Only  Seven  643

ONLY  SEVEN

A  PASTORAL  STORY  AFTER   WORDSWORTH

I  marvell'd  why  a  simple  child,

That  lightly  draws  Its  breath,
Should  utter  groans  so  very  wild.
And  look  as  pale  as  Death.
Adopting  a  parental  tone,

I  ask'd  her  why  she  cried;
The  damsel  answered  with  a  groan,

'^  I've  got  a  pain  inside !

*'  I  thought  it  would  have  sent  me  mad

Last  night  about  eleven."
Said  I,  ''  What  is  it  makes  you  bad  t "
How  many  apples  have  you  had ! "

She  answered,  "  Only  seven ! "

"  And  are  you  sure  you  took  no  more.
My  little  maid?"  quoth  I;
**  Oh,  please,  sir,  mother  gave  me  four,

But  they  were  in  a  pie  1 "

'^  If  that's  the  case,"  I  stammer'd  out,

"  Of  course  you've  had  eleven."
The  maiden  answer'd  with  a  pout,

*'  I  ain't  had  more  nor  seven  I "

I  wonder'd  hugely  what  she  meant.
And  said,  '^  I'm  bad  at  riddles;
But  I  know  where  little  girls  are  sent

For  telling  taradiddles.
"  Now,  if  you  won't  reform,"  said  I,

^'You'll  never  go  to  Heaven."
But  all  in  vain;  each  time  I  try.
That  little  idiot  makes  reply,

"I  ain't  had  more  nor  seven  1"


644  Parody

POSTSCRIPT

To  borrow  Wordsworth's  name  was  wrong,

Or  slightly  misapplied;
And  so  I'd  better  call  my  song,

'^  Lines  after  Ache-Inside."

Henry  S.  Leigh.
TWAS  EVER  THUS

I  NEVER  rear'd  a  young  gazelle,

(Because,  you  see,  I  never  tried) ;
But  had  it  known  and  loved  me  well.
No  doubt  the  creature  would  have  died.
My  rich  and  aged  Uncle  John

Has  known  me  long  and  loves  me  well
But  still  persists  in  living  on —

I  would  he  were  a  young  gazelle.
