For a Naughty Little Girl, Born in 1782 in London, Ann Taylor was a much loved poet and critic who came from one of the most literary gifted families of the time. Ann’s poetic career started early when she began to write verses for children which gained her a long term popularity but she is most widely known for her collaborations with older sister Jane.
For a Naughty Little Girl by Ann Taylor
For a Naughty Little Girl
My sweet little girl should be cheerful and mild
She must not be fretful and cry!
Oh! why is this passion? remember, my child,
GOD sees you, who lives in the sky.That dear little face, that I like so to kiss,
How alter’d and sad it appears!
Do you think I can love you so naughty as this,
Or kiss you, all wetted with tears?Remember, though GOD is in Heaven, my love,
He sees you within and without,
And always looks down, from His glory above,
To notice what you are about.If I am not with you, or if it be dark,
And nobody is in the way,
His eye is as able your doings to mark,
She must not be fretful and cry!
Oh! why is this passion? remember, my child,
GOD sees you, who lives in the sky.That dear little face, that I like so to kiss,
How alter’d and sad it appears!
Do you think I can love you so naughty as this,
Or kiss you, all wetted with tears?Remember, though GOD is in Heaven, my love,
He sees you within and without,
And always looks down, from His glory above,
To notice what you are about.If I am not with you, or if it be dark,
And nobody is in the way,
His eye is as able your doings to mark,
In the night as it is in the day.Then dry up your tears and look smiling again,
And never do things that are wrong;
For I’m sure you must feel it a terrible pain,
To be naughty and crying so long.We’ll pray, then, that GOD may your passion forgive,
And teach you from evil to fly;
And then you’ll be happy as long as you live,
And happy whenever you die.
And never do things that are wrong;
For I’m sure you must feel it a terrible pain,
To be naughty and crying so long.We’ll pray, then, that GOD may your passion forgive,
And teach you from evil to fly;
And then you’ll be happy as long as you live,
And happy whenever you die.