Page 43 - Poetry-Family

That Girl

Sometimes silent in the corner—
Is it matches, needles, pins?
For some mischief must be brooding
When this quietude begins.
Bouncing, shouting, down the stairway,
Seeing mother in a whirl;
Boys are noisy, very often;
But you ought to hear that Girl!

Setting out her Betseys, Marys,
Janes and Marthas on the floor,
Still will dress, and pet, and scold them,
As her mother did before;
Then she dresses up for shopping
Putting on her ma’s delaine,
And a shawl or two if handy,
Just to make a splendid train.

Now she gives advice, so gravely,
If her older brother chance
For some little fault to linger
‘Neath his father’s serious glance.
She is full of dainty graces,
Very conscious of them, too;
If she kisses you while scolding,
What on earth are you to do?

Sweet, bewitching little woman!
Be as roguish as you will;
Long watch for me at the window,
And my heart with sunshine fill.
Surely mother cannot mean it,
When she says amid your noise,
That “one little girl’s more trouble
Thank a dozen little boys.”

— (from a Victorian Scrap Album)

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