Preface
Oh, how oft we read or hear
Of children bad, who cause us fear!
Like these two, well-known by name—
Max and Moritz, full of shame.
Rather than through wisdom learning,
They to mischief kept returning,
And would laugh at rules and preaching,
Secretly the elders teaching
That to tease and cause despair
Seems to them much more fair.
Mocking humans, hurting creatures,
Stealing fruit from garden features—
Yes, it's easier by far
Than to sit where schoolbooks are.
But beware, oh woe and dread,
When I think what lies ahead!!
What a dreadful, grim event
Marked our pranksters' punishment!
So herein, with pen and quill,
All their deeds I now distill.
First Prank
Some folks put in all their care
To raise chickens with great flair;
Saving up both time and treasure
To get eggs in finest measure.
Others buy some hens and cocks,
Hoping for a hatch of flocks.
Max and Moritz, crafty guys,
Had a different sort of prize.
What they loved—now here's the key—
Wasn't eggs, but poultry!
Quickly, without further warning,
Dead hens lay by early morning.
On the roof, they placed their snare,
Under rafters, hidden there.
Once the trap had done its part,
They came cheering, full of heart.
But by dawn, with no delay,
All the chickens dead there lay.
When the widow Boll was told
Of this crime, her grief was bold—
And with tears and cries and sorrow,
She did mourn into the morrow.
Second Prank
While sweet widow Böck did sun
With her chickens, having fun,
Came the tailor Böck along,
Dancing lively, quick and strong.
He inspected every bird,
Trying to catch who'd done the word.
But alas! His step was wrong—
In the pond he fell headlong.
Max and Moritz, full of cheer,
Laughed aloud from front to rear.
Soggy, shivering in his coat,
Home he stomped, the drenched old goat.
Third Prank
Uncle Fritz, a strict old teacher,
Came back home—a grumbling creature.
Then he screamed, "Confound it all!"
For his pipe exploded small.
Max and Moritz, devilish twain,
Had filled it up with powder grain.
With a bang, the thing did puff,
Burning hair and brow enough.
Even his toupee took flight,
Vanished straight into the night—
All to our boys' great delight.
Yes, they laughed with all their might.
Fourth Prank
Master Baker, well-renowned,
Kept his baking tight and sound.
Yet Max and Moritz, full of sneer,
Had a trick prepared right here.
To the bakery they crept,
Where the dough and flour slept,
Dug right in with cunning stealth,
Buried deep in baking wealth.
When the master came, alarmed—
In the oven they had charmed!
With a shout and frantic flurry,
He pulled them out in a hurry.
But alas! Too late to save—
Charred and toasted, bold yet grave.
Fifth Prank
But fate would take another spin—
Farmer Mecke was not thin
On wisdom, nor on clever tricks,
And caught the boys with farmyard picks.
Into sacks with birdseed grain,
He stuffed them both despite their strain.
To the mill he took them then—
Could one paint this out again?
Sixth Prank
Now the final prank was near—
At their aunt's they showed no fear.
Sacks of clothes they dragged along,
Tied them tight—but tied them wrong.
To the river they were led,
But the ropes were weak instead.
Clothes and stones sank out of view—
Leaving auntie mad and blue.
Seventh Prank
And that was their final game—
Now their end would seal their shame.
Farmer came with fork in hand,
Dragged them off across the land.
At the mill, with no more luck,
They were given quite the chuck.
And the miller, cold and stern,
Let the grinding gears now turn.
Ground to powder, tale grown grim,
Flour filled each bag and rim.
With a grin, the miller spread
All their dust upon his bread.
That was it, no one did cry—
For such naughty boys must die!
Closing Words
So concludes the final say:
One must learn the proper way!
Not just reading, writing, counting—
Though these too are worth amounting—
But with wisdom, heart, and will
Shall one climb the highest hill.
And with reason as your guide,
Let good morals turn the tide.
That's what Teacher Lampel showed—
Wisdom is the surest road.