As Billy and Tommy
Were walking one day,
They came by a fine orchard side;
They'd rather eat apples
Than spell, read, or play,
And Tommy to Billy then cried,
"O brother, look! see
What fine clusters hang there,
I'll jump and climb over the wall;
I will have an apple,
I will have a pear,
Or else it shall cost me a fall."
Said Billy to Tommy,
"To steal is a sin,
Mamma has oft told this to thee;
O never yet stole,
Nor now will begin,
So red apples hang on the tree."
"You are a good boy,
As you ever have been,"
Said Tommy; let's walk on, my lad;
We'll call on our school-fellow
Little Bob Green,
And to see us I know he'll be glad."
They came to a house,
And they rang at the gate,
And asked, "Pray, is Bobby at home?"
But Bobby's good manners
Did not let them wait;
He out of the parlour did come.
Bob smil'd, and he laughed,
And he caper'd with joy,
His little companions to view.
"We call'd in to see you,"
Said each little boy.
Said Bobby, "I'm glad to see you.
"Come walk in our garden,
So large and so fine;
You shall, for my father gives leave;
And more, he insists
That you'll stay here to dine:
A rare jolly day we shall have!"
But when in the garden,
They found 'twas the same
They saw as they walk'd in the road;
And near the high wall,
When these little boys came,
They started, as if from a toad.
"That large ring of iron,
Which lies on the ground,
With terrible teeth like a saw,"
Said Bobby, "the guard
Of our garden is found;
It keeps wicked robbers in awe.
"The warning without,
If they should set an nought,
This trap tears their legs--O! so sad!"
Said Billy to Tommy,
"So you'd have been caught,
A narrow escape you have had."
Cried Tommy, I'll mind
What my good mamma says,
And take the advice of a friend;
I never will steal
To the end of my days,
I've been a bad boy, but I'll mend."