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398 MOTHER, MOTHER, THE POT BOILS OVER
putting the house to rights, sweeps the floor, and makes everything tidy; the younger children pretend to play, and get in the elder sister's way. She gets angry with them, and pretends to beat them. Now, the girl who personates the Witch comes and raps with her knuckles on a supposed door. The Witch stooped when walking, and had a stick to help her along.
Come in, says the eldest sister. What do you want ? Let me light my pipe at your fire ? My fire's out. Yes ! if you'll not dirty the hearth. No, certainly; I'll be careful. While the eldest sister pretends to look on the shelf for something, the Witch u dirties" the hearth, catches hold of Monday and runs off with her; and at this moment the pot boils over. The child who is the pot makes a u hissing and fizzing " noise. The daughter calls out—
Mother, mother, the pot boils over. Take the spoon and skim it. Can't find it. Look on the shelf. Can't reach it. Take the stool. The leg's broke. Take the chair. Chair 's gone to be mended. I suppose I must come myself? The Mother here wrings her hands out of the water in the washing-tub and comes in. She looks about and misses Monday.
Where's Monday ?
Oh, please, Mother, please, I couldn't help it; but some one came to beg a light for her pipe, and when I went for it she took Monday off. Why, that's the witch !
The Mother pretends to beat the eldest daughter, tells her to be more careful another time, and to be sure and not let the pot boil over. The eldest daughter cries, and promises to be more careful, and the Mother goes again to the wash-tub. |
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