Oh! what’s befallen Bessy Brown,

She stands so squalling in the street;

She’s let her pitcher tumble down,

And all the water’s at her feet!

The little school-boys stood about,

And laugh’d to see her pumping, pumping;

Now with a curtsey to the spout,

And then upon her tiptoes jumping.

Long time she waited for her neighbors,

To have their turns:— but she must lose

The watery wages of her labors —

Except a little in her shoes!

Wit............