Telephoning

“Mamma’s house: halloo! halloo!
Mama lives at Rocking Chair. 
That you, mamma? Stay right there!
I’ve a message all for you.”

Mamma answers, far away,
    With a big spool at her ear: 
    “All right, baby! I can hear: 
What would Midget like to say?”

“Mamma, are you truly, true,
    Hearing every single thing,—
    What I think, and say, and sing,—
As if I were close to you?”

“Yes, I hear, my little one.
    Every word’s so plain and clear
    I might almost think you here,
Speaking with no telephone!”

Well, you please to tell the doctor
            Dolly has the stomach-ache;
            Wants some peppermints to take
All the day I’ve sat and rocked her.

“And please, mama, I love you!”
          “All right, baby, here is one
          Doctor sends by telephone.
And a kiss for Midget, too.”

“Thank you, mamma; now I’ll try
          To get Seventy-One-Two-Nine.—
          Aunty’s house,—to talk with mine;
All through, mamma dear! Good-by.”