"That corn just grows, and I don't see why I shouldn't have
my share of it. I help myself to other things, so why shouldn't I
help myself to that?"
"I'll tell you why," replied Old Mother Nature. "Farmer Brown
planted that corn and took care of it. If he hadn't planted it,
there wouldn't have been any corn there. That makes it his corn.
If it grew wild, you would have a perfect right to it. As it is,
you haven't any right to it at all. Now take my advice, Bobby, and
keep away from that cornfield. If you don't, you will get in trouble.
One of these fine nights Bowser the Hound will find you there and you
will have to run for your life. Keep away from temptation."
"But that corn is so good," sighed Bobby Coon, smacking his lips.
"There is nothing I like better than sweet, milky corn, and if I
don't get it from Farmer Brown's cornfield, I can't get it at all,
for it doesn't grow wild. He'll never miss the little I take."
Old Mother Nature shook her head and looked very grave. "Bobby,"
said she, "that is no excuse at all. Mark what I say: If you keep
on you certainly will get in trouble. If you would be satisfied
to take just an ear or two, I don't believe Farmer Brown would care,
but you know very well that you spoil many times what you eat. You
sample one ear, then think that probably the next ear will be better
and sweeter and you try that.
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