Mamma gave our Nelly an apple,
So round, and big, and red;
It seemed, beside dainty wee Nelly,
To be almost as large as her head.
Beside her young Neddie was standing--
And Neddie loves apples, too,
"Ah! Nelly!" said Neddie, "give brother
A bite of your apple--ah! do!"
Dear Nelly held out the big apple;
Ned opened his mouth very wide--
So wide, that the startled red apple
Could almost have gone inside!
And oh! what a bite he gave it!
The apple looked small, I declare,
When Ned gave it back to his sister,
Leaving that big bite there.
Poor Nelly looked frightened a moment,
Then a thought made her face grow bright;
"Here, Ned, you can take the apple--
_I'd rather have the bite!_"