Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-05-10
POETRY
From Harpers NesO Monthly Magazine,
The Lamentable Complaint of Katharine
Maria POppelle, SpinsteE.

From HafpefS AeW 1HonthEy Mdga2
Lamentable Complaint of Kath
Maria POppelle, Spinster.
(NEE KATE MARY PoPPLE.)
l was born in the deep green country,
Not many long years ago;
ran for the COWS in Summer,
And coasted down hill in the snow.
The dear old Mother Nature
Gave me her roses wild,
My pretty brown hair curled softly,
My eyes were bright and mild.
grew like vine in the forest.
Tall and slender to see;
And / sung like the little robins
That lived in our apple tree.
But Aunt Melone from the city
Came down for country air;
She thought my cheeks were painted,
And asked who made my hair.
And when she found it grew there,
She called for ink and pen;
She made her will and bought me
For one of the Upper Ten.
Good by to Father and David
Good-by to the graveyard green!
If Mother had never slept there
My grandeur had never been.
I'd rather had staid by Mother,
And seen Jim Bruce make hay;
NV Aunt Melone from the city
Carried their Kate away
Once walked of Sunday;
Now in carriage new
I'm carried up to temple
And shut in a rosewood pew.
I hear the finest music,
/ see the latest style,
The hats just out from Paris,
And silks that swarm the aisle.
I'd never mind the dresses,
Or care if walked or rode,
III hadn't maid for mistress
I'm bound to Miss La Mode!
1 can't get up in the morning,
And put on simple gown;
She twists my hair in cables,
With ribbons dangling down;
She decks me in skirts embroidered,
A silken robe and cord,
Slippers of silk and tinsel,
And I dare not say word.
If ask for muslin wrapper,
Then Aunt puts on frown-
"Katharine Maria, the fashion
Forbids such things in town!"
Scarce am robed and slippered
Before there comes La Mode,
To do the whole thing over
For drive on the Harlem road.
dress for the shiny carriage
With founces SINNER still,
A little hat with feathers
I'd burn if had my will.
Once l had bonnet
That covered the end ofmy nose;
Now my freezing ear-tips
Just under the brim repose.
My feet are cramped in CATERS,
My hands are squeezed in kid;
dress in red or yellow,
Just as La Mode shall bid.
She hoops me round like barrel,
With rings of bone and steel,
Aud wlsps ofwoven horse-hair
A species of Katharine wheel.
They pring me back from driving,
They dress my hair anew,
And set me up in the parlor
After my lunch at two.
In come men and women,
Simper, and bow, and smirk,
Tell me Pm sweet in whisper;
Or talk of new French work;
How Mrs. Smith at Newport
Lost her whole back hair,
And how Miss Jones in Lenox
Was burnt by the sun and air;
Or with solemn litter,
How Mrs. A. and p.
Went out to drive before dinner
And never came home to tea.
hate them altogether!
The dandies slim and fine,
That scent the house with millefeurs,
And curl their hair like mine;
The women vain and silly,
A heap of silks and lace,
And long for jim and Mother
Till the tears run down my face.
away they go for dinner,
And go out for mine,
Re-dressed in pink and silver,
La Mode says quite divine.
My arms stripped to the shoulder,
To freshen in winter air!
Ny neck, warmed with necklace,
Bushes to be so bare.
sit and sulk till It's over;
90 and dress again,
In clouds of gauze and ribbon,
With brooch and clasp, and chain.
La Mode ordains party
1t used to be ball
Curled, and hooped, and jeweled,
I dance before them all.
The girls look cold and pretty,
The men have been to dine,
They're half perfumed with Lubin,
And half with smoke and wine.
l dance Schottische and Polka,
With an arm about my waist,
And think, If Jim should see me,
Or Mother, so disgraced !!
go to bed at morning,
breakfast when it's noon,
eat my dinner by candles,
never sing tune.
hate their city fashions
Pm tired of the Upper Ten!
Jim, and Father, and David.
ToGa p,a homo AGAIN