Mrs. Turner's Cautionary Stories Part 8

"From eating highly flavour'd things Illness or inconvenience springs; You lose the love of common food, Nor relish what will do you good."

BILLY GILL'S GOOD FORTUNE

"Come, let us play,"

Said Tommy Gay; "Well then, what at?"

Said Simon Pratt; "At trap and ball,"

Said Neddy Hall; "Well, so we will,"

Said Billy Gill.

"What a hot day!"

Said Tommy Gay; "Then let us chat,"

Said Simon Pratt; "On yonder hill,"

Said Billy Gill.

"Ay, one and all,"

Said Neddy Hall.

"For cakes I'll pay,"

Said Tommy Gay; "I'm one for that,"

Said Simon Pratt; "I'll bring them all,"

Said Neddy Hall; "And I'll sit still,"

Said Billy Gill.

"Come with me, pray,"

Said Tommy Gay; "Trust me for that,"

Said Simon Pratt; They ate them all, Gay, Pratt, and Hall; And all were ill But Billy Gill.

CIVIL SPEECH

"Give me some beer!" cried little Jane, At dinner-table as she sat.

Her mother said, "Pray ask again, And in a prettier way than that.

"For 'give me that,' and 'give me this,'

Is not the best way to be heard: To make Ann hear, a little Miss Must add another little word."

"Pray, give me, Ann, a gla.s.s of beer,"

Jane blus.h.i.+ng said--her mother smiled: "Now Ann will quickly bring it here, For you ask properly, my child."

You little Misses, Masters too, Who wish to have a share of praise, Pray copy Jane, and always do Directly what your mother says.

THE COOK'S REBUKE

James went to the door of the kitchen and said, "Cook, give me this moment, some honey and bread; Then fetch me a gla.s.s or a cup of good beer.

Why, Cook, you don't stir, and I'm sure you must hear!"

"Indeed, Master James," was the Cook's right reply, "To answer such language I feel rather shy; I hear you quite plainly, but wait till you choose To civilly ask, when I shall not refuse."

What a pity young boys should indulge in this way, Whilst knowing so well what is proper to say; As if civil words, in a well-manner'd tone, Were learn'd to be us'd in the parlour alone!

THE LOST PUDDING

Miss Kitty was rude at the table one day, And would not sit still on her seat; Regardless of all that her mother could say, From her chair little Kitty kept running away All the time they were eating their meat.

As soon as she saw that the beef was remov'd, She ran to her chair in great haste; But her mother such giddy behaviour reprov'd By sending away the sweet pudding she lov'd, Without giving Kitty one taste.

SAMMY SMITH'S SAD FATE

Sammy Smith would drink and eat, From morning until night; He filled his mouth so full of meat, It was a shameful sight.

Sometimes he gave a book or toy For apple, cake, or plum; And grudged if any other boy Should taste a single crumb.

Indeed he ate and drank so fast, And used to stuff and cram, The name they call'd him by at last Was often Greedy Sam.

STUPID WILLIAM

William has a silly trick-- On everything his hand he lays; He made himself extremely sick, One morning, by his greedy ways.

I promised him I'd write it here (Although he owns he's much to blame), That all may read it far and near, Lest other boys should do the same.

No scatter'd bits his eye can pa.s.s, He tastes and sips where'er he comes, He empties everybody's gla.s.s, And picks up everybody's crumbs.

He'll not do so again, I hope: He has been warn'd enough, I think; For once he ate a piece of soap, And sipp'd for wine a gla.s.s of ink.