The Biggest Piece Of Pie
Once, when I was a little boy,
I sat me down to cry,
Because my little brother had
The biggest piece of pie.
They said I was a naughty boy,
But I have since seen men
Behave themselves as foolishly
As I behaved then.
For we are often thankless for
Rich blessings when we sigh,
To think some lucky neighbour has
A "bigger piece" of pie.
The Greedy, Impatient Girl
"Oh! I am so hungry,
I'm sure I can't wait,
For my apple-pudding to cool,
So, Mary, be quick now
And bring me a plate,
For waiting for dinner
I always did hate,
Tho' forced oft to do it at school.
"But at home, when mamma
Is not in the way,
I surely will do as I choose;
And I do not care for
What you please to say—
The pudding won't burn me—
No longer I'll stay.
What business have you to refuse?"
And now a large slice
Of the pudding she got,
And, fearful she should have no more,
She cramm'd her mouth full
Of the apple so hot,
Which had but a minute
Come out of the pot,
But quickly her triumph was o'er.
Her mouth and her tongue
Were so dreadfully sore,
And suffer'd such terrible pain,
Her pride and her consequence
Soon were all o'er,
And she said, now unable
To eat any more,
"Oh! I never will do so again!"
And thus, by not minding
What she had been told,
Young Ellinor lost all her treat;
Too greedy to wait
Till the pudding was cold,
By being impatient,
Conceited, and bold,
Not a mouthful at last could she eat.
C. Horwood.
A Story Of An Apple
Little Tommy, and Peter, and Archie, and Bob
Were walking, one day, when they found
An apple: 'twas mellow, and rosy, and red,
And lying alone on the ground.
Said Tommy: "I'll have it." Said peter: "'Tis mine."
Said Archie: "I've got it; so there!"
Said Bobby: "Now, let us divide it in four parts
And each of us boys have a share."
"No, no!" shouted Tommy, "I'll have it myself."
Said Peter: "I want it, I say."
Said Archie: "I've got it, and I'll have it all,
I won't give a morsel away."
Then Tommy he snatched it, and Peter he fought,
('Tis sad and distressing to tell!)
And Archie held on with his might and his main,
Till out from his fingers it fell.
Away from the quarrelsome urchins it flew
And then, down a green little hill
That apple it roll'd, and it roll'd, and it roll'd
As if it would never be still.
A lazy old brindle was nipping the grass,
And switching her tail at the flies,
When all of a sudden the apple rolled down
And stopped just in front of her eyes.
She gave but a bite and a swallow or two—
That apple was seen nevermore!
"I wish," whimpered Archie, and Peter, and Tom,
"We'd kept it and cut it in four."
Sydney Dyer
Greedy Richard
"I think I want some pies this morning"
Said Dick, stretching himself and yawning;
So down he threw his slate and books,
And saunter'd to the pastry-cook's.
And there he cast his greedy eyes
Round on the jellies and the pies,
So to select, with anxious care,
The very nicest that was there.
At last the point was thus decided:
As his opinion was divided
'Twixt pie and jelly, he was loth
Either to leave, so took them both.
Now Richard never could be pleas'd
To stop when hunger was appeas'd,
But he'd go on to eat and stuff,
Long after he had had enough.
"I shan't take any more," said Dick,
"Dear me, I feel extremely sick:
I cannot eat this other bit;
I wish I had not tasted it."
Then slowly rising from his seat,
He threw the cheesecake in the street,
And left the tempting pastry-cook's
With very discontented looks.
Jane Taylor

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Page 65—Greediness Land

The Plum Cake
"Oh! I've got a plum cake,
And a rare feast I'll make,
I'll eat, and I'll stuff, and I'll cram;
Morning, noontime, and night,
It shall be my delight;—
What a happy young fellow I am."
Thus said little George,
And, beginning to gorge,
With zeal to his cake he applied;
While fingers and thumbs,
For the sweetmeats and plums,
Were hunting and digging besides.
But, woeful to tell,
A misfortune befell,
Which ruin'd this capital fun!
After eating his fill,
He was taken so ill,
That he trembled for what he had done.
As he grew worse and worse,
The doctor and nurse,
To cure his disorder were sent;
And rightly, you'll think,
He had physic to drink,
Which made him his folly repent.
And while on his bed
He roll'd his hot head,
Impatient with sickness and pain;
He could not but take
This reproof from his cake,
"Don't be such a glutton again!"
Another Plum Cake
"Oh! I've got a plum cake,
And a feast let us make,
Come, school-fellows, come at my call;
I assure you 'tis nice,
And we'll each have a slice,
Here's more than enough for us all."
Thus said little Jack,
As he gave it a smack,
And sharpen'd his knife for the job!
While round him a troop,
Formed a clamorous group,
And hail'd him the king of the mob.
With masterly strength
He cut thro' it at length,
And gave to each playmate a share;
Dick, William, and James,
And many more names,
Partook of his benevolent care.
And when it was done,
And they'd finish'd their fun,
To marbles or hoop they went back,
And each little boy
Felt it always a joy
To do a good turn for good Jack.
In his task and his book,
His best pleasures he took,
And as he thus wisely began,
Since he's been a man grown,
He has constantly shown
That a good boy will make a good man.
Ann Taylor
The Great Glutton
'Twas the voice of the glutton,
I heard him complain:
My waistcoat unbutton,
I'll eat once again.
The Glutton
The voice of the glutton
I heard with disdain—
"I've not eaten this hour,
I must eat again;
Oh! give me a pudding,
A pie, or a tart,
A duck or a fowl,
Which I love from my heart.
"How sweet is the picking
Of capon or chicken!
A turkey and chine
Are most charming and fine;
To eat and to drink
All my pleasure is still,
I care not who wants
So that I have my fill."
Oh! let me not be,
Like a glutton, inclined
In feasting my body
And starving my mind,
With moderate viands
Be thankful, and pray
That the Lord may supply me
With food the next day.
Not always a-craving
With hunger still raving;
But little and sweet
Be the food that I eat.
To learning and wisdom
Oh let me apply.
And leave to the glutton
His pudding and pie.
J. Taylor