The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-02-14
Miss Edith's Modest Requets.

Ny Papa knows you, and he says you're man
who makes reading for books;
But never read nothing you wrote, nor did
Papa-1 know by his looks.
SO guess you're like me when talk, and
talk, and l talk all the day,
And they only say: "Do stop that child T. or
"Nursel take Miss Edith away"
But Papa said il was good could ask you--
alone by myself
If you wouldn't write me book like this little
one up on the shelf.
don't mean the pictures Of course, for to
make them you've got to be smart;
But the reading that ,uns all around them,
you know-just the easiest part.
You needn't mind what it's about, for no oEe
will see it but me
And Jane that's my nurse-and John-he's
the coachman-just only us three.
You're to write Of bad little girl, that was
wicked and bold and all that
And then you are to write, IL you please, some
thing good-very good-of cat
This cat she was virtuous and meek, and kind
to her parents, and mild.
And careful and neat in her ways, though ! or
mistress was such a bad child;
And hours she would sit and would gaze when
her mistress-that's me-was 20 bad,
And blink, jnst as if she would say: "Oh,
Edith, you make my heart sad.'
And yet, you would scarcely believe it, that
beautiful, angelic cat
Was blamed by the servants for stealing what
ever, they said, she'd get at.
And when Johu drank my mi k--eon't you tel
me! know just the way it was done
They said twas the cat-and she ting and
washing her face in the sun!
And then there was Dick, my canary. When l
left its cage open one day,
They all made believe thst she ate it, thong h
1 know that the bird few away.
And why? Just because she was paying with
feather she found on the fioor.
AS II cats couldn't play with fea her without
people thinking twas more.
Why, once we were romping together, when
knocked down vase from the shelf.
That cat was as grieved and distressed ss il
she had done it herself;
And she walked away sadly snd hid herself,
tnl never came out till tea
So they say, for they sent me to bed, and she
never came even to me.
No matter whatever happened, it was laid al
the door of that cat,
Why, once when I tore my apron-she was
wrapped in it, and called "Rat -
Why, they blamed that on her. shall never
mo, not to my dying day
Forget the panied look that she gave mo when
they slapped me and took me away.
OF course, you know just what comes next
when a child is as lovely as that.
She WASTED quite slowly away-it was good
ness was killing the cat.
know it was nothing she ate, for her tas' e
was wasexceedingly nice
But they said she stole Bobby's ice cream, and
caught bad cold from the ice.
And you'll promise to make me a hook like
that little one up on the shelf,
An you'll call her "Naomi," because it's
name that she just gave herself;
For she scratch at my door in the morning,
and whenever Id call out "Who's
there?"
She would answer "Naomi Naomi" like a
Christian, vow and declare.
And you'll put mo ard her in book. And,
mind, you're 10 say was bad;
And might have been bladder than that but
for the example had;
And you'll cay that she was Maltese, and
what's that you ask? "Is she dead 2"
Why, please sir, there amt no cat9 You're to
make one up out Of your head
Bret Hdrte IN The independent