasks,"
The lady harsh replies,
"Nor cry nor whine.
Your room you leave not
Till you're call'd to dine."
As thus Matilda sat,
O'erwhelm'd with shame,
A dame appear'd,
Disorder was her name.
Her hair and dress neglected,
Soil'd her face,
She squinted leer'd,
And hobbled in her pace.
"Here, child," she said,
"My mistress sends you this,
A bag of silks—
A flow'r not work'd amiss—
A polyanthus bright,
And wondrous gay;
You'll copy it by noon,
She bade me say."
Disorder grinn'd,
Then shuffling walk'd away.
Entangled were
The silks of every hue,
Confus'd and mix'd
Were shades of pink, green, blue;
She took a thread,
Compar'd it with the flow'r;
"To finish this is
Not within my pow'r.
Well-order'd silks
Had Lady Rigid sent,
I might have work'd,
If such was her intent."
She sigh'd, and melted
Into sobs and tears,
She hears a noise
And at the door appears
A pretty maiden, clean,
Well-dress'd, and neat
Her voice was soft,
Her looks sedate, yet sweet.
"My name is Order,
Do not cry my love;
Attend to me,
And thus you may improve."
She took the silks,
And drew out shade for shade,
In sep'rate skeins,
Each hue with care she laid;
Then smiling kindly,
Left the little maid.
Matilda now resumed
Her sweet employ,
And sees the flow'r complete—
How great her joy.
She leaves the room,
"I've done my task," she cries.
But soon her harshness
The lady look'd
With disbelieving eyes,
Chang'd to glad surprise.
"Why this is well!
A very pretty flow'r,
Work'd clean, exact,
And done within the hour!
And now amuse yourself,
Ride, walk or play."
Thus passed Matilda
This much-dreaded day.
At all her tasks
Disorder would attend
At all her tasks
Still Order stood her friend.
With tears and sighs
Her studies oft began,
These into smiles
Were changed by Order's plan;
No longer Lady Rigid
Seem'd severe,
Her looks the negligent
Alone need fear.
And when the day
The wish'd-for day is come
When young Matilda's
Suffer'd to go home:
"You quit me, child,
But oft to mind recall
The time you spent
With me at Austere Hall.
And now, my dear,
I'll give you one of these,
Your servant she will be;
Take which you please."
"From me," Disorder asked,
"Old friend, why start?"
Matilda clasped
Sweet Order to her heart.
"My dearest girl," she cried,
"We'll never part."

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Page 21—Girl Land

Forty Little School Girls
Forty little school girls, running, but not flirty;
Ten ran into Cole's Book Arcade,
And then there were but thirty.
Thirty little school girls swimming the river Plenty;
Ten swam into Cole's Book Arcade,
And then there were but twenty.
Twenty little school girls jumping in velveteen;
One jumped into Cole's Book Arcade,
And then there were nineteen.
Nineteen little school girls going out a-skating;
One skated into Cole's Book Arcade,
And then there were but eighteen.
Eighteen little school girls dancing with the queen;
One danced into Cole's Book Arcade,
And then there were seventeen.
Seventeen little school girls driving a bullock team;
One drove into Cole's Book Arcade,
And then there were sixteen.
Sixteen little school girls creeping out unseen;
One crept into Cole's Book Arcade,
And then there were fifteen.
Fifteen little school girls hopping on the green;
One hopped into Cole's Book Arcade,
And then there were fourteen.
Fourteen little schoolgirls floating down a stream;
One floated into Cole's Book Arcade,
And then there were thirteen.
Thirteen little school girls leaping out to delve;
One leaped into Cole's Book Arcade,
And then there were but twelve.
Twelve little school girls racing out for leaven;
One raced into Cole's Book Arcade,
And then there were eleven.
Eleven little school girls dodging a lion when—
One dodged into Cole's Book Arcade,
And then there were but ten.
Ten little school girls, all skipping in a line;
One skipped into Cole's Book Arcade,
And then there were but nine.
Nine little school girls swinging on a gate;
One swung into Cole's Book Arcade,
And then there were but eight.
Eight little school girls, trying to fly to heaven;
One flew into Cole's Book Arcade,
And then there were but seven.
Seven little school girls tripping out for sticks;
One tripped into Cole's Book Arcade,
And then there were but six.
Six little school girls, going for a dive;
One dived into Cole's Book Arcade,
And then there were but five.
Five little school girls, sailing to explore;
One sailed into Cole's Book Arcade,
And then there were but four.
Four little school girls steaming on the sea;
One steamed into Cole's Book Arcade,
And then there were but three.
Three little school girls, riding on a moo;
One rode into Cole's Book Arcade,
And then there were but two.
Two little school girls, sliding about for fun;
One slid into Cole's Book Arcade,
And then there was but one.
One little school girl, the nicest, last and best,
She walked into Cole's Book Arcade,
And read books with all the rest.
The following is the way that each girl went into Cole's Book Arcade:
Ada ran into it.
Agnes ran into it.
Alice ran into it.
Amy ran into it.
Annie ran into it.
Angelina ran into it.
Bessie ran into it.
Bridget ran into it.
Carrie ran into it.
Clara ran into it.
Edith swam into it.
Eliza swam into it.
Emily swam into it.
Emma swam into it.
Fanny swam into it.
Florence swam into it.
Hannah swam into it.
Harriet swam into it.
Jane swam into it.
Jessie swam into it.
Kate jumped into it.
Lillie skated into it.
Lizzie danced into it.
Lottie drove into it.
Louisa crept into it.
Lucy hopped into it.
Mary floated into it.
Martha leaped into it.
Matilda raced into it.
Maggie dodged into it.
Maria skipped into it.
Mabel swung into it.
Maude flew into it.
May tripped into it.
Minnie dived into it.
Nellie sailed into it.
Olive Steamed into it.
Rose rode into it.
Sarah slid into it.
Tottie walked into it.
N.B.—Any little girl is invited to walk, run, jump, dance, skip, hop, swim, fly, or come into Cole's Book Arcade in any way she chooses, the same as the Forty Little School Girls.