THE IDLE BOY.
Thomas was an idle lad,
And loung’d about all day;
And though he many a lesson had,
He minded nought but play.
He only car’d for top or ball,
Or marbles, hoop or kite:
But as for learning, that was all
Neglected by him quite.
The Idle Boy.
In vain his mother’s kind advice,
In vain his master’s care;
He follow’d ev’ry idle vice,
And learnt to curse and swear!
And think you, when he grew a man,
He prosper’d in his ways?
No; wicked courses never can
Bring good and happy days.
Without a shilling in his purse,
Or cot to call his own,
Poor Thomas grew from bad to worse
And harden’d as a stone.