Poetry · Chapter
Little Dora explained
A playful poem in which a father questions his daughter Dora about the many kisses she receives, and she charmingly promises to return them all to her parents with interest, likening her affection to a secure bank investment.
What happens
A playful poem in which a father questions his daughter Dora about the many kisses she receives, and she charmingly promises to return them all to her parents with interest, likening her affection to a secure bank investment.
Themes in this chapter
Moral Lessons and Domestic Virtue
The poem uses a lighthearted domestic scene to teach a moral about familial love and the value of returning affection, framed through the metaphor of a bank and interest.
Characters to notice
- Little Dora
The young daughter who playfully promises to return all her kisses to her parents with interest.
Key passages
“Little Dora I tell you what my little Dora, You do cause my heart to sorrow, Tell me now you little misses What you do with all your kisses.”
The speaker addresses his daughter Dora, expressing a mix of affection and playful concern, asking what she does with all the kisses she receives.
Opens the poem with a father's tender inquiry about his daughter's many kisses.
“Said she I do intend dear pa To give them all to you and ma. And not a single one I’ll miss, But I will give you back each kiss, And both of you will feel you’re blest When I pay you interest.”
Dora replies that she plans to return every kiss to her parents, and even promises to pay interest on them, blessing them both.
Dora's clever and loving response, using financial terms to describe her affection.
“You’ll better in my bank invest And put my principle to test, And you can dividend partake, For my bank will never break.”
She suggests her parents invest in her 'bank' of love, which will never fail and will yield dividends.
Extends the financial metaphor, assuring the security and reliability of her love.