All Quiet along the Potomac and other poems/Worldly Wisdom
WORLDLY WISDOM.
"OH, ma, it is dreadful!
I've quarrelled with John,
And left him for ever,
To live all alone.
" He will not go with me
To party or ball;
At home in the evening,
He won't talk at all.
"He is perfectly horrid,
And stingy, and queer!
I don't want to see him,
Or know he is near."
"Well, Tillie, I told you
The same long ago,
When John was beginning
To act like a beau;
"And you might have married
Old Gunnybag's heir.
'Tis very provoking
For me, I declare!
"And John is a fogy,
And acts like a brute,
To deny you a party
Or opera suit.
"A mean ugly fellow—"
"Why, ma, I am sure
John never was stingy,
Although he was poor.
"He is always respectful
And clever to you—
So tender and patient
Whatever I do!
"And now, I remember,
He said he would go
To the Madisons' party:
How can you talk so ?
"Poor patient old fellow!
I'm going right back;
I'll tell him I'm sorry,
And then—I'll unpack!"
The worldly-wise mother
Looked over at me:
"I know how to manage
Matilda, you see!"