Читать книгу The Lazy Minstrel - Ashby-Sterry Joseph - Страница 26

A SWEET, short-skirted, pouting pet,

A winsome, laughing, glad, girlette;

She's ten-and-thoughtless, and as yet,

By falsity unsmitten!

A merry young misogynist,

Few boyish games can she resist —

The Kitten!

She hates a doll and girlish toys,

She's fond of whips, and dogs, and boys,

For, truth to tell, she finds no joys

In crewel-work or tatting:

But see how smiling is her face,

Indeed, a pretty gleeful Grace —

When batting!

She bowls with marvellous success,

And keeps her wicket, I confess —

Despite her graceful girlish dress —

As well as any Briton!

She's saucy, silly, and self-willed,

The smartest longstop ever frilled —

The Kitten!

She's erudite in "wides" and "byes,"

And I will venture to surmise,

She'll vanquish any boy her size

At games of single-wicket!

And yet, no doubt, she's good as gold,

For I'll go bail she's only bold —

At cricket!

But like her namesake, clad in fur,

No mischief comes amiss to her;

To me it seems it should occur,

To leave her faults unwritten.

She'll make a score, I'm sure of that,

And loves to carry out her bat —

The Kitten!