The Roly Poly Baby

The Roly Poly Baby page one.

 

The Roly Poly Baby page two.

The Roly Poly Baby
by Elizabeth Gordon

       Now once upon a time - There was a little roly poly rascal of a baby who was peeping over the edge of a cloud and fell sponge right into the arms of a lovely little Mother Person.
       "My!" said Somebody, "what a very forward baby! Why he isn't even invited! Send him right straight back this instant!"
       But the little Mother Person only held him all the closer and said, "No indeed! He is my baby! I'm going to keep him!"
       But Somebody said "You can't keep him. He hasn't any clothes, and there is no food for him, and no bed for him to sleep in. No, he must go back immediately!"
       But just then along came the Mother Cow, with her new baby bossie-calf and said "Mmoo-where did you get such a darling roly poly rascal of a baby?"
       "He just dropped down from Babyland" said Somebody, "and we have nothing in the house for babies to eat."
       "Don't let that bother you" said the Mother Cow, "He can have some of my child's breakfast."
       And so that was all right. And then along came the Mother Sheep with her twin babies Blackie and Whitey, and said "What an adorable roly poly rascal of a baby! I want to give him some of my finest wool to make his little blankets and socks and petti skirts, my children grow their own coats thank Goodness!"
       And so that was all right. And just then along came Mother Goose with her twelve fluffy goslings trailing along behind her. "Quack, Quack," said Mother Goose, "what's this I hear about sending this roly poly rascal of a baby back to Babyland just for want of a few feathers to make mattresses and pillows? Take as many as you need of mine and welcome. Right under my wings is where they are softest and come out of the easiest."
       And so that was all right. "Even so" said Somebody, "babies must be kept warm."
       "Is that all" whispered the Mother Pine Tree. "Take some of my dry branches to make a fire for the little roly poly rascal of a baby, they are full of pitch and will burn beautifully."
       And so that was all right. "But babies need to be watched over all the time" said Somebody, and just then along came Mrs. Towser with the dearest little puppy baby that ever was. "I will train my son to be his first friend and guard him night and day," said Mrs. Towser.
       And so that was all right! "And Babies must be amused" said Somebody. And just then along came Mother Tabby Cat with five of the friskiest kittens that you ever saw, and said, "I will send my children over to play with him every day."
       And so that was all right. And the Mother Hen promised a fresh egg every day, and the Robin promised to sing him to sleep every evening, and all the little Breezes promised to fan him and keep him cool all summer long. And so Somebody said, "With every Mother in the world so willing to help, I suppose he will have to stay."
       But the Little Mother Person only held him all the more tightly and said, "I would have kept him any way because he is My own Baby!" And so that was all right!