There was a lazy boy named Sam,
The laziest ever known,
Who spent his time in idleness,
Like any other drone.
He loved to lie in bed till noon,
With covers closely drawn,
And when he managed to get up
He'd yawn, and yawn, and yawn.
If asked to do a simple task
He always would refuse,
And say that he was lame or sick,
His action to excuse,
And over pretty picture-books--
Twas really very odd--
This lazy boy would soon begin
To nod, and nod, and nod.
If on an errand forced to go,
He'd slowly, slowly creep,
Just like a snail; you might suppose
That he was half asleep.
And those who would despatch in haste
A note, or telegram,
Would chose a swifter messenger
Than such a lazy Sam.
If he was caught out in a storm
'Twould drench him to the skin,
Because he was too indolent
To hurry to get in.
Deep in his trouser's pockets he
His idle hands would cram,
And children crowded to the doors
To look at lazy Sam.
This lazy boy would lounge about
The docks, and often wish
That he could carry home to cook
A string of nice, fresh fish;
But though he was provided with
A reel extremely fine,
Said Sam "I do not think 'twill pay
To wet my fishing line!"
Oh, Sam was always late at meals,
And always late at school,
And everybody said that he
Would be a first-class fool.
For boys not half so old as he
Above him swiftly pass,
While Sam, the great big dunce! remains
The lowest in the class.
In every way, and every day
This lazy boy would shirk,
And never lift his hand to do
A bit of useful work.
His clothes were always on awry,
His shoe-strings left untied,
His hair uncombed, his teeth uncleaned,
Alas, he had no pride!
And so he went from bad to worse--
The good-for-nothing scamp!--
Until he settled down to be
A ragged, dirty tramp.
Through cities, towns, and villages,
He begged his daily bread,
And slept at night wherever he
Could chance to find a bed.
Men shuddered as they passed him by,
And murmured sadly, "Oh!
How can a human being sink
So very, very low?"
And e'en the jackass pricks his ears,
And brays aloud "I am
Not such a donkey, I declare
As yonder lazy Sam!"