INSPIRATIONAL PAGES

THE SPOILED BOY - BY EDGAR A. GUEST

He wheedled his mother and wheedled his dad
Who threatened but never did punish the lad.
They carried the burdens his shoulders should bear.
They solved all his problems and softened his care.
To keep the boy happy they faithfully tried.
But the more he was pampered the louder he cried.

When he fought with his playmates they ran to his aid.
They excused every failure in school that he made.
They blamed the poor teacher; they moved him about
From schoolroom to schoolroom, and never found out
That the reason he couldn't subtract or divide
Was always they ran to his help when he cried.

Now he blunders alone since they've both passed away,
For no one pays heed to his whining today.
He's a spiritless creature love labored to spoil,
Too timid to battle, too careless to toil.
For his parents forgot as they ran to his cry,
Just how helpless he'd be should they happen to die.

-Edgar A. Guest