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Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
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’In my youth,’ Father William replied to his son, ‘I feared it
might injure the brain; But, now that I’m perfectly sure I have
none, Why, I do it again and again.’
’You are old,’ said the youth, ‘as I mentioned before, And
have grown most uncommonly fat; Yet you turned a back-
somersault in at the door— Pray, what is the reason of that?’
’In my youth,’ said the sage, as he shook his grey locks, ‘I
kept all my limbs very supple By the use of this ointment—one
shilling the box— Allow me to sell you a couple?’
’You are old,’ said the youth, ‘and your jaws are too weak
For anything tougher than suet; Yet you finished the goose, with
the bones and the beak— Pray how did you manage to do it?’
’In my youth,’ said his father, ‘I took to the law, And argued
each case with my wife; And the muscular strength, which it gave
to my jaw, Has lasted the rest of my life.’
’You are old,’ said the youth, ‘one would hardly suppose
That your eye was as steady as ever; Yet you balanced an eel on
the end of your nose— What made you so awfully clever?’
’I have answered three questions, and that is enough,’ Said
his father; ‘don’t give yourself airs! Do you think I can listen all
day to such stuff? Be off, or I’ll kick you down stairs!’
’That is not said right,’ said the Caterpillar.
’Not quite right, I’m afraid,’ said Alice, timidly; ‘some
of the words have got altered.’