In an old house in Paris that was covered with vines
Lived twelve little girls in two straight lines.
They left the house at half past nine
IN two straight lines in rain or shine.
The smallest one was Madeline.
She was not afraid of mice.
She loved winter, snow, and ice.
To the tiger in the zoo
Madeline just said, “Pooh pooh!”
And nobody knew so well
How to frighten Miss Clavel-
Until the day she slipped and fell.
Poor Madeline would now be dead
But for a dog
That kept its head
And dragged her safe from a watery grave
“From now on, I hope you will listen to me,
“And here is a cup of chamomile tea.
“Good night, little girls-I hope you sleep well,”
“Good night, good night, dear Miss Clavel!”
Miss Clavel turned out the light.
After she left there was a fight
About where the dog should sleep that night.
The new pupil was ever
So helpful and clever.
The dog loved biscuits, milk, and beef
And they named it Genevieve
She could sing and almost talk
And enjoyed the daily walk.
Soon the snow began to fly,
Inside it was warm and dry
And six months passed quickly by.
When the first of May came near
There was nervousness each year.
For on that day there arrived a collection
Of trustees for annual inspection
The inspection was most thorough,
Much to everybody’s sorrow.
“Tap, tap!” “whatever can that be?”
“Tap, tap!” “Come out and let me see!
“Dear me, it’s a dog! Isn’t there a rule
“That says DOGS AREN’T ALLOWED IN SCHOOL?”
“Miss Clavel, get rid of it, please,” Said the president of the board of trustees.
“Yes, but the children love her so,” Said Miss Clavel.. “Please don’t make her go.”
“I dare say,” said Lord cucuface.
“I mean-it’s a perfect disgrace
“For young ladies to embrace
“This creature of uncertain race!
“Off with you! Go on-run! Seat!
“Go away and don’t come back!”
Madeline jumped on a chair.
“Lord Cucuface,” she cried, “beware!
“Miss Genevieve, noblest dog in France,
“You shall have your VEN-GE-ANCE!”
“It’s no use crying or talking.
“Let’s get dressed and go out walking.
“The sooner we’re ready, the sooner we’ll leave-
“The sooner we’ll find Miss Genevieve.”
“They went looking high
and low
And every place a dog might go
In every place they called her name
But no one answered to the same
The gendarmes said, “we don’t believe
“We’ve seen a dog like Gencvieve.”
Hours after they had started
They came back home broken-hearted.
“Oh, Genevieve, where can you be?
“Genevieve, please come back to me.”
In the middle of the night
Miss Clave turned on the light.
And said, “Something is not right.”
An old street lamp shed its light
On Miss Genevieve outside.
She was petted, she was fed,
And everybody went to bed.
“Good night, little girls, I hope you sleep well.”
“Good night, good night, dear Miss Clavel!”
Miss clave turned out the light,
And again there was a fight,
As each little girl cried,
“Genevieve is mine tonight!”
For a second time that night
Miss Clavel turned on her light,
And afraid of a disaster,
She ran fast-
And even faster.
“If there’s one more fight about Genevieve,
“I’m sorry, but she’ll have to leave!”
That was the end of the riot-
Suddenly all was quiet.
For the third time that night
Miss Clavel turned on the light,
