Girl And Boy

ALFRED is gentle as a girl, But Judith longs to be a boy! Would cut off every pretty curl With eager joy!

Hates to be called "my dear"--or kissed: For dollies does not care one fig: Goes, sticking hands up to the wrist In jackets big.

Would like to do whate'er boy can; Play cricket--even to go school: It is so grand to be a man! A girl's a fool!

But Alfred smiles superior love On all these innocent vagaries. He'd hate a goose! but yet a dove Ah, much more rare is!

She's anything but dove, good sooth! But she's his dear and only sister: And, had she been a boy, in truth How he'd have missed her.

So, gradually her folly dies, And she'll consent to be just human, When there shines out of girlish eyes The real Woman.