 | A merry-go-round of song |  |
111
BAD BELVIDERE
In a nest beneath a plant
There was once a tiny ant
Who was fond of saying “Shan't!”
To his parents.
There was once a tiny ant
Who was fond of saying “Shan't!”
To his parents.
When his Mother said, “I'm faint,
There is such a smell of paint—
Bring some water.” “No there ain't!”
Cried the rebel.
There is such a smell of paint—
Bring some water.” “No there ain't!”
Cried the rebel.
When his Dad said, “Belvidere,
Push that egg toward me, dear.”
Rudely he replied, “No fear!”
Little silly!
Push that egg toward me, dear.”
Rudely he replied, “No fear!”
Little silly!
When his Governess said, “See,
Five and five are never three,”
He remarked, “Don't prate to me,
You old stupid!”
Five and five are never three,”
He remarked, “Don't prate to me,
You old stupid!”
This was more than she could bear.
Brushing back her yellow hair,
First she fixed him with a stare,
Then she spanked him.
Brushing back her yellow hair,
First she fixed him with a stare,
Then she spanked him.
In the nest beneath the plant
How she whopped the tiny ant
Who was fond of saying “shan't!”
To his betters!
How she whopped the tiny ant
Who was fond of saying “shan't!”
To his betters!
112
Even then he laughed, and twice
Shouted out that it was nice;
But he didn't say so thrice,
I imagine!
Shouted out that it was nice;
But he didn't say so thrice,
I imagine!
When at last, in sudden fear,
She desisted, ants drew near.
Not a trace of Belvidere
They discovered!
She desisted, ants drew near.
Not a trace of Belvidere
They discovered!
He was gone, as goes the dew
When the sky is hot and blue.
Lou and Sue and Prue and Hugh,
Heed the warning!
When the sky is hot and blue.
Lou and Sue and Prue and Hugh,
Heed the warning!
Gone from lessons, gone from play,
Gone for ever and a day!
She had slapped him right away
Into nothing!
Gone for ever and a day!
She had slapped him right away
Into nothing!
| A merry-go-round of song | |