Complete Poetical Works

But Papa said if I was good I could ask you—alone by myself—
If you wouldn't write me a book like that little one up on the shelf.
I don't mean the pictures, of course, for to make THEM you've got to
be smart
But the reading that runs all around them, you know,—just the
easiest part.

You needn't mind what it's about, for no one will see it but me,
And Jane,—that's my nurse,—and John,—he's the coachman,—just
only us three.
You're to write of a bad little girl, that was wicked and bold and
all that;
And then you're to write, if you please, something good—very good—
of a cat!

This cat, she was virtuous and meek, and kind to her parents, and
mild,
And careful and neat in her ways, though her mistress was such a bad
child;
And hours she would sit and would gaze when her mistress—that's me—
was so bad,
And blink, just as if she would say, "Oh, Edith! you make my heart
sad."

And yet, you would scarcely believe it, that beautiful, angelic cat
Was blamed by the servants for stealing whatever, they said, she'd
get at.
And when John drank my milk,—don't you tell me!  I know just the
way it was done,—
They said 'twas the cat,—and she sitting and washing her face in
the sun!

And then there was Dick, my canary.  When I left its cage open one
day,
They all made believe that she ate it, though I know that the bird
flew away.
And why?  Just because she was playing with a feather she found on
the floor.
As if cats couldn't play with a feather without people thinking
'twas more!

Why, once we were romping together, when I knocked down a vase from
the shelf,
That cat was as grieved and distressed as if she had done it herself;
And she walked away sadly and hid herself, and never came out until
tea,—
So they say, for they sent ME to bed, and she never came even to me.

No matter whatever happened, it was laid at the door of that cat.
Why, once when I tore my apron,—she was wrapped in it, and I called
"Rat!"—
Why, they blamed that on HER.  I shall never—no, not to my dying
day—
Forget the pained look that she gave me when they slapped ME and
took me away.

Of course, you know just what comes next, when a child is as lovely
as that:
She wasted quite slowly away; it was goodness was killing that cat.
I know it was nothing she ate, for her taste was exceedingly nice;
But they said she stole Bobby's ice cream, and caught a bad cold
from the ice.

And you'll promise to make me a book like that little one up on the
shelf,
And you'll call her "Naomi," because it's a name that she just gave
herself;
For she'd scratch at my door in the morning, and whenever I'd call
out, "Who's there?"
She would answer, "Naomi! Naomi!" like a Christian, I vow and declare.

And you'll put me and her in a book.  And mind, you're to say I was
bad;
And I might have been badder than that but for the example I had.
And you'll say that she was a Maltese, and—what's that you asked?
"Is she dead?"
Why, please, sir, THERE AIN'T ANY CAT!  You're to make one up out of
your head!

MISS EDITH MAKES IT PLEASANT FOR BROTHER JACK

"Crying!"  Of course I am crying, and I guess you would be crying,
too,
If people were telling such stories as they tell about me, about YOU.
Oh yes, you can laugh if you want to, and smoke as you didn't care
how,
And get your brains softened like uncle's.  Dr. Jones says you're
gettin' it now.

Why don't you say "Stop!" to Miss Ilsey?  She cries twice as much as
I do,
And she's older and cries just from meanness,—for a ribbon or
anything new.
Ma says it's her "sensitive nature."  Oh my!  No, I sha'n't stop my
talk!
And I don't want no apples nor candy, and I don't want to go take a
walk!

I know why you're mad!  Yes, I do, now!  You think that Miss Ilsey
likes YOU,