Explore "Monsieur Et Mademoiselle" by Dinah Mulock on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
DEUX petits enfants Francais, / Monsieur et Mademoiselle. / Of what can they be talking, child? / Indeed I cannot tell. / But of this I am very certain, / You would find naught to blame / In that sweet French politeness -- / I wish we had the same.
Monsieur has got a melon, / And scoops it with his knife, / While Mademoiselle sits watching him: / No rudeness here -- no strife: / Though could you listen only, / They're chattering like two pies -- / French magpies, understand me -- / So merry and so wise.
Their floor is bare of carpet, / Their curtains are so thin, / They dine on meagre _potage_, and / Put many an onion in! / Her snow-white caps she irons: / He blacks his shoes, he can; / Yet she's a little lady / And he's a gentleman.
O busy, happy children! / That light French heart of yours, / Would it might sometimes enter at / Our solemn English doors! / Would that we worked as gaily, / And played, yes, played as well, / And lived our lives as simply / As Monsieur et Mademoiselle.