Pebbles and Shells (Hawkes collection)/All About Girls
ALL ABOUT GIRLS
A girl is something with a braid,That wears an apron and is 'fraid;And women, they are grown up girls,With longer hair and lots more curls.
I have a sister 'n' her name's Nan,And she can't ever be a man,Or run about upon the hayAnd have a jolly time at play.
All she can do is have a dollAnd take it out with her to call,Or pick some flowers and make bouquets,Which are the dullest kind of plays.
Girls have to stay inside the houseAnd keep as quiet as a mouse,But boys can go outside and yell,And when they're tired, come in a spell.
Girls have to wash the dishes too,And sweep the room when that is through,While boys go off to slide and skateAnd don't get home till it is late.
But girls are good for little things,Like mending balls, or tying strings,And sometimes Nan will help a fellerWhen he has lost his ball down cellar.
There's one thing girls don't have to do,That's get in wood, like me or you,And if they did I know they'd cryAnd then not pile the wood up high.
But Nan, she's better than the others,For she is good to both her brothers,And I am sure she'd like to beA boy like Tommy or like me.