LESSON 9
MEDDLESOME MATTY

1. Oh, how one ugly trick has spoiled

The sweetest and the best!

Matilda, though a pleasant child,

One grievous fault possessed,

Which, like a cloud before the skies,

Hid all her better qualities.

2. Sometimes, she'd lift the teapot lid

To peep at what was in it;

Or tilt, the kettle, if you did

But turn your back a minute.

In vain you told her not to touch,

Her trick of meddling grew so much.

3. Her grandmamma went out one day,

And, by mistake, she laid

Her spectacles and snuffbox1 gay,

Too near the little maid2;

“Ah! well, ” thought she, “I'll try them on,

As soon as grandmamma is gone.”

4. Forthwith, she placed upon her nose

The glasses large and wide;

And looking round, as I suppose,

The snuffbox, too, she spied.

“Oh, what a pretty box is this!

I'll open it, ” said little miss.

5. “I know that grandmamma would say,

‘Don't meddle with it, dear; '

But then she's far enough away,

And no one else is near;

Beside, what can there be amiss

In opening such a box as this? ”

6. So, thumb and finger went to work

To move the stubborn lid;

And, presently, a mighty jerk

The mighty mischief did;

For all at once, ah! woeful case!

The snuff came puffing in her face.

7. Poor eyes, and nose, and mouth, and chin

A dismal sight presented;

And as the snuff got further in,

Sincerely she repented3.

In vain she ran about for ease,

She could do nothing else but sneeze.

8. She dashed the spectacles away,

To wipe her tingling eyes;

And, as in twenty bits they lay,

Her grandmamma she spies.

“Heyday! and what's the matter now? ”

Cried grandmamma, with angry brow.

9. Matilda, smarting with the pain,

And tingling still, and sore,

Made many a promise to refrain

From meddling evermore;

And 'tis a fact, as I have heard,

She ever since has kept her word.

STUDY GUIDE

A. Word Definition

trick:mistake.

spoiled:ruined.

grievous:serious.

fault:poor characteristic.

peep:look.

in vain:without effect.

meddling:interfering.

spectacles:glasses.

gay:pretty.

forthwith:at once.

spied:saw.

besides:in addition.

amiss:wrong.

stubborn:difficult to move.

presently:a short time later.

jerk:tug.

woeful:sad.

puffing:rising up in a cloud.

dismal:sad;pitiful.

repented:regretted.

dashed:threw.

tingling:stinging.

brow:facial expression.

smarting:in physical discomfort.

refrain:to keep from.

evermore:ever again.

heyday:an old-fashioned expression of surprise.

B. Study Notes

1. A snuffbox is a small container that holds snuff, a powdered tobacco that is sniffed into the nose. Snuff was very popular in Europe from the 17th to mid-20th century but is not very common now.

2. “Little Maid” is an old-fashioned term of affection used for a little girl.

3. Repent: In Christian religions, to repent means “to ask God for forgiveness for your own sins.”

C. Comprehension Questions

1. The story is called “Meddlesome Matty.” “Matty” is a nickname for“Matilda.” What do you think “meddlesome” means?

2. One of Matilda's bad characteristics is that she is meddlesome. What characteristics do you think a good child should have?

3. What are some characteristics which you have?

D. Vocabulary: Opposites—Write one or more words to describe the opposite of the words below.

1. presently _________________________

2. near _____________________________

3. stubborn _________________________

4. dismal ___________________________

5. upon ____________________________