OH! what a mystery The study is of history! How the kings go ravaging And savaging about! Plantagenet or Tudor, I can’t tell which was ruder; But Richard Third, Upon my word, Was worst of all the rout.
Alfred was a hero, Knew no guile nor fear, oh! Beat the Danes and checked the Thanes, And ruled the country well. Edward First, the Hammer, Was a slaughterer and slammer, And Bruce alone Saved Scotland’s throne, When ’neath his blows it fell.
Edward Third was great, too, Early fought and late, too; Drove the French From Cressy’s trench Like leaves before the blast. But Harry Fifth, the glorious, He the all-victorious, He’s the one I’d serve alone, From first unto the last.
Oh! what a mystery The study is of history! Queens and kings, And wars and things, All done in black and white. Though sometimes a trifle bloody, ’Tis my best beloved study, For only so One learns, you know, To govern and to fight!
THE young ladies had a reception this afternoon, and a charming occasion it was. The guests were invited for four o’clock, and when I came in at five the party was in full swing.
Clare was the hostess,—lovely Clare, with her innocent blue eyes and gentle, unchanging smile. The nursery was transformed into a bower of beauty, and Clare was standing by a chair, holding out her hand with a gracious gesture of welcome. Alida received with her, and she looked charming, too, only she was so much smaller that she had to be stood up on a box to bring her to a level with Clare’s shoulder. Alida is a remarkable doll, because she can open and shut her eyes without lying down or getting up; and Betty sat on the floor behind her and pulled the strings, so that she waved her long eyelashes up and down in the most enchanting manner.
All the dolls were in their best clothes, except Jack the sailor, who cannot change his suit, because it is against his principles; and I must say they made a pretty party. The tea-things were set out on the little round table, all the best cups and saucers, and the pewter teapot that came from Holland, and the gold spoons; and there was _real cocoa_, and jam, and oyster crackers, and thin bread and butter.
Rosalie Urania presided at the tea-table, and poured the cocoa with such grace that no one would have suspected her of being helped a little by Juliet (Juliet is not a doll), who was hidden behind the table.