THE RIVALS.

IF JNWAS Mary Melinda Baker’s doll,
With head of shining hair,
A waxen nose and ten pink toes,
A fan, and a real high-chair.

Mary Melinda Baker’s doll
Was an airy sort of thing ;

Though I never heard her speak a word,
And I know she could not sing.

Now Peter Frisby Hamilton Jones
Was a perfectly lovely dear.

He was a cat, as black as my hat,
No tail, and a slit in one ear.

Mary Melinda never will know
How her doll stirred up that cat;
But she was the one ’t the fuss begun,
We fellows are sure of that.

How do girls know what dolls may do,
When they are away at school?

A girl in their place would make up a face,
Which aggravates boys, as a rule.

So we think that doll with her waxen nose,
Just turned it up at Pete —
At nine she was there, in her real high-chair ;
At night we found one of her feet.
Cora Stuart Wheeler.