Stop now at home and avoid the rougher pastimes of childhood. 
Well brought up with a vengeance they are!  To please you, I sometimes
Went to visit them, just for the sake of olden acquaintance
But I was never much pleased at holding intercourse with them,
For they were always finding fault, and I had to bear it
First my coat was too long, the cloth too coarse, and the colour
Far too common, my hair was cut and curl’d very badly. 
I at last was thinking of dressing myself like the shop-boys,
Who are accustom’d on Sundays to show off their persons up yonder,
And round whose coats in summer half-silken tatters are hanging. 
But ere long I discover’d they only intended to fool me
This was very annoying, my pride was offended, but more still
Felt I deeply wounded that they so mistook the good feelings
Which I cherish’d towards them, especially Minnie, the youngest. 
Well, I went last Easter, politely to pay them a visit,
And I wore the new coat now hanging up in the closet,
And was frizzled and curld, like all the rest of the youngsters. 
When I enter’d, they titter’d; but that didn’t very much matter. 
Minnie sat at the piano, the father was present amongst them,
Pleased with his daughter’s singing, and quite in a jocular humour. 
Little could I understand of the words in the song she was singing,
But I constantly heard of Pamina, and then of Tamino,*

(* Characters In Mozart’s Zauberflote.) And I fain would express my opinion; so when she had ended, I ask’d questions respecting the text, and who were the persons.  All were silent and smiled; but presently answer’d the father ‘Did you e’er happen, my friend, to hear of Eve or of Adam?’ Then no longer restrain’d they themselves, the girls burst out laughing, All the boys laugh’d loudly, the old man’s sides appear’d splitting.  In my confusion I let my hat fall down, and the titt’ring Lasted all the time the singing and playing continued.  Then I hasten’d home, ashamed and full of vexation, Hung up my coat in the closet, and put my hair in disorder
With my fingers, and swore ne’er again to cross o’er their threshold. 
And I’m sure I was right; for they are all vain and unloving. 
And I hear they’re so rude as to give me the nickname Tamino.” 
Then the mother rejoin’d:—­“You’re wrong, dear Hermann, to harbour
Angry feelings against the children, for they are but children. 
Minnie’s an excellent girl, and has a tenderness for you;
Lately she ask’d how you were.  Indeed, I wish you would choose her!”

Then the son thoughtfully answer’d:—­“I know not why, but the fact is
My annoyance has graven itself in my mind, and hereafter
I could not bear at the piano to see her, or list to her singing.”