Pebbles and Shells (Hawkes collection)/Playing House

by Clarence Hawkes

PLAYING HOUSE

There is a play, I guess you wish you knew it,
And I will tell you just the way to do it,
If you won't tell—that is, not every one
For 'tis a secret and such jolly fun.

You get your Pa to go down to the store
And get a box big as the parlor door,
And then you have him put it on the ground
Where there is grass and shade trees all around,

And then you tease your Papa more and more
Until he gets a saw and makes a door
Low down upon one side where doors should be,
And then 'tis ready for the family.

The family is Tommy, Jack and I,
When they will play, and also Butterfly
When she's around, (she really is a cat)
But in our play a dog upon the mat.

I'm mistress of the house and bake the bread
And do such things, and Tommy's uncle Ned
He says that's so that he can sit up late
And not be sent to bed when it is eight.

Jack plays that he is Pa, and goes away
To Boston, so that he can stay all day;
At night when he comes home to Tommy 'n' me
He tells about the things he's been to see.

To make it night you spread your mother's shawl
Over the door till you can't see at all;
Then go to bed, but Tommy says he dreams
Which is not nice for then he kicks and screams.

When you get tired of this, you wake and say,
"I guess it must be getting almost day,"
And then you look out doors and it is light
And so you give up playing it is night.

And when you've played at having dolly sick
And sending for the Doctor very quick,
And had a washing day and ironing too,
And many other things that you may do

A bell will ring and then it is you'll know
How quick this play will make the minutes go,
And you will run into the house and see
What good things your Mamma has got for tea.