St. Nicholas/Volume 40/Number 11/A Nightmare

3850413St. Nicholas — A NightmareAnna May Cooper

A NIGHTMARE

There was once a little girlie,
And she had an awful dream;
It really was so awful,
That she woke up with a scream!

She dreamed that all her dollies came
And climbed upon the bed—
There must have been a score or more
In groups upon the spread.

There was one-eyed “Arabella,”
And headless “Lucy Ann,”
And a most distressing cripple
Whose name was “Peter Pan.”

There was “Maud,” and proud “Belinda”;
There was “Evelina Grace’;
Each with an arm or leg off,
And a scratched and battered face.

They held a consultation
While she shivered there in bed;

Then up spake Arabella,
And this is what she said:

“You have been a cruel mother!
I say it to your shame!
We none of us can love you,
And you have been to blame.

“You ’ve pulled our arms and legs off!
You ‘ve scalped us every one!
You ‘ve often scratched our faces,
And thought that it was fun.

“Belinda ’s full of needles!
You ‘ve stuck pins in Emmy Lou!
And now we have decided
To do the same to you!"

It was then the little girlie
Awakened with a scream;
And oh, but she was thankful
To find it was a dream!

Anna May Cooper.