IV
“Pegtop, pegtop—fast asleep!
Pray, how long do you mean to keep
Humming and droning and spinning away?
Do you mean to keep on all the day?
Ten minutes have passed since your nap was begun;
Pegtop, when will your nap be done?
“Forty winks, forty, and forty more!
You never slept so long before;
This is a pretty sleep to take!
Boxer, Boxer, yawn and wake!”
Then said Marian, “Never fear;
Dolly’s nightcap, Richard dear,
Put on Boxer—perhaps he thinks
He would like forty times forty winks!”
Three o’clock, four o’clock, all day long
Richard’s pegtop hummed so strong,
Hummed away and would not stop—
Dick had to buy another top!
For though this Boxer was certainly clever,
Who wants a pegtop to hum for ever?
All the Queen’s horses and all the Queen’s men
Couldn’t get Boxer to wake again;
They made him a house, and put him in;
The people came to see Boxer spin;
“A penny apiece,” said Dick, “and cheap,
To see my Pegtop’s wonderful sleep!”
V
Kate had quarrelled and would not speak
To Cousin John,
Who, trying to kiss her on the cheek,
With her bonnet on,
Had crumpled her bonnet at the border,
And put the trimming in disorder.
“Pray let me kiss you, Katy dear,”
Said John so gay.
“Now. Master John,” said Kate severe,
“Please get away!
And if you don’t, I only hope
You’ll get hit with my skipping-rope!”