The Old Fashioned Girl

What has become, can anyone tell,

     Of the good, old-fashioned girl?

Who cared not at all for party or ball,

     Or the ruinous social whirl;

Who was early to bed and early to rise,

     Who wielded the mop and the broom;

Who dusted the chairs, and swept the stairs,

     And took all the care of her room?

What has become of the shy, sweet maid

     Who loved her work better than play?

Who got wraps for ma, and slippers for pa,

     And listened to what they would say?

Alas and alack! Where has she gone?

     I’ll tell you the truth, I vow!

She hasn’t gone far, but her pa and ma

     Won’t let her do such things now.

June 24, ’09