Hush-a-bye, baby,
    On Grandmother's lap;
  Hush-a-bye, baby,
    And take a nice nap;
  Hush-a-bye, baby,
    What is it you say?
  Your "teeth are a-coming,"
  You're "ten months to-day;"
  Well, babies must cry,
  And Grandmothers must try
  To comfort and hush them, but never forget
    The little gums ache,
    And little nerves quake,
  Till little lips quiver, and babies must fret.

  Hush-a-bye, baby,
    We'll cool his hot gums,
  Hush-a-bye, baby,
    With tiny ice-crumbs;
  Hush-a-bye, baby,
    We'll rub hard and long
  With icy-cold finger,--
    See him list to my song!  {27}
  Ah, babies are sweet
  If their wants we but meet,
  So why should we blame them when fretful and cross?
    Let us find what is wrong,
    And remove it ere long,
  And we'll see that time thus spent is never a loss.

  Hush-a-bye, baby,
    What more can we do
  Hush-a-bye, baby,
    That will comfort you?
  Hush-a-bye, baby,
    We'll lay you down flat,
  On your stomach, dear baby,
    On Grandmother's lap.  {28}
    Nor trot you a mite,
    No matter how slight,
  But, sure that your clothing is all dry and neat,
    We'll loosen each band,
    And with soft and warm hand,
  Gently rub you all over from head to your feet.

  Hush-a-bye, baby,
    We will not forget,
  Hush-a-bye, baby,
    That hands may be wet,
  Hush-a-bye, baby,
    And soothe you sometimes,
  When dry hands won't do it,
    Hush, list to my rhymes!  {29}
    And now we'll not nurse
    Till the nursing's a curse;
  Nor dose you, nor drug you, nor feed with sweet-meats;
    Nor to soothe, will we try,
    With old "Dame Winslow" by,
  For our hopes for the babies, she ever defeats.

  Hush-a-bye, baby,
    We'll quiet his nerves,
  Hush-a-bye, baby,
    The truth it deserves--
  Hush-a-bye, baby--
    Even here to be known :
  We will quiet his nerves    By just calming our own!  And our baby will feel
    The sweet hush o'er him steal,
  That brings with it soothing and comfort and rest;
  And to slumber so soft,
  His spirit we'll waft,
  And then lay him away in his own baby nest.

  Dear Mamma, I've been laughing
    For Uncle Ben and Pa,
  And then for sister Lizzie
    I talked "ar-g o-o" and "gar;"
  And then a "little story"
    For Dick and Cousin Jane,--
  And now you, Mamma, want me
    To laugh and talk again.

  I'd like to do it,
    Mamma, but if I even try,
  I am so weary with it,
    I'm sure I'd only cry!
  Don't let them try, dear Mamma,
    to make me laugh and crow,
  I'll do it when I'm able,
    for babies always do.