Mary Lamb — The Two Boys

I saw a boy with eager eye Open a book upon a stall And read as he’d devour it all; Which when the stall-man did espy Soon to the boy I heard him call ‘You, Sir, you never buy a book Therefore in one you shall not look.’ The boy passed slowly on, and with a sigh He wished he never had been taught to read Then of the old churl’s books he should have had no need Of sufferings the poor have many Which never can the rich annoy I soon perceived another boy Who looked as if he’d not had any Food for that day at least, enjoy The sight of cold meat in a tavern larder This boy’s case, thought I, is surely harder Thus hungry longing, thus without a penny Beholding choice of dainty dressed meat; No wonder if he wish he ne’er had learned to eat