Читать книгу Happy Days for Boys and Girls - Various - Страница 20

HERE, little folks, listen; I’ll tell you a tale,

Though to shock and surprise you I fear it won’t fail;

Of Master John Dawdle my story must be,

Who, I’m sorry to say, is related to me.

And yet, after all, he’s a nice little fellow:

His eyes are dark brown and his hair is pale yellow;

And though not very clever or tall, it is true

He is better than many, if worse than a few.

But he dawdles at breakfast, he dawdles at tea —

He’s the greatest small dawdle that ever could be;

And when in his bedroom, it is his delight

To dawdle in dressing at morning and night.

And oh! if you saw him sit over a sum,

You’d much wish to pinch him with finger and thumb;

And then, if you scold him, he looks up so meek;

Dear me! one would think that he hardly could speak.

Each morning the same he comes tumbling down,

And often enough is received with a frown,

And a terrible warning of something severe

Unless on the morrow he sooner appear.

But where does he live? That I’d rather not say,

Though, if truth must be told, I have met him to-day;

I meant just to pass him with merely a bow,

But he stopped and conversed for a minute or so.

“Well, where are you going?” politely said I;

To which he replied, with a groan and a sigh,

“I’ve been doing my Latin from breakfast till dinner,

And pretty hard work that is for a beginner.”

“But now I suppose you are going to play

And have pleasure and fun for the rest of the day?”

“Indeed, but I’m not – there’s that bothering sum;

And then there’s a tiresome old copy to come.”

“Dear me!” I replied, and I thought it quite sad

There should be such hard work for one poor little lad;

But just at that moment a lady passed by,

And her words soon made clear that mistaken was I:

“Now, then, Mr. Dawdle, get out of my way!

I suppose you intended to stop here all day;

The bell has done ringing, and yet, I declare,

Your hands are not washed, nor yet brushed is your hair.”

“Ho, ho!” I exclaimed; “Mr. Dawdle, indeed!”

And I took myself off with all possible speed,

Quite distressed that I should for a moment be seen

With one who so lazy and careless had been.

So now, if you please, we will wish him good-bye;

And if you should meet him by chance, as did I,

Just bid him good-morning, and say that a friend

(Only don’t mention names) hopes he soon may amend.