The (almost really) Complete Works of Lewis Carroll

Matilda Jane

Source: Sylvie and Bruno Concluded (extracted)

The text of the original manuscript with minor differences (“I fear you’re blind”, “all my conversation”, “You never say a word again”, “For you are dumb”) can be found in Letters.

Matilda Jane, you never look
At any toy or picture-book:
I show you pretty things in vain—
You must be blind, Matilda Jane!

I ask you riddles, tell you tales,
But all our conversation fails:
You never answer me again—
I fear you’re dumb, Matilda Jane!

Matilda, darling, when I call,
You never seem to hear at all:
I shout with all my might and main—
But you’re so deaf, Matilda Jane!

Matilda Jane, you needn’t mind;
For, though you’re deaf, and dumb, and blind,
There’s some one loves you, it is plain—
And that is me, Matilda Jane!