University of Virginia Library

The doating Parents grieve and fret,
Lest Death shou'd snatch their fav'rite Pet,
Miss Nancy, by devouring Sweets,
Was grown as pale as her own sheets;
Have 'em she wou'd—What Nurse wou'd chuse
So sweet a Baby to refuse?
For tho' a Prodigy of Wit,
Miss had not seen four Twelvemonths yet;
To Death almost indulg'd, old Mentor
Their grave Physician, quick was sent for;
He came, he saw, and instant brib'd,
Bitters and Gruel were prescrib'd;
But how, alas, shall Miss be brought
To swallow such a nauseous Draught?
If Physic call'd, Experience shows,
Miss wou'd turn up her little Nose:—
Tho' very young, the Chit observ'd
Mamma with Tea was duly serv'd;
And oft she whimp'ring cry'd—“'Twas hard
“Nancy of Tea shou'd be debarr'd:”—
The hint Mamma with prudence takes,
In Tea-Pot the Prescription makes,
The healthful viand serves to Nancy,
This straightway tickles Miss's fancy;
The Apparatus all declares
'Twas Tea on which she proudly fares;
And tho' her Face she sometimes screw'd,
She vow'd—“Twas most immensely good;”
And Milk, tho' sugar'd, henceforth scorning,
She drinks her Med'cine Tea each Morning;
Takes her disgustful Mess with Glee,
Because Mamma sirnames it Tea.

Let not grown Wisdom, with a smile,
Miss Nancy's childish Folly blame,
For few now breathe in Britain's Isle,
But what are cheated with a Name.