an'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 kep