Tomboy

There's a little girl I know     And we call her So-and-So.     She is neither good nor bad     Good enough for me although!     Never saw a girl that had     More real life in her, or more     Of what people christen go;     Pretty too as she is poor.     So-and-So is not her name     But her nickname. She's to blame     For it being named that way:     For she often starts some game,     And, when asked what 't is we play,     She just answers, "I don't know.     It's a good game just the same;     And I call it So-and-So."     Other girls don't like her, no;     Just because she's So-and-So;     Call her names like Tomboy, or     Wildcat, just as girls will do     When a girl is popular     With the boys and does n't care     Much for girls, and 's pretty, too,     With blue eyes and golden hair.     I would give most anything     Just to hear her laugh and sing,     Dance, too. She is funnier     Than a circus and its ring;     And no boy can out-run her,     Or out-dare her. And, oh my!     You should see her in a swing,     Streaking it into the sky!     She's the girl that suits me; yes,     And suits all the boys, I guess:     Never backward; always in     For some picnic, more or less.     Take your top and wind and spin;     Or play marbles; fly a kite;     Or, if needs be, in a mess     She can just pitch in and fight.     Let some big boy dare to touch,     Bully some small boy or such,     She's right at him saying, "You     Great big coward! need a crutch     By the time that I get through!"     And she's bright at school, although     She don't have to study much     As some other girls I know.     Once two weeks went by and she     Had just disappeared; you see     Had n't come to play or call:     She was sick apparently;     And we made it up that all     All the boys, or some, should go     And find out what it could be,     And report on So-and-So.     Well, what do you think! Declare,     When we rang the door-bell, there     At the door she stood as bright,     Brighter ev'n, with nice combed hair,     In an apron spotless white:     And she smiled and seemed so glad:     But about her was an air     Of importance she'd not had.     Was the same yet not the same.     And when I began to blame,     She just stopped me with a bow,     Saying, "Boys, I've changed my name.     I've a little brother now     Baby-brother. Don't you know?     Takes the place of every game,     And I call him So-and-So."