1889

MAGGIE'S VISIT TO OXFORD

(June 9th to 13th, 1889)

by Lewis Carroll

MAGGIE'S VISIT TO OXFORD -

(Written for Maggie Bowman.) -

WHEN Maggie once to Oxford came,

On tour as "Bootles' Baby",

She said, "I'll see this place of fame,

However dull the day be." -

So with her friend she visited

The sights that it was rich in:

And first of all she popped her head

Inside the Christ Church kitchen. -

The Cooks around that little child

Stood waiting in a ring:

And every time that Maggie smiled

Those Cooks began to sing-

Shouting the Battle-cry of Freedom! -

"Roast, boil and bake,

For Maggie's sake:

Bring cutlets fine

For her to dine,

Meringues so sweet

For her to eat-

For Maggie may be

Bootles' Baby!" -

Then hand in hand in pleasant talk

They wandered and admired

The Hall, Cathedral and Broad Walk,

Till Maggie's feet were tired: -

To Worcester Garden next they strolled,

Admired its quiet lake:

Then to St. John, a college old,

Their devious way they take. -

In idle mood they sauntered round

Its lawn so green and flat,

And in that garden Maggie found

A lovely Pussy-Cat! -

A quarter of an hour they spent

In wandering to and fro:

And everywhere that Maggie went,

The Cat was sure to go-

Shouting the Battle-cry of Freedom! -

"Maiow! Maiow!

Come, make your bow,

Take off your hats,

Ye Pussy-Cats!

And purr and purr,

To welcome her,

For Maggie may be

Bootles' Baby!" -

So back to Christ Church, not too late

For them to go and see

A Christ Church undergraduate,

Who gave them cakes and tea. -

Next day she entered with her guide

The garden called "Botanic",

And there a fierce Wild Boar she spied,

Enough to cause a panic: -

But Maggie didn't mind, not she,

She would have faced, alone,

That fierce wild boar, because, you see,

The thing was made of stone. -

On Magdalen walls they saw a face

That filled her with delight,

A giant face, that made grimace

And grinned with all its might. -

A little friend, industrious,

Pulled upwards all the while

The corner of its mouth, and thus

He helped that face to smile! -

"How nice", thought Maggie, "it would be

If I could have a friend

To do that very thing for me

And make my mouth turn up with glee,

By pulling at one end." -

In Magdalen Park the deer are wild

With joy, that Maggie brings

Some bread a friend had given the child,

To feed the pretty things. -

They flock round Maggie without fear:

They breakfast and they lunch,

They dine, they sup, those happy deer-

Still, as they munch and munch,

Shouting the Battle-cry of Freedom! -