EASTER days have come again, When the pious baker men Bake all sorts of sugar things, Plum-cakes, ginger-cakes, and rings. Max and Maurice feel an ache In their sweet-tooth for some cake. [Illustration] But the Baker thoughtfully Locks his shop, and takes the key. [Illustration] Who would steal, then, _this_ must do: Wriggle down the chimney-flue. [Illustration] Ratsch! There come the boys, my Jiminy! Black as ravens, down the chimney. [Illustration] Puff! into a chest they drop, Full of flour up to the top. [Illustration] Out they crawl from under cover Just as white as chalk all over. [Illustration] But the cracknels, precious treasure, On a shelf they spy with pleasure. [Illustration] Knacks! The chair breaks! down they go-- [Illustration] Schwapp!--into a trough of dough! [Illustration] All enveloped now in dough, See them, monuments of woe. [Illustration] In the Baker comes, and snickers When he sees the sugar-lickers. [Illustration] One, two, three! the brats, behold! Into two good _brots_ are rolled. [Illustration] There's the oven, all red-hot,-- Shove 'em in as quick as thought. [Illustration] Ruff! out with 'em from the heat, They are brown and good to eat. [Illustration] Now you think they've _paid the debt_! No, my friend, they're living yet. [Illustration] Knusper! Knasper! like two mice Through their roofs they gnaw in a trice; [Illustration] And the Baker cries, "You bet! There's the rascals living yet!" * * * * * This was the bad boys' sixth trick, But the last will follow quick. LAST TRICK MAX and Maurice! I grow sick, When I think on your last trick. [Illustration] Why must these two scalawags Cut those gashes in the bags? [Illustration] See! the farmer on his back Carries corn off in a sack. [Illustration] Scarce has he begun to travel, When the corn runs out like gravel. [Illustration] All at once he stops and cries: "Darn it! I see where it lies!" [Illustration] Ha! with what delighted eyes Max and Maurice he espies. [Illustration] Rabs! he opens wide his sack, Shoves the rogues in--Hukepack! [Illustration] It grows warm with Max and Maurice, For to mill the farmer hurries. [Illustration] "Master Miller! Hallo, man! Grind me _that_ as quick as you can!" [Illustration] "In with 'em!" Each wretched flopper Headlong goes into the hopper. [Illustration]