Signor Topsy-Turvy's wonderful magic lantern or The World turned upside down. By the author of "My Mother," and other poems [Ann and Jane Taylor]. Illustrated with twenty-four engravings |
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THE HOUSE TURNED TOPSY-TURVY.
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 | Signor Topsy-Turvy's wonderful magic lantern |  |
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THE HOUSE TURNED TOPSY-TURVY.
There was a fine house built with chamber and garret,
As high as from bottom to top;
Sides white as a turnip; tiles red as a carrot,
The trees all around it as green as a parrot,
And a door into which you might hop.
As high as from bottom to top;
Sides white as a turnip; tiles red as a carrot,
The trees all around it as green as a parrot,
And a door into which you might hop.
One thing was amiss tho', the mansion was smoky,
(A tale might of many be said),
Light a fire, and directly it threaten'd to choke ye,
It made you so hacky, and coughy, and croaky,
And teaz'd master, mistress, and maid.
(A tale might of many be said),
Light a fire, and directly it threaten'd to choke ye,
It made you so hacky, and coughy, and croaky,
And teaz'd master, mistress, and maid.
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So they laid heads together in grand consultation,
This smoky old chimney to cure;
Each took it in turn to make lengthy oration,
With statement, rejoinder, and dark explanation,
And they made a great change, to be sure.
This smoky old chimney to cure;
Each took it in turn to make lengthy oration,
With statement, rejoinder, and dark explanation,
And they made a great change, to be sure.
For they said, since the smoke made such terrible pother,
And would at the fire-place come out,
Preferr'd it, and us'd it, and would learn no other,
But blinded their eyes with its soot and its smother,
Topsy-Turvy they'd turn it about!
And would at the fire-place come out,
Preferr'd it, and us'd it, and would learn no other,
But blinded their eyes with its soot and its smother,
Topsy-Turvy they'd turn it about!
So the bricklayers and carpenters pull'd it to pieces,
(They love a good job any how),
And turn'd the top downwards: ye masters and misses,
Did ye ever behold such a chimney as this is?
But alas! why 'tis still smoky now!
(They love a good job any how),
And turn'd the top downwards: ye masters and misses,
Did ye ever behold such a chimney as this is?
But alas! why 'tis still smoky now!
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Spite of toil, and of trouble, and money expended,
Still it smokes; and they grumble and groan.
So oft we've complain'd, and to get our case mended,
Have tried some extravagant scheme,—and it ended
Like turning the house upside down.
Still it smokes; and they grumble and groan.
So oft we've complain'd, and to get our case mended,
Have tried some extravagant scheme,—and it ended
Like turning the house upside down.
T.
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