As your babies are! Why, I've six of my own: When they were two weeks old they could run alone; They're never afraid of dogs or of rats-- In a few weeks more they'll be full-grown cats; "Their fur is as fine and as soft as silk-- Two gray, and three black, and one white as new milk. A fair fight for a mouse in my family Is as pretty a sight as you'll ever see. It is all very well to brag of your baby-- One of these years it will be something, maybe!" And without even looking at the baby's face, The cat walked away at a sleepy pace. "Moo, Moo!" said a cow, coming up. "Moo, Moo! Young people, you're making a great to-do About your baby. And the lark and the cat, They're nothing but braggers--I wouldn't give that." [Illustration: 0051] (And the cow snapped her tail as you'd snap your thumb) "For all the babies, and kittens, and birds, that come In the course of a year! It does make me laugh To look at them all, by the side of a calf! "Why, my little Brindle as soon as 'twas born Stood up on its legs, and sniffed at the corn; Before it had been in the world an hour It began to gambol, and canter, and scour All over the fields. See its great shining eyes, And its comely red hair that so glossy lies And thick! he has never felt cold in his life; But the wind cuts your baby's skin like a knife. "Poor shivering things! I have pitied them oft, All muffled and smothered in flannel soft. Ha! ha! I am sure the stupidest gaby Can see that a calf's ahead of a baby!" And the cow called her calf, and tossed up her head Like a person quite sure of all she has said. Then Jane looked at Eddy, and Eddy at Jane; Said Eddy, "How mean! I declare, they're too vain "To live--preposterous things! They don't know What they're talking about! I'd like them to show a bird, or a kitten, or a learned calf. That can kiss like our baby, or smile, or laugh!" "Yes, indeed, so should I!' said Jane in a rage; "The poor little thing! She's advanced for her age, For the minister said so the other day-- She's worth a hundred kittens or calves to play. "And as for young birds--they're pitiful things! I saw a whole nest once, all mouths and bare wings, And they looked jis if they'd been picked by the cook To broil for breakfast. I'm sure that they shook With cold if their mother got off for a minute-- I'm glad we have flannel, and wrap babies in it!" So the children went grumbling one to the other, And when they reached home they told their mother. The dear baby, asleep, in its crib she laid, And laughed as she kissed the children, and said: