Love-Songs of Childhood | Page 6

for baby, and it's sleep no more for me, For, when he wants his dinner, why it's dinner it must be!?And of that lacteal fluid he partakes with great ado,?While gran'ma laughs,?And gran'pa laughs,?And wife, she laughs,?And I - well, I laugh, too!
You'd think, to see us carrying on about that little tad,?That, like as not, that baby was the first we'd ever had;?But, sakes alive! he isn't, yet we people make a fuss?As if the only baby in the world had come to us!?And, morning, noon, and night-time, whatever he may do,?Gran'ma, she laughs,?Gran'pa, he laughs,?Wife, she laughs,?And I, of course, laugh, too!
But once - a likely spell ago - when that poor little chick From teething or from some such ill of infancy fell sick,?You wouldn't know us people as the same that went about?A-feelin' good all over, just to hear him crow and shout;?And, though the doctor poohed our fears and said he'd pull him through, Old gran'ma cried,?And gran'pa cried,?And wife, she cried,?And I - yes, I cried, too!
It makes us all feel good to have a baby on the place,?With his everlastin' crowing and his dimpling, dumpling face; The patter of his pinky feet makes music everywhere,?And when he shakes those fists of his, good-by to every care! No matter what our trouble is, when he begins to coo,?Old gran'ma laughs,?And gran'pa laughs,?Wife, she laughs,?And I - you bet, I laugh, too!
SO, SO, ROCK-A-BY SO!
So, so, rock-a-by so!?Off to the garden where dreamikins grow;?And here is a kiss on your winkyblink eyes,?And here is a kiss on your dimpledown cheek?And here is a kiss for the treasure that lies?In the beautiful garden way up in the skies?Which you seek.?Now mind these three kisses wherever you go -?So, so, rock-a-by so!
There's one little fumfay who lives there, I know,?For he dances all night where the dreamikins grow;?I send him this kiss on your droopydrop eyes,?I send him this kiss on your rosyred cheek.?And here is a kiss for the dream that shall rise?When the fumfay shall dance in those far-away skies?Which you seek.?Be sure that you pay those three kisses you owe -?So, so, rock-a-by so!
And, by-low, as you rock-a-by go,?Don't forget mother who loveth you so!?And here is her kiss on your weepydeep eyes,?And here is her kiss on your peachypink cheek,?And here is her kiss for the dreamland that lies?Like a babe on the breast of those far-away skies?Which you seek -?The blinkywink garden where dreamikins grow -?So, so, rock-a-by so!
THE SONG OF LUDDY-DUD
A sunbeam comes a-creeping?Into my dear one's nest,?And sings to our babe a-sleeping?The song that I love the best:?"'T is little Luddy-Dud in the morning -?'T is little Luddy-Dud at night;?And all day long?'T is the same sweet song?Of that waddling, toddling, coddling little mite,?Luddy-Dud."
The bird to the tossing clover,?The bee to the swaying bud,?Keep singing that sweet song over?Of wee little Luddy-Dud.?"'T is little Luddy-Dud in the morning -?'T is little Luddy-Dud at night;?And all day long?'T is the same dear song?Of that growing, crowing, knowing little sprite,?Luddy-Dud."
Luddy-Dud's cradle is swinging?Where softly the night winds blow,?And Luddy-Dud's mother is singing?A song that is sweet and low:?"'T is little Luddy-Dud in the morning -?'T is little Luddy-Dud at night;?And all day long?'T is the same sweet song?Of my nearest and my dearest heart's delight,?Luddy-Dud!"
THE DUEL
The gingham dog and the calico cat?Side by side on the table sat;?'T was half-past twelve, and (what do you think!)?Nor one nor t' other had slept a wink!?The old Dutch clock and the Chinese plate?Appeared to know as sure as fate?There was going to be a terrible spat.?(I wasn't there; I simply state?What was told to me by the Chinese plate!)
The gingham dog went "bow-wow-wow!"?And the calico cat replied "mee-ow!"?The air was littered, an hour or so,?With bits of gingham and calico,?While the old Dutch clock in the chimney place?Up with its hands before its face,?For it always dreaded a family row!?(Now mind: I'm only telling you?What the old Dutch clock declares is true!)
The Chinese plate looked very blue,?And wailed, "Oh, dear! what shall we do!"?But the gingham dog and the calico cat?Wallowed this way and tumbled that,?Employing every tooth and claw?In the awfullest way you ever saw -?And, oh! how the gingham and calico flew!?(Don't fancy I exaggerate -?I got my news from the Chinese plate!)
Next morning, where the two had sat?They found no trace of dog or cat;?And some folks think unto this day?That burglars stole that pair away!?But the truth about the cat and pup?Is this: they ate each other up!?Now what do you really think of that!?(The old Dutch clock it told me so,?And that is how I came to know.)
GOOD-CHILDREN STREET
There's a dear little home in Good-Children street -?My heart turneth fondly to-day?Where tinkle of tongues and patter of feet?Make sweetest