"Those two boys": Explanation

Reference to the context:  Franklin P. Adams is known for his erudite wit and humor in his works. He was talent scout and a mentor. “Those two boys” depicts his interest in understanding human psychology.

Stanza 1: Bill was terrible, horrible and nasty. He troubled his parents and deprived them of their peace. He was a habitual liar who used profane, indecent language.  He was a stain. He was wicked and a perfect rogue who played pranks. He was nasty to the root of his hair. He kept bluffing and deceiving people. He loved to bully and harassed little girls. He was incurable with no hope of improvement. His attitude and behavior was a dire test for his parents. He was disrepute to his family. He was visibly bad and never missed a chance to pull others clown. He was a constant pain in the neck, inveterate liar and good for nothing fellow.

Stanza 2: Bill was an unruly boy who was always busy in making mischief and creating trouble. His unruliness and mischief continued unabated. His escapade broke all rules and regulations. He lacked sportsman’s spirit and played foul. He was preoccupied by mischief and disobeyed his elders. He was a problem child- horrible and useless. His future seemed bleak and dark. Keeping in view Bill’s weak behavior, it is probable that he even stayed away from school and played the truant.

Stanza 3: Jim was peaceful and disciplined, truthful, intelligent and source of happiness to all. The poet believes there is hardly any comparison between Jim and Bill. He was obedient, docile and worthy of appreciation, hardworking, honest, bright and intelligent. His sense of duty and responsibility caused pain to none and nor heartache. He was heart’s joy to his parents. He is the nicest of all kids. In the incoming years his goodness would pay. He is free of all sins. No one is able to degrade him. His attitude towards life is just like the one needed to make his life heaven-like. He is positive and creative. Both these qualities exhilarate him above all. These qualities help him in gathering a lot of praise. He is dignified, sober, civilized and hardworking. He never cheats or lies.

Stanza 4: His goodness was believed to be everlasting as he was intelligent. He was to grow into a successful great man. The great qualities and virtues possessed by him distinguished him from other boys of his age. They fostered firm hope of his being honorable, noble, intelligent and brainy one day. They were sure that one and many would benefit from his success. A prosperous future was predicted for him.

Stanza 5: Bill grew up to manhood with honour and glory, earning respect all the way. Jim became a dissolute person locked in a gloomy cell. One can never understand or predict the turns of destiny. This stanza springs a surprise. The honor, fame, pride and glory of Bill shocked his acquaintance who considered him a prodigy. Jim grew up into a dissolute, depraved, criminal minded man. Life and the mind are complex, many layered things and very difficult to understand. Certain things in life are beyond the resolution of man and cannot be predicted. The two little boys were judged by their childhood by the penetrating eyes of the world. No one can know how time changes people, what effect different incidents have on the personalities of people and how closely it affects the whole person. Jim was honest and trustworthy but fame did not reach his doorstep. Bill grasped all in his mischiefs. But something unexpected happened. He became a fine young man, doing good deeds. Ironically when both grew to manhood, things changed. Workings of nature and proposition show that some things in life are beyond human prediction.