When Bill was a lad he was terribly had
He worried his parents a lot;
He'd lie and he'd swear and pull little girl's hair;
His boyhood was naught hut 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 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's 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 he bears a good name;
While Bill is shut up in a dark prison cell
You never can tell.
He worried his parents a lot;
He'd lie and he'd swear and pull little girl's hair;
His boyhood was naught hut 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 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's 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 he bears a good name;
While Bill is shut up in a dark prison cell
You never can tell.
About the Poem
Bill and Jim are two boys with different natures. Bill is a bad boy who upsets and worries people. He is always playing mischief with other children.
He misbehaved and did not even observe rules of games. He remained a nuisance for himself and the other people. Finally he landed in a dark cell because of his had acts and bad reputation.
Jim, on the other hand, was known to be a good little boy from his early years. He was obedient to his parents and teachers and was loved by all. People were sure that Jim would earn a good name. When he grew into a young man, Jim became known as a good man. He was respected for his honesty, while Bill went to the jail and remained in the jail all his life. The poem has a moral. It tells us that one who does not behave well fails in his life and becomes a source of trouble for the society. Whereas, a boy who is obedient to parents and teachers and works hard, shines in his life. He becomes a source of delight both for his family and the country.
Reading Notes
- Terribly causing great fear or horror, horribly
- naught nothing
- fracture breaking of a bone, here breaking of rules
- wild uncivilized,savage
- virtue goodness,excellence
- endure to bear, suffer
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