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 Nelly saw and took it in . Every one laughed over it ; for , besides the bad spelling and the funny periods , it was covered with oil-spots , blots , and tear marks ; for Poppy got tender-hearted toward the end , and cried a few very repentant tears when she said , `` I love you ; your trying-to-be-good Poppy . '' Mamma went up at once , and ordered no further punishment , but a thorough scrubbing ; which Poppy underwent very meekly , though Betsey put soap in her eyes , pulled her hair , and scolded all the time . They were not allowed any jelly for a long while ; and Cy teased Poppy about her hair-oil till the joke was quite worn out , and even cross Burney was satisfied with the atonement . When Poppy was eight , she got so very wild that no one could manage her but mamma , and she was ill ; so Poppy was sent away to grandpa 's for a visit .
Now , grandpa was a very stately old gentleman , and every one treated him with great respect ; but XXXXX was n't at all afraid , and asked all manner of impolite questions .
'cause Betsey Poppy gelli grandpa hair-oil maks picture-frame trying-to-be-good whale