Slovenly Betsy

<h2>THE STORY OF A DIRTY CHILD</h2> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> <span class="i0"><span class="f1">T</span>he little girls whom now you'll see<br/></span> <span class="i0">Were sisters in one family;<br/></span> <span class="i0">And both enjoyed an equal share<br/></span> <span class="i0">Of a kind mother's anxious care.<br/></span> <span class="i0">This one in neatness took a pride,<br/></span> <span class="i0">And oft the brush and comb applied;<br/></span></div> </div> <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/image_61.jpg" width-obs="450" height-obs="640" alt="Illustration" /></div> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">Oft washed her face, and oft her hands;<br/></span> <span class="i0">See, now, thus occupied she stands.<br/></span></div> </div> <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/image_63.jpg" width-obs="450" height-obs="647" alt="Illustration" /></div> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">The other&mdash;oh! I grieve to say<br/></span> <span class="i0">How she would scream and run away,<br/></span> <span class="i0">Soon as she saw her mother stand,<br/></span> <span class="i0">With water by, and sponge in hand.<br/></span> <span class="i0">She'd kick and stamp, and jump about,<br/></span> <span class="i0">And set up such an awful shout,<br/></span> <span class="i0">That one who did not know the child,<br/></span> <span class="i0">Would say she must be going wild.<br/></span></div> </div> <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/image_65.jpg" width-obs="450" height-obs="648" alt="Illustration" /></div> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">In consequence it came to pass,<br/></span> <span class="i0">While one was quite a pretty lass,<br/></span> <span class="i0">And many a fond admirer gained,<br/></span> <span class="i0">And many a little gift obtained;<br/></span></div> </div> <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/image_67.jpg" width-obs="450" height-obs="653" alt="Illustration" /></div> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">The other, viewed with general scorn,<br/></span> <span class="i0">Was left forsaken and forlorn;<br/></span> <span class="i0">For no one can endure to see<br/></span> <span class="i0">A child all dirt and misery.<br/></span> <span class="i0">Behold how needful 'tis that we<br/></span> <span class="i0">Should clean in dress and person be;<br/></span> <span class="i0">Or else, believe me, 'tis in vain<br/></span> <span class="i0">We hope affection to obtain.<br/></span></div> </div> <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/image_69.jpg" width-obs="450" height-obs="649" alt="Illustration" /></div> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">A sloven will be always viewed<br/></span> <span class="i0">With pity by the wise and good;<br/></span> <span class="i0">While ev'n the vicious and the base<br/></span> <span class="i0">Behold with scorn a dirty face.<br/></span></div> </div> <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/image_71.jpg" width-obs="450" height-obs="646" alt="Illustration" /></div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />