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| THIS is the way we dress the Doll:— | |
| You may make her a shepherdess, the Doll, | |
| If you give her a crook with a pastoral hook, | |
| But this is the way we dress the Doll. | |
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Chorus
Bless the Doll, you may press the Doll, | 5 |
| But do not crumple and mess the Doll! | |
| This is the way we dress the Doll. | |
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| First, you observe, her little chemise, | |
| As white as milk, with ruches of silk; | |
| And the little drawers that cover her knees, | 10 |
| As she sits or stands, with golden bands, | |
| And lace in beautiful filagrees. | |
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Chorus
Now these are the bodies: she has two, | |
| One of pink, with rouches of blue, | |
| And sweet white lace; be careful, do! | 15 |
| And one of green, with buttons of sheen, | |
| Buttons and bands of gold, I mean, | |
| With lace on the border in lovely order, | |
| The most expensive we can afford her! | |
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Chorus
Then, with black at the border, jacket | 20 |
| And this—and this—she will not lack it; | |
| Skirts? Why, there are skirts, of course, | |
| And shoes and stockings we shall enforce, | |
| With a proper bodice, in the proper place, | |
| (Stays that lace have had their days | 25 |
| And made their martyrs); likewise garters, | |
| All entire. But our desire | |
| Is to show you her night attire, | |
| At least a part of it. Pray admire | |
| This sweet white thing that she goes to bed in! | 30 |
| It ’s not the one that ’s made for her wedding: | |
| That is special, a new design, | |
| Made with a charm and a countersign, | |
| Three times three and nine times nine: | |
| These are only her usual clothes. | 35 |
| Look, there ’s a wardrobe! gracious knows | |
| It ’s pretty enough, as far as it goes! | |
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| So you see the way we dress the Doll: | |
| You might make her a shepherdess, the Doll, | |
| If you gave her a crook with pastoral hook, | 40 |
| With sheep, and a shed, and a shallow brook, | |
| And all that, out of the poetry-book. | |
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Chorus
Bless the Doll, you may press the Doll, | |
| But do not crumple and mess the Doll! | |
| This is the way we dress the Doll; | 45 |
| If you had not seen, could you guess the Doll? | |
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