On afternoons, when baby boy has had a splendid nap, br And sits, like any monarch on his throne, in nurse's lap, br In some such wise my handkerchief I hold before my face, br And cautiously and quietly I move about the place; br Then, with a cry, I suddenly expose my face to view, br And you should hear him laugh and crow when I say "Booh"! br br Sometimes the rascal tries to make believe that he is scared, br And really, when I first began, he stared, and stared, and stared; br And then his under lip came out and farther out it came, br Till mamma and the nurse agreed it was a "cruel shame" - br But now what does that same wee, toddling, lisping baby do br But laugh and kick his little heels when I say "Booh!" br br He laughs and kicks his little heels in rapturous glee, and then br In shrill, despotic treble bids me "do it all aden!" br And I - of course I do it; for, as his progenitor, br It is such pretty, pleasant play as this that I am for! br And it is, oh, such fun I and sure that we shall rue br The time when we are both too old to play the game "Booh!"br br Eugene Fieldbr br