Little Helen on her chair--
     Patiently at work was she,
And in ringlets fell her hair--
     Lovely did she seem to me.
          She was sitting,
          Knitting, knitting.

Busy little girl! thought I,
     How I love to see your skill!
I am half inclined to try,
     And I almost think I will!
          See her sitting,
          Knitting, knitting.

In a whirl the fingers fly
     First one needle, then the next!
She might with her mother vie;
     But for me, I am perplexed.
          She was sitting,
          Knitting, knitting.

Then a zig-zag cross this way,
     Then a curious whirl again--
How she makes the fingers play;
     It's no business for the men,
          To be sitting,
          Knitting, knitting.

Now the curious seam is made;
     How to do it I can't tell,
But the skill she has displayed
     Makes me think she does it well[.]
          She was sitting
          Knitting, knitting.

Now the toe is closed and done--
     What a pretty sock is this!
It is knitting number one!
     Go and get your mother's kiss!
          She was sitting,
          Knitting, knitting.

Busy little girl! thought I,
     How I love to see your skill!
And the pleasure in her eye
     Made my heart with pleasure fill--
          Helen sitting,
          At her knitting.