JANE. <br />Miss Lydia every day is drest <br />Better than I am in my best <br />White cambric-muslin frock. <br />I wish I had one made of clear <br />Worked lawn, or leno very dear.- <br />And then my heart is broke <br /> <br /> <br />Almost to think how cheap my doll <br />Was bought, when hers cost-yes, cost full <br />A pound, it did, my brother; <br />Nor has she had it weeks quite five, <br />Yet, 'tis as true as I'm alive, <br />She's soon to have another. <br /> <br /> <br />ROBERT. <br />O mother, hear my sister Jane, <br />How foolishly she does complain, <br />And tease herself for nought. <br />But 'tis the way of all her sex, <br />Thus foolishly themselves to vex. <br />Envy's a female fault. <br /> <br /> <br />JANE. <br />O brother Robert, say not so; <br />It is not very long ago, <br />Ah! brother, you've forgot, <br />When speaking of a boy you knew, <br />Remember how you said that you <br />Envied his happy lot. <br /> <br /> <br />ROBERT. <br />Let's see, what were the words I spoke? <br />Why, may be I was half in joke- <br />May be I just might say- <br />Besides that was not half so bad; <br />For, Jane, I only said he had <br />More time than I to play. <br /> <br /> <br />JANE. <br />O may be, may be, very well: <br />And may be, brother, I don't tell <br />Tales to mamma like you. <br /> <br /> <br />MOTHER. <br />O cease your wrangling, cease, my dears; <br />You would not wake a mother's fears <br />Thus, if you better knew.<br /><br />Charles Lamb<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/discontent-and-quarrelling/
