Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1879-12-02
MISS Ep1TTs MODEST REQUEST.
BY BRET HARTE.

NY papa knows you, and he says you're man
who makes reading for books;
But never read nothing you wrote, nor did
papa know by his looks.
/ 50 guess you're like me when talk and talk
and talk all the day;
And they only say, "Do stop that child" or
Nurse take Miss Edith away"
But papa said II ] was good could ask you
alone by myself
II you wouldn't write me book like this little
one mp on the shelf
I don't mean the pictures. OF course, for TO
make them you've got TO DC smart
But the reading tha; runs all around them you
kuow-ju,t The easiest part.
You needn't mind what its about. for no one
Will see 70 but me
And Janc-thaj's uy uurse-and John-he's the
coachmau-iust only us three.
You're Co write of "a bad little girl, that WAS
wicked and bold and all that,
And then You are 20 write, fyou please, some
thing gooj-vcry good OF a cat
This CA; she was v.rtuous and meek, and kind
Co her parents, and mild.
And careful and neat In her ways though her
mistress was such a bad child;
And hours she would >it ami would gaze when
her mistr,>~-tba;'> mc-was -o bad,
And blink, iu-to> 3D. She won 81 SAY "uh. Edith.
You make my heart so sad"
Aud yct. you would scarcely believe 10, that
beautiful angelic cat
Was blamed by the serv nt, Tor stealing what
ever, they said. she'd get at
Aud when John drank my milk don't you tell
me- know Just the way IL was done
They said twas ;hc cat-aud She sitting and
washing her face in the sun
And then there WA, Dick, my canary when l
Ion it- cage open, one day,
They aI made believe that she ate it though !
know that the bird few away.
And why7 just because she was playing with
feather she found ON the fioor.
As II cats couilu; play with feather without
people thinking tW',, more.
Why. once we were romping together. when ]
knocked down a vase from the shelf.
That cat WAS as -ricvcd ana distressed as II she
had done it herself.
And she walked away sadly and hid herself.
and never came out tiu tea
50 ;hey say. ;or they sent me TO bed, and She
never came even to me.
No matter whatever happened, 1t was laid a,
the door of that cat,
WHY, once when ] tore nay Hpron-shc was
wrapped in DO. and called "I,ai '"-
Why, they blamed that ou her. shall never
no. NO; 90 my dying day
Forget the paiuct look that she gave me when
they slapped me and took me away.
or course you know just what comes next
when child 81, AS lovely a. that
She wasted quite slowly away-it was goodness
was kuing The ca,.
know 10 was nothing she ate, FOR her taste
was exceedingly nice.
Bar they said she stole Bobhy's ice cream, and
caugh, a bad cold from The ice.
And you'll promise 20 make me a book like
that little one up on the shelf
And yogI call her Naomi" because its IA
name that she jus; gave herself.
For she'd scratch 40 my door in the moruin x
and whenever TJ call out. Nv hos there"
She would answer Naomi Naomi" like a
Christian. VOW AMI declare.
And youU pu, luc and her IN book And,
u.rI. YOUR, to say was bad.
AlJ { ,ai,l, have been badter than that but
Tor tlc example haJ.
Aal l,uu ~sy -la, She was % Maltese. and
whats thHt yuu ask. els sE, JtaJ-"
WAY. please, sir. Ir Er Ai>'r So CAT You're
to u...,, ouc up ou, of your head
-.luc Independent