YOU never need fear, little children, to meet
A wolf in the garden, the wood, or the street;
Red Riding-hood’s story is only a fable,—
I’ll give you its moral as well as I’m able:
Bad Temper’s the wolf which we meet everywhere—
Beware of this wolf! Little children, beware!
I know of a boy, neither gentle nor wise,
If you tell him a fault, he gives saucy replies;
If kept from his way, in a fury he flies—
Ah! Passion’s the wolf with the very large eyes;
‘Tis ready to snap and to trample and tear—
Beware of this wolf! Little children, beware!
I know of a girl always trying to learn
About things with which she should have no concern:
Such mean Curiosity really appears
To me like the wolf with the very large ears,
All pricked up to listen, each secret to share—
Beware of this wolf! Little children, beware!
And Greediness, that’s like the wolf in the wood
With the very large mouth, ever prowling for food,
That eats so much more than for health can be good;
That would clear a whole pastry-cook’s shop if it could;
That never a dainty to others will spare—
Beware of this wolf! Little children, beware!
PASSION, PRYING, and GREEDINESS, each thus appears
As a wolf with fierce eyes, a large mouth, or big ears;
They bring to our nurseries fighting and fears,
They cause bitter quarrelling, trouble, and tears.
Oh! Chase them and cudgel them back to their lair—
Beware of the wolves! Little children, beware!
