[Addressed to three children, whose names form the two upright words, & who are described in the first stanza.]
Three children (their names were so fearful
You’ll excuse me for leaving them out)
Sat silent, with faces all tearful;
What was it about?
They were sewing, but needles are prickly,
And fingers were cold as could be—
So they didn’t get on very quickly,
And they wept, silly Three!
“O Mother!” said they, “England’s not a
Nice place for the winter, that’s flat.
If you know any country that’s hotter,
Please take us to that!”
“Cease crying,” said she, “little daughters!
And, when summer returns with the flowers,
You shall roam by the smooth-flowing waters,
In sunshiny hours.”
“And in summer,” said sorrowful Mary,
“We shall welcome the scream of the train
That will bring that dear writer of Fairy-
tales hither again.”
(Now the person she meant to allude to
Was—well! it is best to forget.
It was some one she always was rude to,
Whenever they met.)
“It’s my duty,” their mother continued,
“To fill with things useful and right
Your small minds: if I put nothing in, you’d
Be ignorant quite.
“But enough now of lessons & thinking:
Your meal is quite ready, I see—
So attend to your eating, & drinking,
You thirsty young Three!”
Apr. 10, 1871.