The Ingoldsby Legends or, Mirth and Marvels. By Thomas Ingoldsby [i.e. R. H. Barham] |
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NURSERY REMINISCENCES. |
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 | The Ingoldsby Legends |  |
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NURSERY REMINISCENCES.
I remember, I remember,
When I was a little Boy,
One fine morning in September
Uncle brought me home a toy.
When I was a little Boy,
One fine morning in September
Uncle brought me home a toy.
I remember how he patted
Both my cheeks in kindliest mood;
“Then,” said he, “you little Fat-head,
There's a top because you're good.”
Both my cheeks in kindliest mood;
“Then,” said he, “you little Fat-head,
There's a top because you're good.”
Grandmamma—a shrewd observer—
I remember gazed upon
My new top, and said with fervour,
“Oh! how kind of Uncle John!”
I remember gazed upon
My new top, and said with fervour,
“Oh! how kind of Uncle John!”
While mamma, my form caressing,—
In her eye the tear-drop stood,
Read me this fine moral lesson,
“See what comes of being good!”
In her eye the tear-drop stood,
Read me this fine moral lesson,
“See what comes of being good!”
I remember, I remember,
On a wet and windy day,
One cold morning in December,
I stole out and went to play;
On a wet and windy day,
One cold morning in December,
I stole out and went to play;
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I remember Billy Hawkins
Came, and with his pewter squirt
Squibb'd my pantaloons and stockings,
Till they were all over dirt!
Came, and with his pewter squirt
Squibb'd my pantaloons and stockings,
Till they were all over dirt!
To my mother for protection
I ran, quaking every limb:
—She exclaimed, with fond affection,
“Gracious Goodness! look at him!”—
I ran, quaking every limb:
—She exclaimed, with fond affection,
“Gracious Goodness! look at him!”—
Pa cried, when he saw my garment,
—'Twas a newly-purchased dress—
“Oh! you nasty little Warment,
How came you in such a mess?”
—'Twas a newly-purchased dress—
“Oh! you nasty little Warment,
How came you in such a mess?”
Then he caught me by the collar,
—Cruel only to be kind—
And to my exceeding dolour,
Gave me—several slaps behind.
—Cruel only to be kind—
And to my exceeding dolour,
Gave me—several slaps behind.
Grandmamma, while yet I smarted,
As she saw my evil plight,
Said—'twas rather stony-hearted—
“Little rascal! sarve him right!”
As she saw my evil plight,
Said—'twas rather stony-hearted—
“Little rascal! sarve him right!”
I remember, I remember,
From that sad and solemn day,
Never more in dark December
Did I venture out to play.
From that sad and solemn day,
Never more in dark December
Did I venture out to play.
And the moral which they taught, I
Well remember; thus they said—
“Little Boys, when they are naughty,
Must be whipped and sent to bed!”
Well remember; thus they said—
“Little Boys, when they are naughty,
Must be whipped and sent to bed!”
| The Ingoldsby Legends | |