Long, long ago,

In a land far away,

There lived a little boy (five years old),

Who was full of mischief.

He was the leader of a gang

(Like the “Our Gang” in the movies)

Three other children

(Sandra Jones, Janet Maynard,

and Cam McLean)

joined him, but only Cam

was more full of the devil

than the boy named James.

In those days

Everyone was very poor.

Next to an old house

Across West North Street,

Was a pear tree,

Owned by a very old woman.*

She still used and outhouse

And , because her yard was so small

She did not have a victory garden.

Because we children were children

And not hungry,

We delighted in climbing the tree

And stealing the ripe juicy pears.

(they were so sweet!)

It was even more fun

When the ugly old witch would come out

And chase us off!

(she was old and ugly and alone, of course,

she was a witch.)

Now I am sure

That you are looking for a moral

To this tale.

Well, with St Augustine it was apples,

With James, it was pears.