S IT?

BY ETHEL M. KELLEY

Whose hair is all curly, an' eyes "baby-blue"?
Who wakes up too early 'fore night-time is fru?
Who dresses her pillow all up in the clo'es,
An' counts all her piggies when nobody knows?
An' who's des' as _quiet_ as _quiet_ can be?
Muvver says--_me_.

Who w'ites wif a pencil all over a book?
An' who gets the ink when nobody does look?
An' who gets her fingies all blacker than black?
An' who gets 'em spatted when Muvver comes back?
An' who's des' as _sorry_ as _sorry_ can be?
Muvver says--_me_.

Who goes down to dinner on Sundays at two,
All dressed in w'ite frillies, an' tied up in blue?
An' who waits for Father to cut up her meat,
When she is _so_ hungry an' nuffin' to eat?
An' who's des' as "_patient_" as "_patient_" can be?
Muvver says--_me_.

Who gets on her nightie an' says all her prayers?
An' then comes a-stealin' an' creepin' down-stairs?
Who cuddles up comfy an' teases to stay?
An' who is so spoiled 'at she _won't_ go away,
Even when she's as _sleepy_ as _sleepy_ can be?
Muvver says--_me_.

MY DEAREST IS A LADY

BY MIRIAM S. CLARK

My dearest is a lady, she wears a gown of blue,
She sits beside the window where the yellow sun comes through;
The light is shining on her hair, and all the time she sews,
She sings a song about a knight, a dear, brave knight she knows.

My dearest is a lady--and oh, I love her well!
Full five and twenty times a day this very tale I tell;
For I'm the knight in armor, a shield and sword I wear,
And Mother is my lady, with the light upon her hair.

HOW MANY LUMPS!

How many lumps of sugar
Ought a little girl to use
To sweeten a cup of chocolate?
I can take just what I choose.

Five make it just like candy,
And four are most as good--
There's no one to say I mustn't,
Now I wonder if I should.

Three is what Nurse allows me,
So that would be surely right.
Uncle Jack takes two lumps always
And says it is "out of sight."

Five, four, three, two--I wonder--
Or none, just like Papa?
Well, after all, I'll take but one
And copy my dear Mama.

[Illustration: From the painting by H. Morisset.
By permission of the artist.]

When Mother Goes Away

BY CLARA ODE