A little book of tribune verse :: :: University of Virginia Library

A sweet and interesting child
Whose name was Ellen May,
Met with a most untimely fate
A week ago today.
And, though we shudder to relate,
It happened in this way.

The air was fresh and balmy like,
The sun shone clear and bright,
When little Ellen asked her ma
If she with Bettie White
Could on the sidewalk play, and ma
Informed her that she might.

Her mother for the nonce forgot
Her all accustomed care,
Deceived, alas! by glowing rays
And by the balmy air,
So little Ellen May went out
And did not rubbers wear.

Then played they on the sidewalk there,
Did little Nell and Bet,
And running to and fro in sport
They all too soon did get
Their pinafores besplashed with mud,
Their shoes all soaking wet.

Now Bettie White was strong and hale
As any child might be,
She romped and played the livelong day,
From ev'ry ailment free;
But Ellen May was fragile like,
Quite delicate was she.

And so that night while Betsy slept,
Poor Ellen gave a whoop
That made the very rafters ring
And roused the family group,
And Mamma, springing, wildly shrieked
“My baby's got the croup!”

In vain the doctor's sage advice,
In vain the patent pills,
In vain the guileful castor oil,
In vain the dose of squills,
Poor Ellen upward turned her toes
And ceased from mortal ills.

And so is told the tearful fate
Of little Ellen May,
Who, had she put her rubbers on
When she went out to play
That mild December afternoon,
Might be alive today.