Mary Lamb in "Poetry For Children"

I saw a boy with eager eye
Open a book upon a stall,
And read,as he'd devour it all;
Which, when the stall - man did espy,
Soon to the boy I heard him call,
"You Sir, You never buy a book,
Therefore in one you shall not look"
The boy pass'd slowly on, and with a sigh
He wish'd he never had been taught to read,
Then of the old churl's book he should have had no need.