Читать книгу In My Nursery - Richards Laura Elizabeth Howe, Laura Richards - Страница 47

Belinda Blonde was a beautiful doll,

With rosy-red cheeks and a flaxen poll.

Her lips were red, and her eyes were blue,

But to say she was happy would not be true;

For she pined for love of the great big Jack

Who lived in the Box so grim and black.

She never had looked on the Jack his face;

But she fancied it shining with beauty and grace,

And all the day long she would murmur and pout,

Because Jack-in-the-box would never come out.

"Oh, beautiful, beautiful Jack-in-the-box,

Undo your bolts and undo your locks!

The cupboard is shut, and there's no one about:

Oh! Jack-in-the-box, jump out! jump out!"

But alas! alas! for Belinda Blonde,

And alas! alas! for her dreamings fond.

There soon was an end to all her doubt,

For Jack-in-the-box really did jump out, —

Out with a crash and out with a spring,

Half black and half scarlet, a horrible thing.

Out with a yell and a shriek and a shout,

His great goggle-eyes glaring wildly about.

"And what did Belinda do?" you say.

Alas! before she could get out of the way,

The monster struck her full on the head,

And with pain and with terror she fell down dead.

Now all you dolls, both little and big,

With china crown and with curling wig,

Before you give way to affection fond,

Remember the fate of Belinda Blonde!

And unless you're fond of terrible knocks,

Don't set your heart on a Jack-in-the-box!