The Home Book of Verse Volume I Part 13

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!"

Said the hen, "Cut-dah cut!

I have laid an egg For the Baby's breakfast-- Take it now, I beg!"

And the buzzing bee said, "Here is honey sweet.

Don't you think the Baby Would like that to eat?"

Then the baker kindly Brought the Baby's bread.

"Breakfast is all ready,"

Baby's mother said;

"But before the Baby Eats his dainty food, Will he not say 'Thank you!'

To his friends so good?"

Then the bonny Baby Laughed and laughed away.

That was all the "Thank you"

He knew how to say.

Emilie Poulsson [1853-

THE MOON

O, look at the moon!

She is s.h.i.+ning up there; O mother, she looks Like a lamp in the air.

Last week she was smaller, And shaped like a bow; But now she's grown bigger, And round as an O.

Pretty moon, pretty moon, How you s.h.i.+ne on the door, And make it all bright On my nursery floor!

You s.h.i.+ne on my playthings, And show me their place, And I love to look up At your pretty bright face.

And there is a star Close by you, and maybe That small twinkling star Is your little baby.

Eliza Lee Fallen [1787-1859]

BABY AT PLAY

Brow bender, Eye peeper, Nose smeller, Mouth eater, Chin chopper, Knock at the door--peep in, Lift up the latch--walk in.

Here sits the Lord Mayor, here sit his two men, Here sits the c.o.c.k, and here sits the hen; Here sit the chickens, and here they go in, Chippety, chippety, chippety, chin.

This little pig went to market; This little pig stayed at home; This little pig got roast beef; This little pig got none; This little pig cried wee, wee, all the way home.