The Little White Lie


'WAS in trouble beyond any doubt 

I was in trouble and how to get out?

Tell a white lie," said the devil to me.

'Tell a lie?  Oh!  How dreadful!  But what would it be

If I should? Though I never shall tell one," said I.

“Don't be frightened," said he, " we won't call it a lie 

A few words, in their way, quite as good as the truth,

And for this occasion far better, forsooth."

But my little white lie, when I'd told it, grew black;

Then, oh!  How could I hide it, or how get it back?

For it never would do to be caught in a lie,

For 'twas known that a very good youngster was I.

I must manage in some way to keep it from sight;

"Tell one more," said the devil,  " 'twill make it all right."

But my two grew to three, my three were soon four,

And my four gave rise to a dozen or more;

Till I felt in my soul such a sense of disgrace,

I had scarcely one friend I could look in  the face;

And at night to my room I went creeping up stairs 

God is truth!  Could I sleep without saying my prayers?

But my fears and my conscience thus followed about,

Was really half glad when the lie was found out;

For it was it is always the way with a lie 

And all said that a very bad youngster was I.

Good or bad, I have learned in one thing to be wise,

And shun in the future all little white lies.  





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Let our actions always tell

On  the book of life,  All's well.

Truly, earnestly, we'll fight

Every action to have right.




HENRY  MARSH.