Little Girl Must Not Fret

What is it that makes little Emily cry?

Come then, let mamma wipe the tear from her eye:

There -- lay down your head on my bosom -- that's right,

And now tell mamma what's the matter to-night.

What! Emmy is sleepy, and tired with play?

Come, Betty, make haste then, and fetch her away;

But do not be fretful, my darling; you know

Mamma cannot love little girls that are so.

She shall soon go to bed and forget it all there

Ah! here's her sweet smile come again, I declare:

That's right, for I thought you quite naughty before.

Good night, my dear child, but don't fret any more.

Jane Tylor

Imagine setting a simple challenge to almost anyone in the English speaking world regarding fondly remembered poems and songs from their childhood. Ask them to recite the opening lines of the first poem or song that comes to mind and there is a good chance that the majority would say: “Twinkle, twinkle, little star. How I wonder what you are”. It’s one of those little ditties that has been popular worldwide since the 19th century but it is very likely that most would not be able to state who wrote it. Well, the answer is that the English poet and novelist Jane Taylor wrote those famous words. Her poem was set to music, using an old French tune, and the legend was born! Jane was born in September 1783, in London, but she spent her early years living in the small Suffolk town of Lavenham. She had an older sister called Ann, and the pair loved to write poetry and stories together. Their parents gave the girls plenty of encouragement to write and their mother was, herself, responsible for the publication of seven books giving religious and moral advice. Their father was a dissenting minister and engraver.

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