Matilda Who told Lies, and was Burned to Death

Hilaire Belloc

1870 to 1953

Poem Image
Track 1

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Every 10th word

Matilda told such Dreadful Lies,
It made one Gasp ______ Stretch one's Eyes;
Her Aunt, who, from her Earliest Youth,
Had kept a Strict Regard for Truth,
Attempted to ______ Matilda:
The effort very nearly killed her,
And would ______ done so, had not She
Discovered this Infirmity.
For once, towards the Close of Day,
Matilda, growing tired of play,
And finding she was left alone,
Went tiptoe to ______ Telephone
And summoned the Immediate Aid
Of London's Noble Fire-Brigade.
Within an hour the Gallant Band
Were pouring in ______ every hand,
From Putney, Hackney Downs, and Bow.
With ______ high and Hearts a-glow,
They galloped, roaring through the Town,
'Matilda's House is Burning Down!'
Inspired by British ______ and Loud
Proceeding from the Frenzied Crowd,
They ran ______ ladders through a score
Of windows on the Ball ______ Floor;
And took Peculiar Pains to Souse
The Pictures ______ and down the House,
Until Matilda's Aunt succeeded
In ______ them they were not needed;
And even then she ______ to pay
To get the Men to go away,
______ happened that a few Weeks later
Her Aunt was ______ to the Theatre
To see that Interesting Play
The ______ Mrs. Tanqueray.
She had refused to take her Niece
______ hear this Entertaining Piece:
A Deprivation Just and Wise
______ Punish her for Telling Lies.
That Night a Fire ______ break out--
You should have heard Matilda Shout!
You ______ have heard her Scream and Bawl,
And throw the ______ up and call
To People passing in the Street--
(The rapidly increasing Heat
Encouraging her to obtain
Their confidence) -- but all in vain!
For every time she shouted 'Fire!'
They only answered 'Little Liar!'
And therefore ______ her Aunt returned,
Matilda, and the House, were Burned.

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