Classic Poem

ELSIE MINGUS lisps , she does!
She lives wite acrosst from us
In Miz. Ayers'uz house 'at she
Rents part to the Mingusuz. —
Yes, an' Elsie plays wiv me.

Elsie lisps so, she can't say
Her own name, ist anyway! —
She say " Elthy " — like they wuz
Feathers on her words, an' they
Ist stick on her tongue like fuzz.

My! she's purty , though! — An' when
She lisps , w'y, she's purty nen!
When she telled me, wunst, her doll
Wuz so " thweet, " an' I p'ten'
I lisp too, — she laugh' — 'at's all! —

She don't never git mad none —
'Cause she know I'm ist in fun. —
Elsie she ain't one bit sp'iled. —
Of all childerns — ever' one —
She's the ladylikest child! —

My Ma say she is! One time
Elsie start to say the rhyme
" Thing a thong o' thixpenth " — Whee!
I ist yell! An' Ma say I'm
Unpolite as I can be!

Wunst I went wiv Ma to call
On Elsie's Ma, an' eat an' all;
An' nen Elsie, when we've et,
An' we're playin' in the hall,
Elsie say: It's etikett

Fer young gentlemens, like me,
Eatin' when they's company ,
Not to never ever crowd
Down their food, ner " thip their tea
Ner thup thoop so awful loud! "