Twilight Stories






CORINNE'S MUSICALE.

    Inside of me says I am naughty,
         But truly, I know I am not;
     For if Brother Joe could see me
         Right in this very same spot,
     He'd let me do just
              what I'm doing,
         I'm very sure; that is,
              perhaps.   Oh dear!  however do
              big folks
         Hold this thing
              straight in their
              laps?

    It slips, an' it slips, an'
              it slips,
         You naughty old
              Banjo, oh dear!

    Is he coming?  then what
              will he do
         To find me sitting up
              here!   Ho, ho!  'twas a mouse
              —how silly
   An' frightened I've actually been;
   For he'd say, "If you hold it quite still,
   You may take it, I'm willing, Corinne!"

    I know: so now I'll begin it;
         How does he go "tum-ty tum ting,"
     An' make such beautiful tunes;
         Too lovely for anything?
     I ain't a bit 'fraid they may hear,
         —The house-people 'way off below—
     Me playing in Brother Joe's room,
         Still I better be careful, you know.

    If they didn't say 'twas amusing,
         I sh'd think 'twas stupid to play,
     To tug at such tiresome strings
         An' make them come over this way;
     But it must be delightful.  I'll pull
         A very fine tune at first;
     Now, "tum-ty ting tw-a-n-g!"
         It sound's as if something had burst!

    That string must 'a' truly been cracked,
         Don't you s'pose?  or moth-eaten, p'raps;
     'Tisn't pleasant to practice, I'm sure,
         But forlorn, when anything flaps.
     So I guess I have finished; hark, hark!
         He really IS coming—Oh my!
    Now, Banjo, I know mamma wants me,
         An' so I must bid you good-by!
                        MARGARET SIDNEY.
     Mr. Bunny was a rabbit,
     Mr. Bunny was a thief!
     He hopped into my garden
         And stole a cabbage leaf.

    He ate up all my parsnips
         Without asking if he may,
     And when I tried to catch him
         Kicked up his heels
              and ran away.

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