r advice,
You'll think he began his bad ways to forsake,
But this, I assure you, is all a mistake.

For still he was naughty, as naughty could be:
And as often was punished--then, sorry was he;
But as soon as he fairly was rid of the pain,
He forgot all about it, and did wrong again.

It happened one day, as the other pigs tell,
In the course of their walk they drew near to a well;
So wide and so deep, with so smooth a wall round,
If a pig tumbled in, he was sure to be drowned.

So the mother stopped two, who were running a race,
Saying, "Children, take care, 'tis a dangerous place!
Walk soberly on till you're safe past the water."
"Why, 'tis but a well, and pray, what does it matter?"

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

Said the obstinate animal, foolish as ever,
But thinking himself very cunning and clever.
He made up his mind that whatever befell
He would run on before, and jump over this well.

"For," says he, "cats and dogs can jump ever so high,
And frogs live in the water, and why should not I?
I suppose they'll allow I'm as wise as a frog,
And I'll very soon show I can jump like a dog."

Away scampered he to the mouth of the well,
Climbed up to the top, missed his footing and fell.
From the bottom he set up a pitiful shout,
"O mother, I'm in, and I cannot get out!"

She ran to the side when she heard his complaint,
And saw him in agony, struggling and faint,
But no help could she give. "O children!" said she;
"How often I told you just how it would be!"

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

"O mother! O mother!" the little pig cried,
"Now I really repent of my folly and pride,
Oh, I'm sure I shall die!" and he sank down and died,
While his mother and brothers wept round the well side.

G. Boase.

[Illustration]

End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of What became of Them? and, The
Conceited Little Pig, by G. Boare

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