  Stephen holding napkin over lower half of face Poor Stephen is in such disgrace He is ashamed to show his face. aunt and grandma looking shocked at Stephen ’TIS very very sad indeed When little children choose To say the naughty, ugly words That no one ought to use. That was the way with Stephen, Such naughty words he said That grandmamma looked shocked and grieved, And auntie shook her head. Mother explaining to Stephen about the plasters Mamma said, “Son, I’ve told you Such words you must not say, And yet, in spite of warnings, I hear them every day. “So now, my child, I’m taking These sticking plaster strips. I’m going to put them on your mouth And seal those naughty lips.” mother putting plasters on “But mother, how then shall I eat?” Cries Stephen anxiously. “Oh, I will take them off for meals. ’Twill not be hard,” says she. In vain poor Stephen pleads with her; In vain he sobs and cries. She lays the strips across his lips In straight and criss-cross wise. Stephen crying with mouth taped shut, mother shaking finger Now only sounds like “Um! Um-hum!” From Stephen’s lips are heard, Because, with all those plasters on He cannot speak a word. Now Stephen cannot go to school, He sits at home all day. He feels ashamed to go outside, Or join the boys at play. Stephen sitting by window hiding from people walking by And if he’s at the window, And some one passes by, He quickly turns aside his head, Lest they the plasters spy. One day, when mother changed the strips In haste poor Stephen cried, “I do not think my lips could say Those words now if I tried.” mother kissing Stephen “If that’s the case,” cried mother, “No need to use these slips,” And with a smile of joy she kissed The one-time naughty lips. Indeed the lesson had been learned, For Stephen nevermore Was heard to say those naughty words That he had used before. mother cutting plasters |
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