JACK'S HAMPER.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XL, Issue 9266, 16 December 1891, Page 4

JACK'S HAMPER.

Jack Wood waa a lad of the commoaj?9t jorty His brain power was soanty, his Svfttljrd ffW short; " <*.%■„'. He was neither good-natured nor eleverj ' ' Of irregular verbs he'd a limited stock, And he never could master his hie, hac, and hoc \ ('Twas but rarely ho made the endeavdnr). When at length he was sent to St. Winjfred'B School, " ■ Ho found that his schoolfellows there, as ft rule, Were far from disposed to bo' chummy; 'Tis true they would give him a box on the ears, Which seemed to imply they had known him for years, But Jack thought euch friendship was ' rummy.' He often would wonder what reason there was He'd struck up no friendships: it waa not because He was laoking in station or money: No, it couldn't be that; he had no end of tin, And his father was Bencher of Lincoln 3 famed Inn, Which made it seem all the more funny. But as he still mourned he had never a friend, Some fairy persuaded his kind aunt to send A spacious and wbII supplied hamper; And ds he cut open'the lid, every boy Came crowding around him, which fact to his joy At first seemed an unlooked-for damper. Then it suddenly struck him that now was his chance His position amongst all the boys to enhance, And make himself liked, as were others. He found 'twas not hard to make Jenkins a chum, Whilst Smith was his friend at the cost of a plum, And Partridge and Brown grew like brothers. And Drake, who had kicked him, now kindly drew nigh To help to demolish a line apple-pie. Which Jack, for his part, never tasted; And others, who never had known him before, Came up to assist him to diminish his store, In order that none might be wasted. But when all was gone Jack was saddened to find His newly-made churns to his presence grew blind, A fact which entailed him much sorrow: Though Smith (who was greedy) remained his firm friend, Telling Jack he must write to his auntie to , send Another big hamper to-moirow. In these verses a valuable moral lies hid: When you get a hamper don't do as Jack did, But be by yourself when you take off the lid ; And share it with those who can wait to be bid! Paul Blake.