South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1878-02-22
Miss Edits Modest Reausst.
BY DRET UARTE.

My papa knows you, and he saws yon're
man who makes reading for books:
b's l never read nothing you wrote. nor
dld Papa-f know Of his books.
60 guess you're like me when | tam.
and talk, and talk all the day.
AND they only say: DO stop That
child !" or.
"Nurse take Miss Edith away"
But Papa said if was good could ask
yoG-alone Ivy myself
IL yon wouldn't write me book like
tuae little one up OIL the shelf
don't mean the pictures. OF course, for
TO write them you've got to be smart
But the reading that runs all around
them, you know just the easiest part.
You needn't mind what it's about. for
no one will see il but me
And Jane-ihat's my nurse and john
he ; the coachman-just only US three.
You're to write of bad little girl, that
was wicked and bold an all that;
Ana then you are to write, if you please
something good very good-ora cat |!
This cat she was virtuous and meek. and
kind So her parents. and mild.
Anal careful and neat in her WAYS. tho,
her mistress was such bad child
And hours she would sit and wouid gaze
when her mistresS-that' me-was
so bad,
And blink justns ifsife would say. "Oh
Edith. you make my heart sad y
And yet, you would scarcely believe it
That beautiful, angelic eat
Was blamed by the servants for stealing
whatever, they said, she'd get at.
And when John drank my mIlk-don't
YOU tell me | know just the way it
was done
They Said twas the cat--and she sitting
washing her face in the sum-
And then there was Dick, my canary.
when | left its cage open, one day,
lney nj! made me believe that she ate if
though know that the bird flew away.
And why? just because she was PLAYING
with feather she found on the floor.
As It cats couldn't play with feather
without people thinking twas more.
Why, once we were romping together,
when ! Knocked down vase from the
shelf.
The cat was ms gTieved and distressed as
II she had done it herself;
And she walked away sadly and hid her
SELF, and never came out until tea.
30 they say. for they sent me TO bed, and
She never cauae even to me.
No matter whatever happened, it vas
laid at the door of that cat.
why, once when tore ray apron-shc
was wrapped in it, aud called Rat y
Why they blamed that on her. | shall
never; no, not to my dying dayi
Forget the panied look that she rave me
when they slapped ne and took me
away,
OF course, yos know what comes next
when child is rs lovely as that,
She wasted quite slowly away; it was
goodness was killing that cat.
| know it was nothing she ate, for her
taste was exceedingly nice;
But they said she stole Bobby's ice
cream, and caught bad cold from
the ice.
And you'll promise TO make me = book
like that one on the shelf.
Amt you II call her Naomi because it's
name that she just gave herself
For shea scratch at my door in the morn.
ing, and whenever I'd call out
Who's thcfc?"
She would answer NAOMI Naomi I"
like Christian, vow aud declare.
And you'll put me aud her In book.
And mind, you're TO say was bad,
And | might have said bladder than that
but for the example had,
And You'll say that she was a Maltese.
and what's that you asked, is she
dcal2"
Why, please sir,Hcyc oin't any cat You're
TO make one out Of your head