It happened that a little snail
Came crawling, with his shiny tail,
Upon a cabbage-stalk;
But two more little snails were there,
Both feasting on this dainty fare,
Engaged in friendly talk.
"No, no, you shall not dine with us;
How dare you interrupt us thus?"
The greedy snails declare;
So their poor brother they discard,
Who really thinks it very hard
He may not have his share.
But selfish folks are sure to know
They get no good by being so
In earnest or in play;
Which those two snails confess'd, no doubt,
When soon the gardener spied them out,
And threw them both away.