"Can't you?" asked Nellie, looking surprised; she thought queens could do everything.
"No," said her Majesty with a sigh; "I never could, though I've often tried."
"Try, try, try again," said Nellie. "We sing that in school too."
"Well, what shall it be about?" asked the Queen.
"Oh, about my lamb," said Nellie promptly.
"Where is it?" asked the Queen, putting on her spectacles. "I think I'll write about you."
"Here I am," cried a funny squeaky little voice, and there, if you please, was the prettiest, fleeciest little white lamb you ever saw in your life, with a blue ribbon round its neck, and Nellie's best blue sash tied in a bow round its tail.
"Oh, how sweet!" cried the Queen, clapping her hands.
The lamb tossed its head proudly.
"Come near and let me look at you, you pretty thing," said the Queen, patting it. "Now I'll write my poetry. Get me a bottle of ink and a copy-book to write it in."