Minguela's Chiding

Her sister Minguela
Thus chid Juanilla,
The words that she said
Brought no peace to her pillow.

"Heretofore you went gadding
As gay as the rest,
Your new mantle clad in,
And fine crimson vest.

"But now you sit moping,
You look and you stare,—
Sighing over your needle,
As if no one was there.

"When beside you I'm lying,
I cannot get sleeping;
When you give over sighing,
I'm sure that you're weeping.

"When one loves, I've been told,
It is sighing that shows it;—
How our mother will scold
At us both, if she knows it!

"She will close all the windows,
And bolt every door;
When the fiddles are playing,
We shall join them no more.

"The old nurse will attend,
When we go to the mass;
What an eye she will bend
On whoever may pass!

"No new gossip we'll learn,
If help it she can;
How she'll frown if we turn,
To look after a man!

"As we sit at our work,
From the lattice she'll peer,
And be sure to remark
If a gallant comes near.

"O look up as you did,
For I'll suffer with you;
And I'm loth to be chid,
When it is not my due."—

"O sister Minguela,
How little you know!
You guess at my love,
But you read not my woe.

"Young Pedro (you know
'Tis the son of old Juan),
Promised love long ago,
But has left me in ruin.

"Had he loved as he swore,
He'd have married me yet;
Oh, I love him no more,
"But I cannot forget!"—