Classic Poem

" LITTLE Blue-Ribbons! " We call her that
From the ribbons she wears in her favourite hat;
For may not a person be only five,
And yet have the neatest of taste alive? —
As a matter of fact, this one has views
Of the strictest sort as to frocks and shoes;
And we never object to a sash or bow,
When " little Blue-Ribbons " prefers it so.

" Little Blue-Ribbons " has eyes of blue,
And an arch little mouth, when the teeth peep through;
And her primitive look is wise and grave,
With a sense of the weight of the word " behave; "
Though now and again she may condescend
To a radiant smile for a private friend;
But to smile for ever is weak, you know,
And " little Blue-Ribbons " regards it so.

She's a staid little woman! And so as well
Is her ladyship's doll, " Miss Bonnibelle; "
But I think what at present the most takes up
The thoughts of her heart is her last new cup;
For the object thereon, — be it understood, —
Is the " Robin that buried the " Babes in the Wood" " —
It is not in the least like a robin, though,
But " little Blue-Ribbons " declares it so.

" Little Blue-Ribbons " believes, I think,
That the rain comes down for the birds to drink;
Moreover, she holds, in a cab you'd get
To the spot where the suns of yesterday set;
And I know that she fully expects to meet
With a lion or wolf in Regent Street!
We may smile, and deny as we like — But, no;
For " little Blue-Ribbons " still dreams it so.

Dear " little Blue-Ribbons! " She tells us all
That she never intends to be " great " and " tall " ;
(For how could she ever contrive to sit
In her " own, own chair, " if she grew one bit!)
And, further, she says, she intends to stay
In her " darling home " till she gets " quite gray; "
Alas! we are gray; and we doubt, you know,
But " little Blue-Ribbons " will have it so!