The First Theft
Mother
Edward, come here, how pale you are!
What makes you look so wild?
And you’ve been crying sadly, too!
What’s happened to my child?
EDWARD.
You know, mamma, you sent me down
To Mr. Brightman’s shop,
With ninepence in my hand to buy
A little humming-top.
Well, Mr. Brightman handed down
A dozen tops or more,
That I might take my choice of one,
Then stepped towards the door.
And so I caught one slily up,
And in my pocket hid it,
No one could e’er suspect the thing,
So cunningly I did it.
Then I took out another top,
And laid my ninepence down,
Laughing to think I owned them both,
But paid for only one.
But, when I turned and left the shop,
I felt most dreadfully;
For all the while I was afraid
That he would follow me.
Oh sure, thought I, he’ll find it out,
The angry man will come,
And I shall never see mamma,
And never more go home.
They’ll tie a rope about my neck,
They’ll hang me up on high,
And leave the little, wicked thief
To hang there till he die.
Away I ran, in this sad fright,
Fast down the nearest lane;
And then I stopped and looked behind,
Then screamed, and ran again.
Trembling, at last I reached my home,
And straight I went to bed,—
But, oh! in such a shocking plight
That I was almost dead.
No rest nor comfort could I take,
And not a wink of sleep;
All I could do was toss and turn
From side to side and weep.
But what was worst of all, mamma,
I could not say my prayers;
And then I thought my heart would burst,
For I was drowned in tears.
For sure, I cried, God will not hear
A child so wicked pray;
I dare not hope he’ll let me live
To see another day.
Thus did I weep till morning dawned,
And yet found no relief;
For, oh! what comfort can there be
For such a wicked thief?
MOTHER.
Go, my poor, wretched, guilty child,
Go, take the top you stole
And give it to the man you wronged,
And own to him the whole.
Then, on your knees before your God,
Confess how vile you’ve been;
Beg him to pardon and forgive
This great and dreadful sin.
And never while you live, again
To such a deed consent,
Lest God should take away your life
Before you could repent.