Hannah Flagg Gould

Fanny Spy

Lucy, Lucy, come away!
  Never climb for things so high.
Don't you know, the other day,
  What fell out with Fanny Spy?

Fanny spied, a loaf of cake,
  Wisely set above her reach;
Yet did Fanny think to make
  In its tempting side a breach.

When she thought the family
  Out of sight and hearing too,
Forth a polished table she
  Quickly to the closet drew.

First, she stepped upon a chair;
  Then the table--then a shelf;
Thinking she securely there
  Might, unnoticed, help herself.

Then she seized a heavy slice,
  Leaving in the loaf a cleft
Wider than a dozen mice,
  Feasted there all night, had left.

Stepping backward, Fanny slid
  On the table's polished face:--
Down she came, with dish and lid,
  Silver--glass--and china vase!

In, from every room they rushed,
  Father--mother--servants--all,
Thinking all the closet crushed,
  By the racket and the fall.

'Mid the uproar of the house,
  Fanny, in her shame and fright,
Wished herself indeed a mouse,
  But to run and hide from sight.

Yet was she to learn how vain,
  Poor and worthless, is a wish.
Wishing could not lull her pain,
  Hide her shame, nor mend a dish.

There she lay, but could not speak;
  For a tooth had made a pass
Through her lip; and to her cheek
  Clung a piece of shivered glass.

From her altered features gushed
  Rolling tears, and streaming gore;
While, untasted still, and crushed,
  Lay her cake upon the floor.

Then the doctor hurried in:
  Fanny at his needle swooned,
As he held her crimson chin,
  And together stitched the wound.

Now her face a scar must wear,
  Ever till her dying day!
Questioned how it happened there,
  What can blushing Fanny say?