THE WITCH AND THE TRUANT BOYS
John is cleverer than the old witch
And he has her in a trap.
PETER and John, against the rule,
Are playing truant from their school.
To seek a fishing pool they know.
But see a witch is hiding there—
Oh boys! make haste and hurry past!
And now away with them she hies,
In spite of all their kicks and cries.
And then she drops them on the floor.
“These boys are plump and soft,” says she,
I’ll fill my very biggest pot,
But while her pot she’s getting out,
The frightened Peter looks about.
And into it he jumps to hide;
Then with a bump he shuts the lid.
But the old witch has heard the sound.
She peers about with blinking eyes,
“Where is that other boy?” she cries.
He must be hiding for a trick.”
“You haven’t treated me so well
That you can think I want to tell,
“Maybe you’ll see which way he’s gone.”
The old witch throws the window wide
And leans to look about outside.
John creeps up close without a sound,
And shuts the window on her tight,
’Tis vain for her to kick and bawl,
“Quick, Peter! Bring me from the shelf
Hammer and nails. Bestir yourself.”
Out from the dough-trough Peter springs;
Quickly he fetches John the things.
“Here they are, brother!” Now, tap-tap!
John drives the nails with many a rap.
So tight ’twill hold the old witch fast.
No matter how she squirms and cries,
She can’t get loose howe’er she tries.
To run on home, as you may see.
I’m sure it will be many a day
As for the witch, if she’s stuck tight