Scope and Content
Mrs Goat having visits one morning to pay,
Left word with her daughter on going away,
To keep in the house, and the hall door to lock,
And not to regard it, whoever might knock.
For a wolf in those parts was accustomed to prowl,
And had kept her awake all night long with his howl.
But at this little Miss turned away with a pout
And said, "to be sure I shall keep the wolf out."
The dame went away, but returning again,
She intreated her daughter to put up the chain,
"Oh dear! what a trouble"! said little Miss Kid,
"But however, 'tis safer to do as one's bid."
A few minutes after came, Rat, tat, tat, tat,
She could not be quiet, but cried "Who is that?
"For Mamma is gone out, and she bade me take care,
"And keep the door locked lest the wolf should be there."
"Lack-a-day I'm no wolf," said the stranger,"Miss Kid,
"But as I advise you to do as you're bid
"Pray do not by any means open it far,-
"But while I am speaking just set it ajar."
So silly Miss Kid laid her hand on the chain,
Then felt half afraid, and considered again,
"For" said she, "Tis a truth that I cannot deny,
"My mother is older, and wiser than I."
However she thought it was better to say
"I'll thank you to call Sir, on some other day.
"For to tell you the truth, it is silly enough,
"But I'm frightened a little, your voice is so gruff."
How vexed was the wolf.(for it was he indeed),
To think that at present he could not succeed,
But he bade her good morning, & hid in the wood,
To think of some plan to get in if he could.
At last picking up some soft wool that he saw,
He bound it as well as he could on his paw,
Then back to the house he returned as before,
But only gave one little tap at the door.
"Who is there?" cried Miss Kid, "tell me who you may be?"
"Only look at my paw" said the wolf "and you'll see,
"But however, I'll tell you at once who I am,"
So he spoke very softly, "I'm little Miss Lamb."
"I met Mrs Goat, and she told me to say,
"As you're left quite alone I might come for the day:
"Besides (between friends) I've a secret or two,
"Which I'm quite impatient to whisper to you."
Now this was the thing of all others, he guessed
To prevail on Miss Kid, for it must be confessed
That few other things would have tempted her so -
(Like some silly children whom you & I know.)
So she opened the door, that her friend might walk in,
But how great her dismay! when she saw his rough chin,
And the sharp row of teeth in his terrible jaw,
And the tallons, that peeped through the wool on his paw.
She clung to the door, and shrieked murder again,
And well was it now that she'd put up the chain,
For although he could reach her to give her a scratch,
Yet it kept him away till she'd fastened the latch.
Then howling away to the forest he went,
And left her at leisure her fault to repent,
And as soon as her Mother came back she revealed
The whole of her folly and nothing concealed.
Her Mother was pleased that she did not deny,
And add the worse fault, that, of telling a lie;
And now she's so careful to do as she's bid,
That no child is better than little Miss Kid!!
For:Margaret, Harriet, Robert, Charles and Walter May -
Ampthill.-