An American Girl
She’s had a Vassar education,
And points with pride to her degrees;
She’s studied household decoration;
She knows a dado from a frieze,
And tells Corots from Boldonis;
A Jacquemart etching, or a Haden,
A Whistler, too, perchance might please
A free and frank young Yankee maiden.
She does not care for meditation;
Within her bonnet are no bees;
She has a gentle animation,
She joins in singing simple glees.
She tries no trills, no rivalries
With Lucca (now Baronin Räden),
With Nilsson or with Gerster; she’s
A frank and free young Yankee maiden.
I’m blessed above the whole creation,
Far, far, above all other he’s;
I ask you for congratulation
On this the best of jubilees:
I go with her across the seas
Unto what Poe would call an Aiden,—
I hope no serpent’s there to tease
A frank and free young Yankee maiden.
Envoy.
Princes, to you the western breeze
Bears many a ship and heavy laden,
What is the best we send in these?
A free and frank young Yankee maiden.
Brander Matthews.