DADDY'S BOY.

It is time for bed, so the nurse declares,

But I slip off to the nook,

The cozy nook at the head of the stairs,

Where daddy's reading his book.

“I want to sit here awhile on your knee,”

I say, as I toast my feet,

“And I want you to pop some corn for me,

And give me an apple sweet.”

I tickle him under the chin — just so —

And I say, “Please can n't I, dad?”

Then I kiss his mouth so he can n't say no

To his own little black-eyed lad.

“You can n't have a pony this year at all,”

Says my stingy Uncle Joe,

After promising it — and there's the stall

Fixed ready for it, you know.

One can n't depend on his uncle, I see,

It's daddies that are the best,

And I find mine and climb up on his knee

As he takes his smoke and rest.

I tickle him under the chin — just so —

And I say, “Please can n't I, dad?”

Then I kiss his mouth so he can n't say no

To his own little black-eyed lad.

I want to skate, and oh, what a fuss

For fear I'll break through the ice!

This woman that keeps our house for us,

She is n't what I call nice.

She wants a boy to be just like a girl,

To play in the house all day,

Keep his face all clean and his hair in curl,

But dad does n't think that way.

I tickle him under the chin — just so —

And I say, “Please can n't I, dad?”

Then I kiss his mouth so he can n't say no

To his own little black-eyed lad.

“You're growing so big,” says my dad to me.

“Soon be a man, I suppose,

Too big to climb on your old dad's knee

And toast your ten little toes.”

Then his voice it gets the funniest shake,

And oh, but he hugs me tight!

I say, when I can n't keep my eyes awake,

“Let me sleep with you to-night.”

I tickle him under the chin — just so —

And I say, “Please can n't I, dad?”

Then I kiss his mouth so he can n't say no

To his own little black-eyed lad.