It happened one day,
As the other pigs tell,
In the course of their walk
They drew near to a well,
So wide and so deep,
With so smooth a wall round,
That a pig tumbling in
Was sure to be drowned.
But a perverse little brother,
Foolish as ever,
Still boasting himself
Very cunning and clever,
Now made up his mind
That, whatever befell,
He would run on before
And jump over the well.
Then away he ran fast
To one side of the well,
Climbed up on the wall,
Slipped, and headlong he fell;
And now from the bottom
His pitiful shout
Was, "Oh mother! I'm in;
Pray do help me out!"
She ran to the side
When she heard his complaint,
And she then saw him struggling,
Weakly and faint,
Yet no help could she give!
But, "My children," cried she,
"How often I've feared
A sad end his would be!"
"Oh, mother, dear mother;"
The drowning pig cried,
"I see all this comes
Of my folly and pride!"
He could not speak more,
But he sank down and died,
Whilst his mother and brothers
Wept round the well-side!
[Illustration: Pig Going To Market.]
[Page 175--Piggy Land]
[Illustration: School Boy Pigs.]