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Title: The Rabbit Witch
Author: Katharine Pyle [
More Titles by Pyle]
Eliza Ann was far from good;
She did not act as children should,
But fought and quarreled so at play
The boys and girls all ran away.
Her mother said, "Take care, my dear,
The rabbit witch will come, I fear,
And steal you one of these fine days,
Unless you learn to mend your ways."
But yet Eliza did not heed;
She was a naughty girl indeed.
So now the rabbit witch has come,
And carries her away from home.
Down in the marshes far away
The rabbit's children squeak and play;
They tease Eliza till she cries,
And with her apron hides her eyes.
When market day comes round again
The witch locks up her house and then
She says, "Be careful while you play;--
Don't lose this child when I'm away."
Now she has gone Eliza takes
Her apron and a doll she makes.
"Just see this apron-girl," she cries;--
"Look at it's nose and button eyes."
And now her frock with belt and fold
Into another doll is rolled;
She gives it to the rabbit boy,
Who squeaks and stamps his foot with joy.
"Now," cry the rabbits, "we will play,
For these girls cannot run away."
But while they rock their dolls and sing
The witch brings home her marketing.
"Where are you children dear," she cries.
The little rabbit boy replies;--
"Here with two girls we play, but one
Far off, across the fields has run."
The rabbit witch went hurrying out
To see what they could be about.
There no Eliza could she find
But only clothes she'd left behind.
Quick after her the old witch ran;--
Haste, haste, make haste, Eliza Ann!
Her own dear home was reached at last;
The door was shut, the latch made fast.
But young Eliza had been taught
A lesson as her mother thought:
Henceforth she was so sweet and mild
All loved to be with such a child.
[The end]
Katharine Pyle's poem: Rabbit Witch
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