Those Two Boys by Franklin P. Adams — Read

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When Bill was a lad he was terribly bad. / He worried his parents a lot; / He'd lie and he'd swear and pull little girls' hair; / His boyhood was naught but a blot.

At play and in school he would fracture each rule -- / In mischief from autumn to spring; / And the villagers knew when to manhood he grew / He would never amount to a thing.

When Jim was a child he was not very wild; / He was known as a good little boy; / He was honest and bright and the teacher's delight -- / To his mother and father a joy.

All the neighbours were sure that his virtue'd endure, / That his life would be free of a spot; / They were certain that Jim had a great head on him / And that Jim would amount to a lot.

And Jim grew to manhood and honour and fame / And bears a good name; / While Bill is shut up in a dark prison cell -- / You never can tell.

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