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.

_Lullaby_

Baby wants a lullaby; Where should mother find it?

In a bird's nest rocked on high; Birdie, birdie lined it; Find it under birdie's wing,-- Soft birdie's feather;-- O the downy, downy thing!

O the summer weather!

Baby wants a lullaby; Where shall sister find it?

In a soft cloud of the sky, With white wool behind it; Watch you may, but cannot guess If the cloud has motion, Such a perfect calm there is In the airy ocean.

O the land of Lullabies!

Where shall father find it?

Safe in mother's breast it lies, With her arms to bind it; O a soft and sleepy song!

Sleep, baby blossom!

Sleep is short, sleep is long, Sweet is mother's bosom!

William Brighty Rands.

_A Cradle Song_

What does little birdie say In her nest at peep of day?

Let me fly, says little birdie, Mother, let me fly away.

Birdie, rest a little longer, Till the little wings are stronger.

So she rests a little longer, Then she flies away.

What does little baby say, In her bed at peep of day?

Baby says, like little birdie, Let me rise and fly away.

Baby, sleep a little longer, Till the little limbs are stronger.

If she sleeps a little longer, Baby too shall fly away.

Alfred, Lord Tennyson.

_Good-night Prayer for a Little Child_

Father, unto Thee I pray, Thou hast guarded me all day; Safe I am while in Thy sight, Safely let me sleep to-night.

Bless my friends, the whole world bless, Help me to learn helpfulness; Keep me ever in Thy sight: So to all I say Good-night.

Henry Johnstone.

_The Sleepy Song_[10]

As soon as the fire burns red and low And the house upstairs is still, She sings me a queer little sleepy song, Of sheep that go over the hill.

The good little sheep run quick and soft, Their colors are gray and white; They follow their leader nose and tail, For they must be home by night.

And one slips over, and one comes next, And one runs after behind; The gray one's nose at the white one's tail, The top of the hill they find.

And when they get to the top of the hill They quietly slip away, But one runs over and one comes next-- Their colors are white and gray.

And over they go, and over they go, And over the top of the hill The good little sheep run quick and soft, And the house upstairs is still.

And one slips over and one comes next, The good little, gray little sheep!

I watch how the fire burns red and low, And she says that I fall asleep.

Josephine Daskam Bacon.

[Footnote 10: From "Poems," copyright, 1903, by Chas. Scribner's Sons.]

_Minnie and Winnie_

Minnie and Winnie Slept in a sh.e.l.l.

Sleep, little ladies!

And they slept well.

Pink was the sh.e.l.l within, Silver without; Sounds of the great sea Wandered about.

Sleep, little ladies!

Wake not soon!

Echo on echo Dies to the moon.

Two bright stars Peeped into the sh.e.l.l.

"What are they dreaming of?

Who can tell?"

Started a green linnet Out of the croft; Wake, little ladies!

The sun is aloft.

Alfred, Lord Tennyson.

_Queen Mab_

A little fairy comes at night; Her eyes are blue, her hair is brown, With silver spots upon her wings, And from the moon she flutters down.

She has a little silver wand, And when a good child goes to bed, She weaves her wand from right to left, And makes a circle round its head.

And then it dreams of pleasant things-- Of fountains filled with fairy fish, And trees that bear delicious fruit, And bow their branches at a wish;