Daddy's Boy.

It is time for bed, so the nurse declares,          But I slip off to the nook,         The cozy nook at the head of the stairs,          Where daddy's reading his book.         "I want to sit here awhile on your knee,"          I say, as I toast my feet,         "And I want you to pop some corn for me,          And give me an apple sweet."         I tickle him under the chin - just so -          And I say, "Please can't I, dad?"         Then I kiss his mouth so he can't say no          To his own little black-eyed lad.         "You can't have a pony this year at all,"          Says my stingy Uncle Joe,         After promising it - and there's the stall          Fixed ready for it, you know.         One can't depend on his uncle, I see,          It's daddies that are the best,         And I find mine and climb up on his knee          As he takes his smoke and rest.         I tickle him under the chin - just so -          And I say, "Please can't I, dad?"         Then I kiss his mouth so he can't say no          To his own little black-eyed lad.         I want to skate, and oh, what a fuss          For fear I'll break through the ice!         This woman that keeps our house for us,          She isn't what I call nice.         She wants a boy to be just like a girl,          To play in the house all day,         Keep his face all clean and his hair in curl,          But dad doesn't think that way.         I tickle him under the chin - just so -          And I say, "Please can't I, dad?"         Then I kiss his mouth so he can't say no          To his own little black-eyed lad.         "You're growing so big," says my dad to me.          "Soon be a man, I suppose,         Too big to climb on your old dad's knee          And toast your ten little toes."         Then his voice it gets the funniest shake,          And oh, but he hugs me tight!         I say, when I can't keep my eyes awake,          "Let me sleep with you to-night."         I tickle him under the chin - just so -          And I say, "Please can't I, dad?"         Then I kiss his mouth so he can't say no          To his own little black-eyed lad.