Peek-A-Boo

The cunningest thing that a baby can do     Is the very first time it plays peek-a-boo;     When it hides its pink little face in its hands,     And crows, and shows that it understands     What nurse, and mamma and papa, too,     Mean when they hide and cry, "Peek a-boo, peek-a-boo."     Oh, what a wonderful thing it is,     When they find that baby can play like this!     And every one listens, and thinks it true     That baby's gurgle means "Peek-a-boo, peek-a-boo";     And over and over the changes are rung     On the marvellous infant who talks so young.     I wonder if any one ever knew     A baby that never played peek-a-boo, peek-a-boo.     'Tis old as the hills are.    I believe     Cain was taught it by Mother Eve;     For Cain was an innocent baby, too,     And I am sure he played peek-a-boo, peek-a-boo.     And the whole world full of the children of men,     Have all of them played that game since then.     Kings and princes and beggars, too,     Every one has played peek-a-boo, peek-a-boo.     Thief and robber and ruffian bold,     The crazy tramp and the drunkard old,     All have been babies who laughed and knew     How to hide, and play peek-a-boo, peek-a-boo.