And when they still held back, he gave them a funny little scolding all in rhyme, which pleased them so that they followed him out into the dusk with never a word!
“It’s strange how things can differ so!
Now, take two kinds of fruit—
Banana chap and Orange—
And watch each doff his suit.
“Banana’s swift and nimble,
His way is safe and slick;
He gets out of his trouser-leg
With a wiggle and a kick.
“But Orange makes a big to-do;
Indeed, it is distressing
To happen by quite suddenly
And see that lad undressing.
“He clings to every single rag
With obstinacy and vim;
It takes ten fingers and a will
To part his clothes from him.
“And when he feels the poor clothes go,
All raggedy and mussy,
He sheds an acid tear or two,
And keeps on being fussy.
“It’s strange how things can differ so!
To be quite frank and truthful,
It isn’t only things, you know,
But people, chiefly youthful,
“Who show these different traits and tricks
When bedtime hour comes duly—
Banana-kind and Orange-kind;
Now which kind are you, truly?”