And the little bears growl to each other, “He’s mine, As soon as he’s silly and steps on a line.” And some of the bigger bears try to pretend That they came round the corner to look for a friend; And they try to pretend that nobody cares Whether you walk on the lines or squares. But only the sillies believe their talk; It’s ever so portant how you walk. And it’s ever so jolly to call out, “Bears, Just watch me walking in all the squares!” [Illustration: Boy standing in squares, with bear in the background] [Illustration: Boy peeking behind curtain] BROWNIE In a corner of the bedroom is a great big curtain, Someone lives behind it, but I don’t know who; I think it is a Brownie, but I’m not quite certain. (Nanny isn’t certain, too.) I looked behind the curtain, but he went so quickly— Brownies never wait to say, “How do you do?” They wriggle off at once because they’re all so tickly. (Nanny says they’re tickly too.) [Illustration: Boy astride branch] INDEPENDENCE I never did, I never did, I never _did_ like “Now take care, dear!” I never did, I never did, I never _did_ want “Hold-my-hand”; I never did, I never did, I never _did_ think much of “Not up there, dear!” It’s no good saying it. They don’t understand. NURSERY CHAIRS _One of the chairs is South America, One of the chairs is a ship at sea, One is a cage for a great big lion, And one is a chair for Me._ [Illustration: Boy in paper hat sitting in chair] _The First Chair._ When I go up the Amazon, I stop at night and fire a gun To call my faithful band. And Indians in twos and threes, Come silently between the trees, And wait for me to land. And if I do not want to play With any Indians to-day, I simply wave my hand. And then they turn and go away— They always understand. [Illustration: Boy kneeling on chair scaring Nanny] _The Second Chair._ I’m a great big lion in my cage, And I often frighten Nanny with a roar. Then I hold her very tight, and Tell her not to be so frightened— And she doesn’t be so frightened any more. [Illustration: Boy hugging Nanny] [Illustration: Boy standing on chair, ships and ocean in background] _The Third Chair._ When I am in my ship, I see The other ships go sailing by. A sailor leans and calls to me As his ship goes sailing by. Across the sea he leans to me, Above the winds I hear him cry: “Is this the way to Round-the-World?” He calls as he goes by. _The Fourth Chair._ Whenever I sit in a high chair For breakfast or dinner or tea, I try to pretend that it’s _my_ chair, And that I am a baby of three. [Illustration: Boy seated at table] _Shall I go off to South America? Shall I put out in my ship to sea? Or get in my cage and be lions and tigers? Or—shall I be only Me?_ [Illustration: Woman offering boy a bunch of lavender] MARKET SQUARE