West Virginia Argus

WHY HE WANTED HIS SOCK OFF.

He heard them talking of Christmas,
Our dear little eight months old,
His teeth like twin frozen snowflakes,
His hair just a fuzz of gold.
"Hang up the baby's stocking,"
He heard his grandma say;
She didn't think he was listening
Or would notice, anyway.
They had dressed him fresh for the morning,
And sweet as a summer rose,
He came from his bath and frolicked,
Awake from his head to his toes;
And they left him alone for a moment,
As rosy as ever could be,
His eyes just shining with mischief,
His lips bubbling over with glee.
And when they came back, what think you?
One dainty pink sock was thrown
As far as the baby could toss it
All by himself alone;
And there he was, laughing and tugging,
His dimpled hands fluttered with joy,
The other half-off when we caught him,-
Our beautiful blue-eyed boy.
"He is taking them off for Christmas!"
And mother hugged him tight,
As she cuddled him close to her bosom,
And kissed both his eyes so bright.
"You dear little precious rascal!
Don't you know that Jack Frost will bite
Every single toe that he catches
Outside of a sock this night?
"And, besides, it isn't Christmas
For four whole blessed days.
Oh, what shall we do with baby,
If this is the way he plays?"
So she kissed each "little piggie,"
That so often "to market" would go,
And tucked them all back in the stocking,
To hide from the Christmas snow.
-Demorest's Family Magazine.