Babyland — A Bed-Time Story
After the little boys were all snug in bed for the night, Norah would go in to put out the lamp. And this is the story she would tell them, while they leaned on their elbows and watched her face closely, for “it’s a seeing story as well as a hearing story,” Teddy said.
“Once there was a man, and he looked just like this,” and Norah twisted her under-jaw around to the right. “And his wife looked like this,” and Norah twisted her jaw to the left.
“And they had a boy who looked like this,” and Norah drew her under-jaw in back of the upper one; “and a girl that looked liked this,” and Norah threw her under-jaw out beyond the upper.
“And they had a dog that looked like this,” and Norah pursed up her mouth to look like a round “O.”
“When it was bed-time the family wanted to blow out the candle.
“And the man would blow like this,” and Norah puffed out of the right corner of her mouth, “but he couldn’t do it.
“And his wife would blow like this,” said Norah, puffing out of the left corner, “but she couldn’t do it.
“And the boy would blow like this,” and Norah threw back her under-jaw and blew downwards, “but he couldn’t do it.
“And the girl would blow like this,” said Norah, throwing her under-jaw forwards and blowing upward, “but she couldn’t do it.
“Then the dog would come along and blow like this.”
Out went the light!
“Good night,” said Norah.
The little boys always laughed then, and cuddled down to sleep.
Mattie W. Baker.