 | When life is young |  |
156
THE SMILING DOLLY
I whispered to my Dolly,
And told her not to tell
(She 's a really lovely Dolly—
Her name is Rosabel).
And told her not to tell
(She 's a really lovely Dolly—
Her name is Rosabel).
“Rosy,” I said, “stop smiling,
For I 've been dreadful bad;
You must n't look so pleasant,
When I am feeling sad!
For I 've been dreadful bad;
You must n't look so pleasant,
When I am feeling sad!
157
“I took Mama's new ear-ring,—
I did, now, Rosabel,—
And I never even asked her,—
Now, Rosy, don't you tell!
I did, now, Rosabel,—
And I never even asked her,—
Now, Rosy, don't you tell!
“You see I'll try to find it
Before I let her know;
She 'd feel so very sorry
To think I 'd acted so.”
Before I let her know;
She 'd feel so very sorry
To think I 'd acted so.”
Still Rosabel kept smiling;
And I just cried and cried—
And while I searched all over,
Her eyes were opened wide.
And I just cried and cried—
And while I searched all over,
Her eyes were opened wide.
“Oh, Rosy, where I dropped it
I can't imagine, dear”;
And still she kept on smiling,—
I thought it very queer.
I can't imagine, dear”;
And still she kept on smiling,—
I thought it very queer.
I had wheeled her round the garden
In her gig till I was lame;
Yet when I told my troubles,
She smiled on, just the same!
In her gig till I was lame;
Yet when I told my troubles,
She smiled on, just the same!
Her hair hung down her shoulders
Like silk, all made of gold,
I kissed her, then I shook her,
Oh, dear! how I did scold!
Like silk, all made of gold,
I kissed her, then I shook her,
Oh, dear! how I did scold!
“You 're really naughty, Rosy,
To look so when I cry;
When my mama 's in trouble
I never laugh,—not I.”
To look so when I cry;
158
I never laugh,—not I.”
And still she kept on smiling,
The queer, provoking child!
I shook her well and told her
Her conduct drove me wild.
The queer, provoking child!
I shook her well and told her
Her conduct drove me wild.
When—only think! that ear-ring
Fell out of Rosy's hair!
When I had dressed the darling,
I must have dropped it there.
Fell out of Rosy's hair!
When I had dressed the darling,
I must have dropped it there.
She doubled when I saw it,
And almost hit her head!
Again I whispered softly,
And this is what I said:
And almost hit her head!
Again I whispered softly,
And this is what I said:
“You precious, precious Rosy!
Now I'll go tell Mama
How bad I was—and sorry—
And oh, how good you are!
Now I'll go tell Mama
How bad I was—and sorry—
And oh, how good you are!
“For, Rose, I had n't lost it—
You knew it all the while,
You knew I 'd shake it out, dear,
And that 's what made you smile.”
You knew it all the while,
You knew I 'd shake it out, dear,
And that 's what made you smile.”
| When life is young | |