Little Annie Counts Her Babies

How many babies have you, little mother?
     Tell me how many, and what are their names?
"One, two, five, four, seven, and another, - 
Little Bess, big Bess, Belle and her brother, 
     Pussy and Kittykin, Annie and James.

"Annie is me; and the two pretty Bessies 
     Are dollies that wink, and both very nice;
And Jamie is mamma's true baby she dresses, 
And lets me rock him and feed him with kisses;
     And Pussy and Kittykin run and catch mice!"

And Belle? "Why, she was picked from a corn-hill:
     Her hair is the silk, and the husks her dress;
My papa guesses she must have been born ill, 
Toes in the air, and skirts that are worn ill!
     But I've set her right, and she hugs little Bess."

And the brother of Belle? "Dear me! I suppose 
     You'd call him a squash! but he's real bright, —
A little hump-backed, and I guess his nose 
Is a kind of wart; and he wears long clothes, 
     For, you see, his figure is not just right!

“But I love him as well as I love the Bessies,—
     I love them all, and they all love me,
And the very best of all, I guess, is
The true, live baby that mamma dresses;
     And here we are, all now, just as you see!”