Edith Matilda Thomas

“I Ought to Mustn't”

The chair was so near, and the shelf was so low,
And I opened the door just in time to see
The last of the coveted caramels go,
While a look imploring was cast on me,
        "I ought to mustn't, I know!"

The chair was so near, and the shelf was so low,--
To punish, alas! no courage I had:
And I did as, perhaps, you yourself might do,--
I kissed her, right there, so sweet and so bad!
        But "I ought to mustn't," I knew!