Grandma told me all about it
Told me so I couldn't doubt it,
How she danced, my grandma danced...
Long ago

How she held her pretty head,
How her dainty skirt she spread,
How she slowly leaned and rose
Long ago.

Grandma's hair was bright and sunny
Dimpled cheeks, too, oh, how funny!
Really quite a pretty girl--
Long ago.

Bless her! Why she wears a cap,
Grandma does, and takes a nap
Every single day and yet
Grandma danced the minuet.
Long ago.

"Modern ways are quite alarming,"
Grandma says, "but boys were charming"
(Girls and boys she means, of course)
"Long ago."

Brave, but modest, grandly shy;
She would like to have us try
Just to feel those who met
In the graceful minuet--
Long ago.
[Mary Mapes Dodge 1838-1905]