Oh, here's a sad picture!
Pray carefully look!
As sad as was ever
Yet seen in a book.
'Tis Emily's portrait:
Not at all flattered.
Slovenly, dirty, untidy,
And tattered.
Her mother implores her,
Again and again,
To make herself tidy;
But all is in vain.
Her trimmings are torn;
There's a hole in her dress;
Another, still larger;
Her shoes in a mess;
Stockings down, buttons missing;
Shabby old hat,
Not for worlds would I
Wear it, battered and flat.
Her mother does nothing
But patch, darn and mend,
Till, saddened and weary,
She says, "This must end.
"All, all is in vain.
And now, happen what may,
I can do nothing more;
So go your own way."
A terrible thing
Very soon now befell,
Oh, horror! I shudder
The story to tell.
This girl ran quite wild;
Till at last she became
All tatters and rags,
With no feeling of shame.
A man, who was passing,
Then took her one day,
And in his field placed her,
To scare birds away.
She is still standing there;
Stands there day and night.
The sparrows fly round her,
And cry in affright:
"Look at this dreadful thing!
Take care now, take care!
Beware of the scarecrow!
Beware, now, beware!"
[Illustration: Untidy Emily.]
[Page 24--Girl Land]
[Illustration: My Five Sisters.]