But when they came tumbling down, alas!

They fell right against the looking-glass,—

Oh! how the pieces did fly!

Then we played the stairs were an Alpine peak,

And down we slid with shout and with shriek,—

Roderick, I and James.

But Jim caught his jacket upon a tack,

And I burst the buttons all off my back,

And Roderick called us names.

Then we found a pillow that had a rip,