Matilda Who told Lies, and was Burned to Death
Hilaire Belloc
1870 to 1953
Track 1
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Were pouring in on every hand,
Their confidence) -- but all in vain!
Had kept a Strict Regard for Truth,
You should have heard her Scream and Bawl,
Within an hour the Gallant Band
Went tiptoe to the Telephone
Matilda told such Dreadful Lies,
The effort very nearly killed her,
She had refused to take her Niece
To hear this Entertaining Piece:
The Second Mrs. Tanqueray.
Discovered this Infirmity.
Until Matilda's Aunt succeeded
Inspired by British Cheers and Loud
To get the Men to go away,
In showing them they were not needed;
To see that Interesting Play
From Putney, Hackney Downs, and Bow.
Matilda, and the House, were Burned.
They only answered 'Little Liar!
For every time she shouted 'Fire!
And even then she had to pay
And took Peculiar Pains to Souse
A Deprivation Just and Wise
And finding she was left alone,
The Pictures up and down the House,
To Punish her for Telling Lies.
With Courage high and Hearts a-glow,
They ran their ladders through a score
And therefore when her Aunt returned,
And throw the window up and call
Her Aunt, who, from her Earliest Youth,
Proceeding from the Frenzied Crowd,
It made one Gasp and Stretch one's Eyes;
And would have done so, had not She
(The rapidly increasing Heat
Matilda's House is Burning Down!
It happened that a few Weeks later
That Night a Fire did break out--
You should have heard Matilda Shout!
They galloped, roaring through the Town,
And summoned the Immediate Aid
To People passing in the Street--
Of windows on the Ball Room Floor;
Her Aunt was off to the Theatre
Matilda, growing tired of play,
Of London's Noble Fire-Brigade.
For once, towards the Close of Day,
Encouraging her to obtain
Attempted to Believe Matilda:
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