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Charles Dickens

B Aunt Tabitha.

HATEVER I do and whatever I say, Aunt Tabitha tells me that isn't the way, When she was a girl (forty summers ago), Aunt Tabitha tells me they never did so.

Dear aunt! If I only would take her advice- But I like my own way, and I find it so nice!

And besides I forget half the things I am told; But they all will come back to me-when I am old.

If a youth passes by, it may happen no doubt, He may chance to look in as I chance to look out; She would never endure an impertinent stare, It is horrid, she says, and I musn't sit there.

A walk in the moonlight has pleasure, I own, But it isn't quite safe to be walking alone; So I take a lad's arm-just for safety, you know- But Aunt Tabitha tells me, they didn't do so.

How wicked we are, and how good they were then!

They kept at arm's length those detestable men; What an era of virtue she lived in !-but stay- Were the men such rogues in Aunt Tabitha's day?

If the men were so wicked-I'll ask my papa How he dared to propose to my darling mamma?

Was he like the rest of them? goodness! who knows?

And what shall I say, if a wretch should propose?

I am thinking if aunt knew so little of sin, What a wonder Aunt Tabitha's aunt must have been!

And her grand-aunt-it scares me - how shockingly sad That we girls of to-day are so frightfully bad!

A martyr will save us, and nothing else can ; Let us perish to rescue some wretched young man !

Though when to the altar a victim I go, Aunt Tabitha 'll tell me-she never did so. 66