BABY READING TO HER MOTHER.
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She is tired of her dolly, and tired of her play, And she thinks she will read to her mother to-day. So, seated on the carpet, this little Kitty Brown Reads story after story, though the book is upside down. |
M.D.B.
NOW, AND THEN.
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"Well, well, well!" said grandmamma, "Only to see the toys,— The marvels of skill and of beauty, That are made for these girls and boys!— Velocipedes, acrobats, barrows, And a dozen kinds of ball, And the beautiful bows and arrows, With quivers and belts and all; And dolls, with an outfit from Paris, With eyes that open and shut, With jewelry worth a small fortune, And six several bonnets,—tut, tut! "My goodness! If Polly and Rachel, Who played in old times with me, In the corner down by the smoke-house, These wonderful dolls could see! Rachel's doll had a round head whittled From a bit of soft pine wood; And Polly's was only a corn-cob, With a calico slip and hood. My doll was a lovely rag-baby, With badly-inked eyes and nose; Her cheeks were painted with cherry-juice; And I made every stitch of her clothes. "Nathan's bow was a pliant whalebone, And his arrow a white-pine stick; Such a life as his archery practice Led the cats and each wretched chick! Our tea-sets were bits of dishes That mother had thrown away, With chincapin saucers and acorn-cups; And our dolls slept on moss and hay. With a May-apple leaf for a parasol We played 'Lady-come-to-see,' Polly's house was the kitchen door-step, And mine was the apple-tree. "We never saw 'Germans' and 'Matinees,' And we played good romping plays; And, somehow, I think we were happier far Than the children are nowadays. Our swing was an old, wild grape-vine; We waded and climbed and ran, And never were weary, nor sick, nor 'bored' From the minute that day began. Well, well, well!" said grandmamma, "In spite of their wonderful toys, I do believe we had merrier times Than these little girls and boys!" |
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ALICE WILLIAMS BROTHERTON. |