MARCH 243 



a stab, I think, to many a young mother. Maternal love 

 often wants cultivating, and does not come naturally to 

 many young women ; of this I am sure. And though 

 they learn many things, they seem to think being a good 

 mother comes by instinct or not at all. This is not true. 

 Besides, the apparently devoted mother may want quite 

 as much training and self-cultivation as the indifferent 

 one ; perhaps more so, as she takes more responsibility on 

 herself, and so, possibly, deprives the child of being 

 looked after by someone else. 



I think the world is really sad, 



I can do nothing but annoy ; 

 For little boys are all born bad, 



And I am born a little boy. 



It doesn't matter what the game, 

 Whether it's Indians, trains, or ball ; 



I always know I am to blame, 

 If I amuse myself at all. 



I said one day on mother's knee : 



If you would send us right away 

 To foreign lands across the sea, 

 You wouldn't see us every day. 



We shouldn't worry any more 



In those strange lands with queer new toys ; 

 But here we stamp, and play, and war, 

 And wear your life out with our noise. 



' The savages would never mind, 



And you'd be glad to have us go 

 There; nobody would be unkind, 



For you dislike your children so.' 



Then mother turned and looked quite red, 

 I do not think she could have heard ; 



She put me off her knee instead 

 Of answering me a single word. 



R 2 



