Although of native maids the cream, <br />We're brought up on the English scheme - <br />The best of all <br />For great and small <br />Who modesty adore. <br />For English girls are good as gold, <br />Extremely modest (so we're told), <br />Demurely coy - divinely cold - <br />And we are that - and more. <br />To please papa, who argues thus - <br />All girls should mould themselves on us, <br />Because we are, <br />By furlongs far, <br />The best of all the bunch; <br />We show ourselves to loud applause <br />From ten to four without a pause - <br />Which is an awkward time because <br />It cuts into our lunch. <br /> <br />Oh, maids of high and low degree, <br />Whose social code is rather free, <br />Please look at us and you will see <br />What good young ladies ought to be! <br /> <br />And as we stand, like clockwork toys, <br />A lecturer papa employs <br />To puff and praise <br />Our modest ways <br />And guileless character - <br />Our well-known blush - our downcast eyes - <br />Our famous look of mild surprise <br />(Which competition still defies) - <br />Our celebrated "Sir!!!" <br />Then all the crowd take down our looks <br />In pocket memorandum books. <br />To diagnose, <br />Our modest pose <br />The kodaks do their best: <br />If evidence you would possess <br />Of what is maiden bashfulness, <br />You only need a button press - <br />And WE do all the rest.<br /><br />William Schwenck Gilbert<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/good-little-girls/
