Grimm Tales Made Gay | Page 5

Were a bore,
As well as big or scanty rooms,?And billiard, bath, and ante-rooms,?But not that interdicted
And restricted
Little door!
[Illustration]
For, all her curiosity?Awakened by the closet he?So carefully had hidden,
And forbidden
Her to see,
This damsel disobedient?Did something inexpedient,?And in the keyhole tiny
Turned the shiny
Little key:
[Illustration]
Then started back impulsively,?And shrieked aloud convulsively--?Three heads of girls he'd wedded
And beheaded
Met her eye!
And turning round, much terrified,?Her darkest fears were verified,?For Blue-Beard stood behind her,
Come to find her
On the sly!
[Illustration]
Perceiving she was fated to?Be soon decapitated, too,?She telegraphed her brothers
And some others
What she feared.
And Sister Anne looked out for them,?In readiness to shout for them?Whenever in the distance
With assistance
They appeared.
But only from her battlement?She saw some dust that cattle meant.?The ordinary story
Isn't gory,
But a jest.
But here's the truth unqualified.?The husband _wasn't_ mollified?Her head is in his bloody
Little study
With the rest!
_The Moral_: Wives, we must allow,?Who to their husbands will not bow,?A stern and dreadful lesson learn?When, as you've read, they're cut in turn.
How Rumplestilz Held Out in Vain for a Bonus
In Germany there lived an earl?Who had a charming niece:?And never gave the timid girl?A single moment's peace!?Whatever low and menial task?His fancy flitted through,?He did not hesitate to ask?That shrinking child to do.?(I see with truly honest shame you?Are blushing, and I do not blame you.?A tale like this the feelings softens,?And brings the tears, as does "Two Orphans.")
[Illustration]
She had to wash the windows, and?She had to scrub the floors,?She had to lend a willing hand?To fifty other chores:?She gave the dog his exercise,?She read the earl the news,?She ironed all his evening ties,?And polished all his shoes,?She cleaned the tins that filled the dairy,?She cut the claws of the canary,?And then, at night, with manner winsome,?When coal was wanted, carried in some!
But though these tasks were quite enough,?He thought them all too few,?And so her uncle, rude and rough,?Invented something new.?He took her to a little room,?Her willingness to tax,?And pointed out a broken loom?And half a ton of flax,?Observing: "Spin six pairs of trousers!"?His haughty manner seemed to rouse hers.?She met his scornful glances proudly--
[Illustration]
But when the earl went down the stair?She yielded to her fears.?Gave way at last to grim despair,?And melted into tears:?When suddenly, from out the wall,?As if he felt at home,?There pounced a singularly small?And much distorted gnome.?He smiled a smile extremely vapid,?And set to