  Magic Man opening door Be careful, children, lest some day The Magic Man should come your way. boy listening behind door to mother and friend's conversation ’TIS very naughty for a child To try to hang about And overhear what people say, And find their secrets out. Our James was such a child as that. He loved to overhear The very things he knew were not Intended for his ear. Nurse finds James listening on stairs The older people often said, “Now James, please run away. You’re always, always hanging round To hear what we may say.” Once mother asked some ladies in To drink a cup of tea, And nurse said, “James, don’t go downstairs; Come in the room with me.” “I want to hear them talk,” said James. “I like to listen, too.” “But that’s exactly what mamma Has told you not to do.” “I’ll stay here, anyway,” said James, And sat down on the stair, And when nurse found he would not move She went and left him there. James sneaking downstairs to listen “And now she’s gone, I’ll creep downstairs Into the hall,” thought he, “And listen at the parlor door, I’m sure no one will see.” But James had hardly risen up Before, all silently, Some one came stealing down the hall As soft as soft could be. James caught by ear by Magic Man And then James felt that somebody Had caught him by each ear, “Ho!” cried a voice, “so you’re the boy Who always wants to hear.” Quite suddenly he felt his ears Begin to stretch and spread. Until, like any elephant’s They stood out from his head. James with very large ears indeed cowering from Magic Man “Let go!” cried James, “Let go, I say! Take care what you’re about!” And then the hands had set him free, And quick he turned about. He peered around with frightened eyes. No one at all was there,— Only the clock that said tick-tock, And shadows on the stair. Into the nursery quick he ran, “Oh, nursie! Only see! Somebody came and stretched my ears And scared me terribly.” Nurse looked at him and gave a cry. “Oh James! What shall we do! It must have been the Magic Man Who did this thing to you. Nurse and mother see James' ears “I know when children misbehave He often comes about, And punishes their naughty ways If he can find them out.” And now mamma is called in haste. She comes, and “Oh!” cries she, “Whatever’s happened to your ears? They are a sight to see!” James tells her all the doleful tale, But ah, ’tis very plain The only thing is just to wait And hope they’ll shrink again. “If you are very patient, James, And if you will be good, Perhaps some day your ears once more Will look the way they should.” James now covering ears at doorway instead of listening Now James is different indeed, For ever since that day He’s never wished to overhear What other people say, And if a secret’s being told He runs away, or else he stuffs A finger in each ear. James reading book in another room while others tell secrets His ears are shrinking day by day, And soon I hope we’ll see They are as small as any lad Could wish his ears to be. |
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