A gift book of stories and poems for children

Now look at this hat! is it fit to be seen,
All batter'd and tattered and torn?
I can't go to King-street to get an ice-cream—
I declare it is not to be borne.

Nay, mother, you need not be shaking your head,
And looking as much as to say,
That you think I am careless, and all about that,
In your solemn, but good-natur'd way.

I am sure that American hats are not strong,
Or they would never wear out so fast,—

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And here I must worry till Christmas, you say—
I don't think this old thing will last.

To be sure I have kick'd it about for a ball,
And stuff'd it with ginger cake too;
And once I let it drop into Bennett's mill pond
While paddling in William's canoe.

And once, I remember, I felt very dry,
And just fill'd it up at the pump;
And once I was hunting with Dinah for eggs.
And gave it a terrible thump.

I confess the two kittens did make it their bed,
But then they were white as the snow,
And puss laid them carefully into the hat,
So I could not refuse her, you know.

This dent on the top was an accident, ma,'
And that cut on the edge was another;
And this stain with the physic you gave me one day,
And that hole, I got playing with brother.

Master Robert call'd yesterday, dress'd quite in style,
And ask'd me to go out to ride,

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But I had to say, no, for a terrible sight
My old hat would have been by his side.

And Miss Emma came also, that sweet little girl,
And I wanted to see her home so,
With her little straw bonnet all trimm'd up with blue,
But how shabby I look'd for a beau.

Oh, dear! I must wait as I have done before,
Since dollars appear very few,
But I tell you when once I get rid of this hat,
I mean to take care of the new.

University of Virginia Library

THE BOY IN TROUBLE ABOUT HIS OLD HAT.