Willie in the cauldron fell; Willie saw some dynamite,
See the grief on mother's brow; Couldn't understand it quite;
Mother loved her darling well -- Curiosity never pays:
Willie's quite hard-boiled by now. It rained Willie seven days.
Little Willie with a shout, William in a nice new sash,
Gouged the baby's eyeballs out; Fell in the fire and burned to an ash.
Stamped on them to make them pop. Now, although the room grows chilly,
Mother cried, "Now, William, stop!" I haven't the heart to poke poor Billy.
William with a thirst for gore, Little Willie mean as hell,
Nailed the baby to the door. Threw his sister in the well!
Mother said, with humor quaint: Said his mother when drawing water,
"Careful, Will, don't mar the paint." 'sure is hard to raise a daughter.'
-- Harry Graham, "Ruthless Rhymes for Heartless Homes", 1899
