Climbs to the shelf,
Since no-one is looking,
And mischievous elf,
Pulls down the fine vases,
The cuckoo-clock stops,
And sprinkles the carpet
With damaging drops.

She turns over the ottoman,
Frightens the bird,
And sees that the chairs
In a medley are stirred;
Then creeps on the sofa,
And, all in a heap,
Drops out of her
Frolicsome mischief asleep.

But here comes the nurse,
Who is shaking her head,
And frowns at the mischief
Asleep on her bed.
But let's hope when Miss Meddlesome's
Slumber is o'er,
She may wake from good dreams
And do mischief no more.

Careless Matilda

"Again, Matilda,
Is your work astray,
Your thimble is gone!
Your scissors, where are they?

Your needles, pins, your thread,
And tapes all lost--
Your housewife here,
And there your work-bag tost.

Fie, fie, my child!
Indeed this will not do,
Your hair uncomb'd,
Your frock in tatters too;

I'm now resolv'd
No more delays to grant,
This day I'll send you
To your stern old aunt."

In vain Matilda wept,
Repented, pray'd,
In vain a promise
Of amendment made.

Arriv'd at Austere Hall,
Matilda sigh'd.
By Lady Rigid,
When severely eyed.

"You read, and write,
And work well, as I'm told,
Are gentle, kind, good-natur'd,
Far from bold.

But very careless,
Negligent, and wild--
When you leave me,
You'll be a different child."

The little girl
Next morn a favour asks:
"I wish to take a walk,"
"Go learn your tasks,"

The lady harsh replies,
"Nor cry nor whine.
Your room you leave not
Till you're call'd to dine."

As thus Matilda sat,
O'erwhelm'd with shame,
A dame appear'd,
Disorder was her name.

Her hair and dress neglected,
Soil'd her face,
She squinted leer'd,
And hobbled in her pace.

"Here, child," she said,
"My mistress sends you this,
A bag of silks--
A flow'r not work'd amiss--

A polyanthus bright,
And wondrous gay;
You'll copy it by noon,
She bade me say."
Disorder grinn'd,
Then shuffling walk'd away.

Entangled were
The silks of every hue,
Confus'd and mix'd
Were shades of pink, green, blue;

She took a thread,
Compar'd it with the flow'r;
"To finish this is
Not within my pow'r.

Well-order'd silks
Had Lady Rig