Wicked William
etc.
Wicked William
or
Disobedience Punished
&c
By Anne Evans
1833
Author of Flora's lesson
Morning & Evening
Kenilworth Castle
&c &c &c &c
Written Printed & sold by A Evans Bosworth
Contents
Wicked Willie
Pleasures of Memory
Value of time
Emptiness of fame
___________________
Preface
In perusing this little work, it will plainly appear, that the motive, for publishing it, was not ambition, but the wish of promoting the amusement and instruction, of those children who do me the honour to read it.
1. William
1
There was once a naughty boy
Who always studied to annoy
2
When his task he would not learn
And Nurse an angry eye would turn
3
He laughed outright, & faces made
And longer oer his lesson stayed.
4
He'd tear the bindings of his books,
And laugh at their untidy looks.
5
And when his nurse would to him say,
You are a naughty boy today,
[one line clearly missing at the bottom of this page.]
But climed (sic) the same tall cherrytree,
When not an hour's sleep had he
For when our conscience is amiss
We seldom have a moment's bliss
He now was sorry for his fun,
So came down with the morning sun,
Not only for his daily task,
But Nurse's pardon too to ask.
She gave it, & he promised then,
He would not do the like again
He kept his word, & now I see,
A better little boy can't be.
2. Pleasures of Memory
To tell of long past happy times
Will often soften present pain
And all misfortunes we forget
While bygone pleasures live again.
3. Value of time
The waste of time, a sinful waste
Brings at last unpleasant haste.
Too much pleasure leads to pain,
Time once spent comes not again.
4. Emptiness of fame
Think of duty,
Not of fame,
Glory, is
An empty name
Conclusion
It is hoped that the want of Poetical Embellishment in this little book, is in some measure supplied by the absence also, of that unmeaning folly, which of late has so pervaded Juvenile works. To be Poetical was not the aim. It was, to be, - useful.
The Authors
Mary Phelps 1822 - 1896 and Anne Evans 1820 - 1870 were first cousins. Mary, whose home was in Madeira, was living (for health reasons) with her aunt and uncle at Market Bosworth. Her uncle, Arthur Benoni Evans 1781 - 1854, was headmaster of the Market Bosworth (boys only) Grammar School. Girls did not attend the school but this did not stop them from learning Latin and Greek, the arts and being proficient writers in English. Put in another way, Arthur Benoni Evans, a kind man and great educationist, was happy to teach his daughters and niece.
The books were handmade in 1833 by the girls and measure 10cm x 14cm.