 | When life is young |  |
94
MILD FARMER JONES AND THE NAUGHTY BOY
Cried Farmer Jones, “What's this I see?
Come down from out my hickory-tree!
Come down, my boy; I think you might;
To steal is neither wise nor right.”
Come down from out my hickory-tree!
Come down, my boy; I think you might;
To steal is neither wise nor right.”
“You won't, you naughty boy? Oh, fie!
You dare to tell me mind my eye?
Come down this instant! What d' you say?
‘Takes two to make a bargain,’—eh?”
You dare to tell me mind my eye?
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‘Takes two to make a bargain,’—eh?”
Now, Farmer Jones, as mild a man
As any, since the world began,
Resolves on action fierce and bold,—
Although it makes his blood run cold.
As any, since the world began,
Resolves on action fierce and bold,—
Although it makes his blood run cold.
His faithful dog has mounted guard;
There is an ax in yonder yard,—
“Now, though the heavens quake and fall,
My strokes shall bring down tree and all!”
There is an ax in yonder yard,—
“Now, though the heavens quake and fall,
My strokes shall bring down tree and all!”
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Fast come the blows, but vain the plot;
The tree may yield, the boy will not.
His pelting nuts the farmer blind;
Yet still the ax its cleft doth find.
The tree may yield, the boy will not.
His pelting nuts the farmer blind;
Yet still the ax its cleft doth find.
Ah! who is this doth cry “Hold up!
I say, tie fast that yelping pup;
Do the square thing by me, and see
If I don't leave your hickory-tree?”
I say, tie fast that yelping pup;
Do the square thing by me, and see
If I don't leave your hickory-tree?”
'T is done. The faithful dog is tied,
The shining ax is turned aside.
“No hoaxing, now?” the youth doth cry—
And Farmer Jones replies, “Not I.”
The shining ax is turned aside.
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And Farmer Jones replies, “Not I.”
Now, mingling with the song of bird,
A sound of tearing clothes is heard,
And scraping boots; and, with a bound,
That naughty boy stands on the ground.
A sound of tearing clothes is heard,
And scraping boots; and, with a bound,
That naughty boy stands on the ground.
Said Jones, “You 're sorry now, I see,
For knocking nuts from off my tree!”
“Well, yes; if you 'll just hold the pup,
And let a fellow pick 'em up.”
For knocking nuts from off my tree!”
“Well, yes; if you 'll just hold the pup,
And let a fellow pick 'em up.”
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“All right! my boy,” cried Farmer Jones,
Who felt delighted in his bones;
For never since the world began
Was seen so very mild a man.
Who felt delighted in his bones;
For never since the world began
Was seen so very mild a man.
| When life is young | |