(_A Midnight Dialogue._)
SCENE: A Nursery at night; a wakeful baby sitting up in its crib; the
full moon shining in at the window.
[Illustration: BABY BEE AND THE MOON.]
The Moon said to me:
“Baby Bee, Baby Bee,
Why aren’t you asleep in your bed?
When I am a-light
You know it is night;
So down with your bad little head!”
I said to the Moon,
With a coo and a croon:
“O, beautiful Moon up so high!
Don’t tarry afar—
Let’s see what you are!
Come down from your perch in the sky!”
The Moon said to me:
“Baby Bee, Baby Bee,
When I was an infant like you,
I put out my light
At eight every night
To let people know I was _new_.”
I said to the Moon,
With a coo and a croon:
“Dear Moon, I’ve no doubt you are right;
I freely admit
The wisdom and wit
Of one so exceedingly bright.”
The Moon said to me:
“Baby Bee, Baby Bee,
Then _why_ don’t you shut up your eyes
And sleep as you ought,
And as you’ve been taught?
What folly to act otherwise!”
I said to the Moon,
With a coo and a croon:
“Pray how can I sleep when in truth,
O, Moon, though I try,
I _can’t_ shut an eye!
O, Moon, I am cutting a tooth!”
The Moon said to me:
“Baby Bee, Baby Bee,
I judged you a little too soon.
You poor little dear!
I wish you were here
Where we never cut teeth,” said the Moon.
_Pax Prescott._