A youngster at school,
More sedate than the rest,
Had once his integrity
Put to the test:--
His comrades had plotted
The orchard to rob,
And asked him to go
And assist in the job.
He was very much shocked,
And answered, "Oh no!
What! rob our poor neighbour!
I pray you don't go;
Besides, the man's poor,
His orchard's his bread;
Then think of his children,
For they must be fed."
"You speak very fine,
And you look very grave,
But apples we want,
And apples we'll have;
If you will go with us,
We'll give you a share,
If not, you shall have
Neither apple nor pear."
They spoke, and Tom pondered--
"I see they will go;
Poor man! What a pity
To injure him so!
Poor man! I would save him
His fruit if I could,
But staying behind
Will do him no good.
"If this matter depended
Alone upon me,
His apples might hang
Till they dropped from the tree;
But since they _will_ take them,
I think I'll go too,
He will lose none by me,
Though I get a few."
His scruples this silenced,
Tom felt more at ease,
And went with his comrades
The apples to seize;
He blamed and protested
But joined in the plan,
He shared in the plunder,
But pitied the man.