The Mermaid Club.
The Mermaid Culture Club requestThat you will kindly beOn such and such a day their guestAt something after three.
The Mermaid Culture Club requestThat you will kindly beOn such and such a day their guestAt something after three.
The Mermaid Culture Club request
That you will kindly be
On such and such a day their guest
At something after three.
I wrote at once that “I should beMost charmed,” and donn’d my bestDress diving-suit,—a joy to see,—And at their club-house ’neath the seaArrived at “something after three”Promptly (unpunctualityIs something I detest).The President, a mermaid fair,Sat by a coral table,And read an essay with an airIntelligent and ableUpon—but you will never guessThe subject—it was nothing lessThansunshadesandumbrellas.I really did my very bestTo keep from laughing—as their guest.That it was hard must be confessedWhen next the meeting was addressedOnshoes, and which would wear the best—Tan slippers or prunellas.
I wrote at once that “I should beMost charmed,” and donn’d my bestDress diving-suit,—a joy to see,—And at their club-house ’neath the seaArrived at “something after three”Promptly (unpunctualityIs something I detest).The President, a mermaid fair,Sat by a coral table,And read an essay with an airIntelligent and ableUpon—but you will never guessThe subject—it was nothing lessThansunshadesandumbrellas.I really did my very bestTo keep from laughing—as their guest.That it was hard must be confessedWhen next the meeting was addressedOnshoes, and which would wear the best—Tan slippers or prunellas.
I wrote at once that “I should be
Most charmed,” and donn’d my best
Dress diving-suit,—a joy to see,—
And at their club-house ’neath the sea
Arrived at “something after three”
Promptly (unpunctuality
Is something I detest).
The President, a mermaid fair,
Sat by a coral table,
And read an essay with an air
Intelligent and able
Upon—but you will never guess
The subject—it was nothing less
Thansunshadesandumbrellas.
I really did my very best
To keep from laughing—as their guest.
That it was hard must be confessed
When next the meeting was addressed
Onshoes, and which would wear the best—
Tan slippers or prunellas.
Then came (it did look like a joke)Essays onbonnet,hat, andtoque:Said I, “They must be mocking.”And when at length a mermaid rose,And read a thesis to exposeThe latest novelty inhose,I felt my reason rocking.But when at last the thing was o’er,And I was back again on shore,I fell to moralizing.And as remembrance came to meOf other clubsnotin the sea,Of essays read by ladies fairUpon the “why” and “whence” and “where,”Said I, “It’s not surprising.”
Then came (it did look like a joke)Essays onbonnet,hat, andtoque:Said I, “They must be mocking.”And when at length a mermaid rose,And read a thesis to exposeThe latest novelty inhose,I felt my reason rocking.But when at last the thing was o’er,And I was back again on shore,I fell to moralizing.And as remembrance came to meOf other clubsnotin the sea,Of essays read by ladies fairUpon the “why” and “whence” and “where,”Said I, “It’s not surprising.”
Then came (it did look like a joke)Essays onbonnet,hat, andtoque:Said I, “They must be mocking.”And when at length a mermaid rose,And read a thesis to exposeThe latest novelty inhose,I felt my reason rocking.But when at last the thing was o’er,And I was back again on shore,I fell to moralizing.And as remembrance came to meOf other clubsnotin the sea,Of essays read by ladies fairUpon the “why” and “whence” and “where,”Said I, “It’s not surprising.”
Then came (it did look like a joke)Essays onbonnet,hat, andtoque:Said I, “They must be mocking.”And when at length a mermaid rose,And read a thesis to exposeThe latest novelty inhose,I felt my reason rocking.But when at last the thing was o’er,And I was back again on shore,I fell to moralizing.And as remembrance came to meOf other clubsnotin the sea,Of essays read by ladies fairUpon the “why” and “whence” and “where,”Said I, “It’s not surprising.”
Then came (it did look like a joke)
Essays onbonnet,hat, andtoque:
Said I, “They must be mocking.”
And when at length a mermaid rose,
And read a thesis to expose
The latest novelty inhose,
I felt my reason rocking.
But when at last the thing was o’er,
And I was back again on shore,
I fell to moralizing.
And as remembrance came to me
Of other clubsnotin the sea,
Of essays read by ladies fair
Upon the “why” and “whence” and “where,”
Said I, “It’s not surprising.”
Then came (it did look like a joke)Essays onbonnet,hat, andtoque:Said I, “They must be mocking.”And when at length a mermaid rose,And read a thesis to exposeThe latest novelty inhose,I felt my reason rocking.But when at last the thing was o’er,And I was back again on shore,I fell to moralizing.And as remembrance came to meOf other clubsnotin the sea,Of essays read by ladies fairUpon the “why” and “whence” and “where,”Said I, “It’s not surprising.”
Then came (it did look like a joke)Essays onbonnet,hat, andtoque:Said I, “They must be mocking.”And when at length a mermaid rose,And read a thesis to exposeThe latest novelty inhose,I felt my reason rocking.But when at last the thing was o’er,And I was back again on shore,I fell to moralizing.And as remembrance came to meOf other clubsnotin the sea,Of essays read by ladies fairUpon the “why” and “whence” and “where,”Said I, “It’s not surprising.”
Then came (it did look like a joke)
Essays onbonnet,hat, andtoque:
Said I, “They must be mocking.”
And when at length a mermaid rose,
And read a thesis to expose
The latest novelty inhose,
I felt my reason rocking.
But when at last the thing was o’er,
And I was back again on shore,
I fell to moralizing.
And as remembrance came to me
Of other clubsnotin the sea,
Of essays read by ladies fair
Upon the “why” and “whence” and “where,”
Said I, “It’s not surprising.”
pon a time I had a Heart,And it was bright and gay;And I gave it to a Lady fairTo have and keep alway.She soothed it and she smoothed itAnd she stabbed it till it bled;She brightened it and lightened itAnd she weighed it down with lead.
pon a time I had a Heart,And it was bright and gay;And I gave it to a Lady fairTo have and keep alway.She soothed it and she smoothed itAnd she stabbed it till it bled;She brightened it and lightened itAnd she weighed it down with lead.
pon a time I had a Heart,And it was bright and gay;And I gave it to a Lady fairTo have and keep alway.She soothed it and she smoothed itAnd she stabbed it till it bled;She brightened it and lightened itAnd she weighed it down with lead.
pon a time I had a Heart,And it was bright and gay;And I gave it to a Lady fairTo have and keep alway.She soothed it and she smoothed itAnd she stabbed it till it bled;She brightened it and lightened itAnd she weighed it down with lead.
pon a time I had a Heart,
And it was bright and gay;
And I gave it to a Lady fair
To have and keep alway.
She soothed it and she smoothed itAnd she stabbed it till it bled;She brightened it and lightened itAnd she weighed it down with lead.
She soothed it and she smoothed it
And she stabbed it till it bled;
She brightened it and lightened it
And she weighed it down with lead.
pon a time I had a Heart,And it was bright and gay;And I gave it to a Lady fairTo have and keep alway.She soothed it and she smoothed itAnd she stabbed it till it bled;She brightened it and lightened itAnd she weighed it down with lead.
pon a time I had a Heart,And it was bright and gay;And I gave it to a Lady fairTo have and keep alway.She soothed it and she smoothed itAnd she stabbed it till it bled;She brightened it and lightened itAnd she weighed it down with lead.
pon a time I had a Heart,
And it was bright and gay;
And I gave it to a Lady fair
To have and keep alway.
She soothed it and she smoothed itAnd she stabbed it till it bled;She brightened it and lightened itAnd she weighed it down with lead.
She soothed it and she smoothed it
And she stabbed it till it bled;
She brightened it and lightened it
And she weighed it down with lead.
She flattered it and battered itAnd she filled it full of gall;Yet had I Twenty Hundred Hearts,Still should she have them all.
She flattered it and battered itAnd she filled it full of gall;Yet had I Twenty Hundred Hearts,Still should she have them all.
She flattered it and battered itAnd she filled it full of gall;Yet had I Twenty Hundred Hearts,Still should she have them all.
She flattered it and battered it
And she filled it full of gall;
Yet had I Twenty Hundred Hearts,
Still should she have them all.
ANGEL’S TOYS.I’ve often wondered—have n’t you?—What all the little angels doTo while eternity away,When grown-up angels sing and playUpon their harps with golden strings,And lutes and violas and things.What do they do? What do they playTo while eternity away?After much pondering profound,Perhaps an answer I have found—I give it you for what it’s worth.The people now upon this earth,Who neither quite deserve to goAbove hereafter, nor below—The prig, the poser, and the crank;The snob, who thinks of naught but rank;The gossip and the fool—in short,
ANGEL’S TOYS.I’ve often wondered—have n’t you?—What all the little angels doTo while eternity away,When grown-up angels sing and playUpon their harps with golden strings,And lutes and violas and things.What do they do? What do they playTo while eternity away?After much pondering profound,Perhaps an answer I have found—I give it you for what it’s worth.The people now upon this earth,Who neither quite deserve to goAbove hereafter, nor below—The prig, the poser, and the crank;The snob, who thinks of naught but rank;The gossip and the fool—in short,
ANGEL’S TOYS.I’ve often wondered—have n’t you?—What all the little angels doTo while eternity away,When grown-up angels sing and playUpon their harps with golden strings,And lutes and violas and things.What do they do? What do they playTo while eternity away?After much pondering profound,Perhaps an answer I have found—I give it you for what it’s worth.The people now upon this earth,Who neither quite deserve to goAbove hereafter, nor below—The prig, the poser, and the crank;The snob, who thinks of naught but rank;The gossip and the fool—in short,
ANGEL’S TOYS.
I’ve often wondered—have n’t you?—What all the little angels doTo while eternity away,When grown-up angels sing and playUpon their harps with golden strings,And lutes and violas and things.What do they do? What do they playTo while eternity away?After much pondering profound,Perhaps an answer I have found—I give it you for what it’s worth.The people now upon this earth,Who neither quite deserve to goAbove hereafter, nor below—The prig, the poser, and the crank;The snob, who thinks of naught but rank;The gossip and the fool—in short,
I’ve often wondered—have n’t you?—What all the little angels doTo while eternity away,When grown-up angels sing and playUpon their harps with golden strings,And lutes and violas and things.What do they do? What do they playTo while eternity away?After much pondering profound,Perhaps an answer I have found—I give it you for what it’s worth.The people now upon this earth,Who neither quite deserve to goAbove hereafter, nor below—The prig, the poser, and the crank;The snob, who thinks of naught but rank;The gossip and the fool—in short,
I’ve often wondered—have n’t you?—
What all the little angels do
To while eternity away,
When grown-up angels sing and play
Upon their harps with golden strings,
And lutes and violas and things.
What do they do? What do they play
To while eternity away?
After much pondering profound,
Perhaps an answer I have found—
I give it you for what it’s worth.
The people now upon this earth,
Who neither quite deserve to go
Above hereafter, nor below—
The prig, the poser, and the crank;
The snob, who thinks of naught but rank;
The gossip and the fool—in short,
ANGEL’S TOYS.I’ve often wondered—have n’t you?—What all the little angels doTo while eternity away,When grown-up angels sing and playUpon their harps with golden strings,And lutes and violas and things.What do they do? What do they playTo while eternity away?After much pondering profound,Perhaps an answer I have found—I give it you for what it’s worth.The people now upon this earth,Who neither quite deserve to goAbove hereafter, nor below—The prig, the poser, and the crank;The snob, who thinks of naught but rank;The gossip and the fool—in short,
I’ve often wondered—have n’t you?—What all the little angels doTo while eternity away,When grown-up angels sing and playUpon their harps with golden strings,And lutes and violas and things.What do they do? What do they playTo while eternity away?After much pondering profound,Perhaps an answer I have found—I give it you for what it’s worth.The people now upon this earth,Who neither quite deserve to goAbove hereafter, nor below—The prig, the poser, and the crank;The snob, who thinks of naught but rank;The gossip and the fool—in short,
I’ve often wondered—have n’t you?—
What all the little angels do
To while eternity away,
When grown-up angels sing and play
Upon their harps with golden strings,
And lutes and violas and things.
What do they do? What do they play
To while eternity away?
After much pondering profound,
Perhaps an answer I have found—
I give it you for what it’s worth.
The people now upon this earth,
Who neither quite deserve to go
Above hereafter, nor below—
The prig, the poser, and the crank;
The snob, who thinks of naught but rank;
The gossip and the fool—in short,
All nuisances of every sort—Will change into amusing toysFor little angel girls and boys.The braggart will confer a boonBy changing to a toy balloon;The snob tuft-hunter and the boreTo shuttlecock and battledoreWill turn; the highfalutin wightsThe angel boys will fly as kites;The gossip then will cease his prattle,And be an angel baby’s rattle;The prig—but you have got me there.Whether in heaven, or elsewhere,’T is quite impossible to seeWhat kind of use the prig can be;By what inscrutable design,Or by what accident divine,Or what impenetrable jestHe was evolved, can ne’er be guessed.
All nuisances of every sort—Will change into amusing toysFor little angel girls and boys.The braggart will confer a boonBy changing to a toy balloon;The snob tuft-hunter and the boreTo shuttlecock and battledoreWill turn; the highfalutin wightsThe angel boys will fly as kites;The gossip then will cease his prattle,And be an angel baby’s rattle;The prig—but you have got me there.Whether in heaven, or elsewhere,’T is quite impossible to seeWhat kind of use the prig can be;By what inscrutable design,Or by what accident divine,Or what impenetrable jestHe was evolved, can ne’er be guessed.
All nuisances of every sort—Will change into amusing toysFor little angel girls and boys.The braggart will confer a boonBy changing to a toy balloon;The snob tuft-hunter and the boreTo shuttlecock and battledoreWill turn; the highfalutin wightsThe angel boys will fly as kites;The gossip then will cease his prattle,And be an angel baby’s rattle;The prig—but you have got me there.Whether in heaven, or elsewhere,’T is quite impossible to seeWhat kind of use the prig can be;By what inscrutable design,Or by what accident divine,Or what impenetrable jestHe was evolved, can ne’er be guessed.
All nuisances of every sort—Will change into amusing toysFor little angel girls and boys.The braggart will confer a boonBy changing to a toy balloon;The snob tuft-hunter and the boreTo shuttlecock and battledoreWill turn; the highfalutin wightsThe angel boys will fly as kites;The gossip then will cease his prattle,And be an angel baby’s rattle;The prig—but you have got me there.Whether in heaven, or elsewhere,’T is quite impossible to seeWhat kind of use the prig can be;By what inscrutable design,Or by what accident divine,Or what impenetrable jestHe was evolved, can ne’er be guessed.
All nuisances of every sort—
Will change into amusing toys
For little angel girls and boys.
The braggart will confer a boon
By changing to a toy balloon;
The snob tuft-hunter and the bore
To shuttlecock and battledore
Will turn; the highfalutin wights
The angel boys will fly as kites;
The gossip then will cease his prattle,
And be an angel baby’s rattle;
The prig—but you have got me there.
Whether in heaven, or elsewhere,
’T is quite impossible to see
What kind of use the prig can be;
By what inscrutable design,
Or by what accident divine,
Or what impenetrable jest
He was evolved, can ne’er be guessed.
All nuisances of every sort—Will change into amusing toysFor little angel girls and boys.The braggart will confer a boonBy changing to a toy balloon;The snob tuft-hunter and the boreTo shuttlecock and battledoreWill turn; the highfalutin wightsThe angel boys will fly as kites;The gossip then will cease his prattle,And be an angel baby’s rattle;The prig—but you have got me there.Whether in heaven, or elsewhere,’T is quite impossible to seeWhat kind of use the prig can be;By what inscrutable design,Or by what accident divine,Or what impenetrable jestHe was evolved, can ne’er be guessed.
All nuisances of every sort—Will change into amusing toysFor little angel girls and boys.The braggart will confer a boonBy changing to a toy balloon;The snob tuft-hunter and the boreTo shuttlecock and battledoreWill turn; the highfalutin wightsThe angel boys will fly as kites;The gossip then will cease his prattle,And be an angel baby’s rattle;The prig—but you have got me there.Whether in heaven, or elsewhere,’T is quite impossible to seeWhat kind of use the prig can be;By what inscrutable design,Or by what accident divine,Or what impenetrable jestHe was evolved, can ne’er be guessed.
All nuisances of every sort—
Will change into amusing toys
For little angel girls and boys.
The braggart will confer a boon
By changing to a toy balloon;
The snob tuft-hunter and the bore
To shuttlecock and battledore
Will turn; the highfalutin wights
The angel boys will fly as kites;
The gossip then will cease his prattle,
And be an angel baby’s rattle;
The prig—but you have got me there.
Whether in heaven, or elsewhere,
’T is quite impossible to see
What kind of use the prig can be;
By what inscrutable design,
Or by what accident divine,
Or what impenetrable jest
He was evolved, can ne’er be guessed.