The Little Brother.

Little brother, darling boy, You are very dear to me! I am pleased and full of joy, When your smiling face I see. How I wish that you could speak, And could know the words I say! Pretty stories I would seek, To amuse you every day; All about the honey-bees Flying past us in the sun,— Birds that sing among the trees,— Lambs that in the meadows run. I’ll be very kind to you,— Never slap or make you cry, As some naughty children do, Quite forgetting God is nigh. Shake your rattle,—here it is, Listen to its merry noise, And, when you are tired of this, I will bring you other toys.