A trick that everyone abhors
In little girls is slamming doors.
A wealthy banker's little daughter
Who lived in Palace Green, Bayswater
(By name Rebecca Offendort),
Was given to this furious sport.
She would deliberately go
And slam the door like billy-o!
To make her Uncle Jacob start.
She was not really bad at heart,
But only rather rude and wild;
She was an aggravating child…
It happened that a marble bust
Of Abraham was standing just
Above the door this little lamb
Had carefully prepared to slam,
And down it came! It knocked her flat!
It laid her out! She looked like that.
Her funeral sermon (which was long
And followed by a sacred song)
Mentioned her virtues, it is true,
But dwelt upon her vices too,
And showed the deadful end of one
Who goes and slams the door for fun.
The children who were brought to hear
The awful tale from far and near
Were much impressed, and inly swore
They never more would slam the door,
— As often they had done before.
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Comments
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From guest Pam (contact)
I remember with delight this poem when I was a child. I always thought it best to live as Rebecca, at the risk of becoming the bad example to others, than to never have had any fun growing up. -
Humm....what have we here? Well, I think the tragic ending was pretty realistic, at least...this is very, ahem, harsh, but after all, it's a rare virtue to close a door softly....
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I did not like the tragic ending. Playing pranks on unsuspecting uncles and vegetable/ice cream vendors was an absorbing pastime of my childhood. I strongly feel that little girls should enjoy their moments of fun. This poem should be read to little girls so that they can check for marble busts before slamming doors!
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Ouch!!!
I had to read this piece, not only do I have a daughter called 'Rebecca', who insists on slamming every door she passes through, but there is even one on yahoo who does the same
This is a wonderful little piece even though it has a tragic end. I did enjoy reading this, and I think it should be read to every little girl.
Andrew
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