Disobedient Emily

When Emily her Task had done It was her Nurse’s Rule To stern forbid her Charge to run Near Miller Jones’s Pool.

But Emily did not incline Kind Nursey to obey, She saw the Water Lilies shine That on the Water lay.

“La!” she exclaimed, “what Nurse desired She idly spoke in Haste, Those Plants would fitly be admired If on the Table placed.”

And so, with bold, presumptuous Mien And disobedient Pride, She hies her to the Meadows green Wherein the Waters glide.

To reach the Flowers she plies each Art, And, in the very Deed, A Victim to her wilful Heart, She sinks beneath the Weed.

Nurse Sukey, from her Window high, The dire Misfortune views, Her deaf’ning Scream and frenzied Eye Proclaim the fatal News.

Dragged by the Miller and his Wife, Who haste their Aid to lend, Young Emily, restored to Life, Makes Promise to amend.

“Ah me!” she cries, “tho’ crowned with Slime And choked with Mud and Leaves, My Heart may profit, in its Time, By what my Fault receives.”