Volume I Part 13 (1/2)
BABY-LAND
”Which is the way to Baby-land?”
”Any one can tell; Up one flight, To your right; Please to ring the bell.”
”What can you see in Baby-land?”
”Little folks in white-- Downy heads, Cradle-beds, Faces pure and bright!”
”What do they do in Baby-land?”
”Dream and wake and play, Laugh and crow, Shout and grow; Jolly times have they!”
”What do they say in Baby-land?”
”Why, the oddest things; Might as well Try to tell What a birdie sings!”
”Who is the Queen of Baby-land?”
”Mother, kind and sweet; And her love, Born above, Guides the little feet.”
George Cooper [1840-1927]
THE FIRST TOOTH
There once was a wood, and a very thick wood, So thick that to walk was as much as you could; But a sunbeam got in, and the trees understood.
I went to this wood, at the end of the snows, And as I was walking I saw a primrose; Only one! Shall I show you the place where it grows?
There once was a house, and a very dark house, As dark, I believe, as the hole of a mouse, Or a tree in my wood, at the thick of the boughs.
I went to this house, and I searched it aright, I opened the chambers, and I found a light; Only one! Shall I show you this little lamp bright?
There once was a cave, and this very dark cave One day took a gift from an incoming wave; And I made up my mind to know what the sea gave.
I took a lit torch, I walked round the ness When the water was lowest; and in a recess In my cave was a jewel. Will n.o.body guess?
O there was a baby, he sat on my knee, With a pearl in his mouth that was precious to me, His little dark mouth like my cave of the sea!
I said to my heart, ”And my jewel is bright!
He blooms like a primrose! He s.h.i.+nes like a light!”
Put your hand in his mouth! Do you feel? He can bite!
William Brighty Rands [1823-1882]
BABY'S BREAKFAST
Baby wants his breakfast, Oh! what shall I do?
Said the cow, ”I'll give him Nice fresh milk--moo-oo!”