CAUTION TO BOYS, or THE SILLY FLY
There was a very silly fly
Buzzing low, then flying high;
Down on paper smooth and fair
Saw some flies were sticking there.
"Those flies must be very weak,
On that paper there to stick..
If I was there I would not stay,
I would rise and fly away."
He lit down on the paper's side,
Flew a circle large and wide,
He thought to give a parting kick,
Found at last the stuff would stick.
He struggled hard to get away,
Found that he was doomed to stay;
'Twas there he sung a doleful lay
Until life had passed away.
A smart young lad would oft repair
Where the smokers gathered there;
Says "I will show you that I can
Smoke as well as any man."
His smoking made him rather sick;
Hove his breakfast very quick;
He smoked a little every day,
Learned to smoke as well as they.
Thought he could quit at any time,
With his feelings in their prime;
Refrained from smoking all one day,
Things were looking dark and gray,
"Those saucy imps they at me stare,
Trouble meets me everywhere,
Conscience whetted to an edge
By promises on memory's page.
Those broken pledges at me stare,
Fiends are floating in the air;
The Devil's got me in his gripe.
Give me, give me back my pipe!"
He, like all others of his stripe,
Lifelong slave unto his pipe,
And like the little, silly fly
Doomed to stick until they die.