A gift book of stories and poems for children | ||
115
THE BOY IN TROUBLE ABOUT HIS OLD HAT.
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.
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.
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,—
And here I must worry till Christmas, you say—
I don't think this old thing will last.
Or they would never wear out so fast,—
116
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 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.
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.
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.
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,
But I had to say, no, for a terrible sight
My old hat would have been by his side.
And ask'd me to go out to ride,
117
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.
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.
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.
A gift book of stories and poems for children | ||