| Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). A Victorian Anthology, 1837–1895. 1895. |
| |
| The Little Rebel |
| | | Joseph Ashby-Sterry (b. 1838) |
| |
| |
| PRINCESS of pretty pets, | |
| Tomboy in trouserettes, | |
| Eyes are like violets, | |
| Gleefully glancing! | |
| Skin like an otter sleek, | 5 |
| Nose like a baby Greek, | |
| Sweet little dimple-cheek, | |
| Merrily dancing! | |
| |
| Lark-like, her song it trills | |
| Over the dale and hills. | 10 |
| Hark, how her laughter thrills! | |
| Joyously joking: | |
| Yet, should she feel inclin’d, | |
| I fancy you will find, | |
| She, like all womankind, | 15 |
| Oft is provoking. | |
| |
| Often she stands on chairs, | |
| Sometimes she unawares | |
| Slyly creeps up the stairs, | |
| Secretly hiding: | 20 |
| Then will this merry maid— | |
| She is of nought afraid— | |
| Come down the balustrade, | |
| Saucily sliding! | |
| |
| Books she abominates, | 25 |
| But see her go on skates, | |
| And over five-barr’d gates | |
| Fearlessly scramble! | |
| Climbing up apple-trees, | |
| Barking her supple knees, | 30 |
| Flouting mamma’s decrees, | |
| Out for a ramble. | |
| |
| Now she is good as gold, | |
| Then she is pert and bold, | |
| Minds not what she is told, | 35 |
| Carelessly tripping. | |
| She is an April miss, | |
| Bounding to grief from bliss; | |
| Often she has a kiss,— | |
| Sometimes a whipping! | 40 |
| |
| Naughty but best of girls, | |
| Through life she gayly twirls, | |
| Shaking her sunny curls, | |
| Careless and joyful. | |
| Ev’ry one on her dotes, | 45 |
| Carolling merry notes, | |
| Pet in short petticoats, | |
| Truly tomboyful! | |
| |
|
|
|
