Jim, Who ran away from his nurse, and
was eaten by a Lion by Hillaire Belloc
There was a Boy whose
name was Jim;
His friends were very
good to him.
They gave him Tea,
and Cakes, and Jam,
And slices of
delicious Ham,
And Chocolate with
pink inside,
And little Tricycles
to ride,
And read him stories
through and through,
And even took him to
the zoo
-
But there it was the
dreadful Fate
Befell him, which I
now relate.
You know –at least
you ought to know,
For I have often told
you so
That Children never
are allowed
To leave their Nurses
in a Crowd;
Now this was Jim‟s
especial Foible,
He ran away when he
was able,
And on this
inauspicious day
He slipped his hand
and ran away!
He hadn‟t gone a yard
when
–
Bang!
With open jaws a
Lion sprang,
And hungrily began to
eat
The Boy: beginning at
his feet.
Now just imagine how
it feels
When first your toes
and then your heels,
And then by gradual
degrees,
Your shins and
ankles,calves and knees,
Are slowly eaten, bit
by bit.
No wonder Jim
detested it!
No wonder that he
shouted "HI!‟
The honest keeper
heard his cry,
Though very fat he
almost ran
To help the little
gentleman.
“Ponto!” he ordered
as he came
(For Ponto was the
Lion‟s name),
“Ponto!” he cried,
with angry Frown.
“Let go, Sir! Down,
Sir! Put it down!”
The Lion made a
sudden Stop,
He let the Dainty
Morsel drop,
And slunk reluctant
to his cage,
Snarling with
Disappointed Rage.
But when he bent him
over Jim
The Honest Keeper’s
Eyes were dim.
The Lion having
reached his head,
The Miserable Boy was
dead.