← Table of contents
Rhymes for the nursery

Idle Mary.

Reading edition

Oh, Mary, this will never do!

This work is sadly done, my dear,

And such a little of it too,

You have not taken pains, I fear.

Oh! no, your work has been forgotten,

Indeed you’ve hardly thought of that;

I saw you roll your ball of cotton

About the floor to please the cat.

See, here are stitches straggling wide,

And others reaching down so far;

I’m very sure you have not tried

At all to-day to please mamma.

The little girl who will not sew,

Should neither be allow’d to play;

But then I hope, my love, that you

Will take more pains another day.

Explore with AITake your curiosity a little further.

Reading settings