I'm four years old to-day, and I
Can talk enough for ten birth-days,
And I shan't rhyme it, neither;--
For little girls can't do it nice.
No matter what they think, and so
They needn't try, no, never.
I'm glad you all are here, and now,
With all our dollies in a row,
I'm sure we'll have good times;
And when we have our apples, grapes,
And nuts and figs and patty-cakes,
Who'll care for silly rhymes!
HANDSOME DICK.
ELZIE'S kitty, white as snow,
Loves his little mistress so,
That he'll come at her command,
Lift his paw to shake her hand,
Bow his head and kneel to her,
Rumpling all his milk-white fur;
Many another pretty trick,
Too, he's learned, our Elzie's Dick. [{262}]
Well, the Church-Fair coming on,
Elzie thought, "What can be done
By a little girl like me,
In the cause of charity?"
Mam'a told her she would show
Her some fancy work to do,
Which a half-a-dozen dimes
Sure would bring;--so, many times
Elzie made her fingers fly
Neat and nice to form the "tie."
Now our Elzie, large and fine,
Looks like twelve, though only nine--
And the "tie" when quite complete,
Was so small, though choice and neat,
That it could not be denied,
Elzie was not satisfied.
So she shook her curly head,
As with curious smile she said:
"If I were a little girl,
Like Nannette or Cousin Pearl,
This wee 'tie' might then appear
Just the thing,--but now, I fear,
Looking at the 'tie' and me,
We shall seem to disagree.--
Now, Mamma, don't answer quick;
Stop and think,--my snowy Dick
At the Fair might win some pence,
By his wise obedience;
And his pretty winsome ways
Being shown through all the days;--
And, dear Mamma, then I should
Feel I'd done the best I could."
Quickly Mamma took the thought,
And a royal cage was brought;
Cushion made of scarlet bright,--
For our Dicky, pure and white,
Thus was wont to perch and sit,--
And a collar blue we fit
To his neck, when loyal, true,
He presents red, white, and blue.
So the cage is placed within
A sly corner, free from din,
And with tickets five cents each,
Elzie sought her end to reach.
