Willie And The Apple
LITTLE Willie stood under an apple tree old
The fruit was all shining with crimson and gold,
Hanging temptingly low; how he longed for a bite,
Though he knew if he took one it wouldn't be right.
Said he, 'I don't see why ray father should say,’
'Don't touch the old apple tree, Willie, to-day.'
I shouldn't have thought, now they're hanging so low,
When I asked for just one he would answer me, 'No.'
"He would never find out if I took but just one,
And they do look so good, shining out in the sun;
There are hundreds and hundreds, and he wouldn't miss
So paltry a little red apple as this."
He stretched forth his hand, but a low, mourning strain
Came wandering dreamily over his brain;
In his bosom a beautiful harp had long laid,
That the angel of conscience quite frequently played:
And he song, "Little Willie, beware, oh, beware!
Your father is gone, but your Maker is there;
How sad you would feel if you heard the Lord say,
'This dear little boy stole an apple to-day!'"
Then Willie turned round, and as still as a mouse,
Crept slowly and carefully into the house;
In his own little chamber he knelt down to pray
That the Lord would forgive him, and please not to say,
"Little Willie almost stole an apple to-day."
YI