The Downward Road by Louisa May Alcott

    Two Yankee maids of simple mien,
    And earnest, high endeavour,
    Come sailing to the land of France,
    To escape the winter weather.
    When first they reached that vicious shore
    They scorned the native ways,
    Refused to eat the native grub,
    Or ride in native shays.
    'Oh, for the puddings of our home!
    Oh, for some simple food!
    These horrid, greasy, unknown things,
    How can you think them good?'
    Thus to Amanda did they say,
    An uncomplaining maid,
    Who ate in peace and answered not
    Until one day they said--
    How _can_ you eat this garbage vile
    Against all nature's laws?
    How _can_ you eat your nails in points,
    Until they look like claws?'
    Then patiently Amanda said,
    'My loves, just wait a while,
    The time will come you will not think
    The nails or victuals vile.'
    A month has passed, and now we see
    That prophecy fulfilled;
    The ardour of those carping maids
    Is most completely chilled.
    Matilda was the first to fall,
    Lured by the dark gossoon,
    In awful dishes one by one
    She dipped her timid spoon.
    She promised for one little week
    To let her nails grow long,
    But added in a saving clause
    She thought it very wrong.
    Thus did she take the fatal plunge,
    Did compromise with sin,
    Then all was lost; from that day forth
    French ways were sure to win.
    Lavinia followed in her train,
    And ran the self-same road,
    Ate sweet-bread first, then chopped-up brains,
    Eels, mushrooms, pickled toad.
    She cries, 'How flat the home _cuisine_
    After this luscious food!
    Puddings and brutal joints of meat,
    That once we fancied good!'
    And now in all their leisure hours
    One resource never fails,
    Morning and noon and night they sit
    And polish up their nails.
    Then if in one short fatal month
    A change like this appears,
    Oh, what will be the next result
    When they have stayed for years?