Poems (Mansfield)/Little Brother's Story
LITTLE BROTHER'S STORY
We sat in front of the fire;Grandmother was in the rocking chair doing her knittingAnd Little Brother and I were lying down flat."Please tell us a story, Grandmother," we said.But she put her head on one side and began counting the stitches,"Suppose you tell me one instead."I made up one about a spotted tigerThat had a knot in his tail;But though I liked this about the knot,I did not know why it was put there.So I said: "Little Brother's turn.""I know a perfect story," he cried, waving his hands.Grandmother laid down her knitting."Do tell us, dear.""Once upon a time there was a bad little girlAnd her Mummy gave her the slipper, and that's all."It was not a very special story.But we pretended to be very pleasedAnd Grandmother gave him jumps on her lap.