What is the message for the rhyme Little Polly Flinders?

Answer 1

Here are the original six lines:

Little Polly Flinders

Sat among the cinders

Warming her pretty little toes

Her mother came and caught her

And smacked her little daughter

For spoiling her nice new clothes

These next lines were added by George Ansell:

Little Polly Flinders

Polished up the winders

Using her mother's scouring pad

Her mother when she saw it

Gave Poll a smacking for it

For scratching the windows really bad

Little Polly, later,

Ate sausage and potater,

And beans that she spilled all down her dress

Her mother cried "My daughter,

You won't do what you oughter!"

And smacked her for making such a mess

Said Little Polly, sadly,

"I may have acted badly,

But smacking is not the thing to do.

Please start behaving proper

Or I shall tell a copper

And maybe he'll do the same to you!"

Then Polly's mother Dolly,

Said "Polly I am sorry,

I've had some big problems in my head.

I've made a resolution

To find the right solution

And not just get cross with you instead"

Said Little Polly gladly

"Mama, I love you madly,

And though when you smack me it's a pain,

I'll happily forgive you,

Ten kisses I will give you

But promise you won't smack me again!"

Now Little Polly Flinders

Sits among the cinders

Warming her pretty little toes

And there beside the fire

Her mother's sitting by her

With soot on her fingers and her nose.