Joey was a country boy,
Father's help and mother's joy;
In the morning he rose early,--
That's what made his hair so curly;
Early went to bed at night,--
That's what made his eyes so bright;
Ruddy as a red-cheeked apple;
Playful as his pony, Dapple;
Even the nature of the rose
Wasn't quite as sweet as Joe's.
Charley was a city boy,
Father's pet and mother's joy;
Always lay in bed till late;
That's what made his hair so straight,
Late he sat up every night,--
That's what made his cheeks so white;
Always had whate'er he wanted,
He but asked, and mother granted;
Cakes and comfits made him snarly,
Sweets but soured this poor Charley.
Charley, dressed quite like a beau,
Went, one day, to visit Joe.
"Come," said Joey, "let's go walking;
As we wander, we'll be talking;
And, besides, there's something growing
In the garden, worth your knowing."
"Ha!" said Charley, "I'm your guest;
Therefore I must have the best.
All the _inner_ part I choose,
And the _outer_ you can use."
Joey gave a little laugh;
"Let's," said he, "go half and half."
"No, you don't!" was Charley's answer,
"I look out for number one, sir."
But when they arrived, behold,
On the tree a peach of gold,
All without, fair, ripe and yellow,
Fragrant, juicy, tempting, mellow,
And, within, a gnarly stone.
"There," said Joey, "that's your own;
As you choose, by right of guest,
Keep your choice--I'll eat the rest."
[Illustration: {A PORTRAIT OF CHARLEY.}]
Charley looked as black as thunder,
Scarce could keep his temper under.
"'Twas too bad, I think," said Joe;
"Through the cornfield let us go,
Something there, perhaps we'll see
That will suit you to a T."
"Yes," said Charles, with accent nipping,
"Twice you will not catch me tripping;
Since I lost the fruit before,
You now owe me ten times more.
Now the _outer_ part I choose,
And the _inner_ you can use."
Joey gave another laugh;
"Better call it half and half."
"No, indeed!" was Charley's answer,
"I look out for number one, sir!
Well I know what I'm about,--
For you, what's in; for me what's out!"
On they went, and on a slope
Lay a luscious cantaloupe,
Rich and rare, with all the rays
From the August suns that blaze;
Quite _within_ its sweets you find,
And _without_ the rugged rind.
Charley gazed in blank despair,
Deeply vexed and shamed his air.
"Well," said Joey, "since you would
Choose the bad and leave the good;
Since you claimed the outer part,
And disdained the juicy heart,--
Yours the rind, and mine the rest;
But as you're my friend and guest,
Charley, man, cheer up and laugh,
And we'll share it half and half;
Looking out for number one
Doesn't always bring the fun."
[Illustration: {AT WORK IN THE STUDIO.}]