I must not teaze my Mother
I must not teaze my Mother
Original Text
Sigourney, L. H., Poems for Children (Hartfield:
Canfield and Robins, 1836): 13-15. Internet Archive
1I must not teaze my Mother;
2 For she is very kind,
3And every thingshe says to me,
4 I must directly mind:
5For when I was a baby.
6 Her care both night and day,
7While I was helpless and afraid,
8 I never can repay.
9I must not teaze my Mother:
10 And when she likes to read,
11Or has the head-ache, I will step
12 Most silently indeed;
13I must not choose a noisy play,
14 Nor trifling troubles tell,
15But sit down quiet by her side,
16 And try to make her well.
17I must not teaze my Mother:
18 I've heard dear father say,
19When I was in my cradle sick,
20 She nurs'd me night and day.
21And now she listens to my wants,
22 She gives me clothes and food,
23And cheers me with a loving smile,
24 While trying to be good.
25I must not teaze my Mother;
26 She loves me all the day.
27And she has patience with my faults,
28 And teaches me to pray;
29How much I'll strive to please her,
30 She every hour shall see,
31For should she go away, or die,
32 What would become of me?
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire / Sharine Leung
RPO Edition
2012
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