The minute she was left alone , she looked about to see how she could be revenged . A solar lamp stood on the table ; and Poppy coolly tipped it over , with a fine smash , calling out to Burney that she 'd have to pay for it , that mamma would be very angry , and that she , Poppy , was going to spoil every thing in the room . But Burney was gone , and no one came near her . She kicked the paint off the door , rattled the latch , called Burney a `` pig , '' and Cy `` a badder boy than the man who smothered the little princes in the Tower . '' Poppy was very fond of that story , and often played it with Nelly and the dolls . Having relieved her feelings in this way , Poppy rested , and then set about amusing herself . Observing that the spilt oil made the table shine , she took her handkerchief and polished up the furniture , as she had seen the maids do . `` Now , that looks nice ; and I know mamma will be pleased 'cause I 'm so tidy , '' she said , surveying her work with pride , when she had thoroughly greased every table , chair , picture-frame , book-back , and ornament in the room . Plenty of oil still remained ; and Poppy finished off by oiling her hair , till it shone finely , and smelt -- dear me , how it did smell ! If she had been a young whale , it could n't have been worse . Poppy was n't particular about smells ; but she got some in her mouth , and did n't like the taste . There was no water to wash in ; and her hands , face , and pinafore were in a high state of grease . She was rather lonely too ; for , though mamma had got home , she did n't come to let Poppy out : so the young rebel thought it was about time to surrender . She could write pretty well , and was fond of sending penitent notes to mamma , after being naughty : for mamma always answered them so kindly , and was so forgiving , that Poppy 's naughtiest mood was conquered by them sooner than by any punishment ; and Poppy kept the notes carefully in a little cover , even after she was grown up . There was pen , ink , and paper in the room ; so , after various trials , Poppy wrote her note : -- `` dear Mamma . `` i am sorry i Took bernys gelli . i have braked The lamP . The oyl maks A bad smel . i tHink i wil Bee sik iF i stay HeRe anny More . i LoVe yoU -- your Trying To Bee GooD popy . ''
When she had finished , she lowered her note by a string , and bobbed it up and down before the parlor window till XXXXX saw and took it in .
'cause Cy Nelly book-back maks picture-frame pinafore sik smel whale