Lewis Carroll: Through the Looking Glass

CHAPTER 6: Humpty Dumpty (continued)

            I told them once, I told them twice:
             They would not listen to advice.

            I took a kettle large and new,
             Fit for the deed I had to do.

            My heart went hop, my heart went thump;
             I filled the kettle at the pump.

            Then some one came to me and said,
             "The little fishes are in bed."

            I said to him, I said it plain,
             "Then you must wake them up again."

            I said it very loud and clear;
             I went and shouted in his ear.'

Humpty Dumpty raised his voice almost to a scream as he repeated this verse, and Alice thought with a shudder, `I wouldn't have been the messenger for ANYTHING!'

            `But he was very stiff and proud;
             He said "You needn't shout so loud!"

            And he was very proud and stiff;
             He said "I'd go and wake them, if--"

            I took a corkscrew from the shelf:
             I went to wake them up myself.

            And when I found the door was locked,
             I pulled and pushed and kicked and knocked.

            And when I found the door was shut,
             I tried to turn the handle, but--'

There was a long pause.

`Is that all?' Alice timidly asked.

`That's all,' said Humpty Dumpty. `Good-bye.'

This was rather sudden, Alice thought: but, after such a VERY strong hint that she ought to be going, she felt that it would hardly be civil to stay. So she got up, and held out her hand. `Good-bye, till we meet again!' she said as cheerfully as she could.