Dear mamma, if you just could be A tiny little girl like me, And I your mamma, you would see How nice I�d be to you. I�d always let you have your way; I�d never frown at you and say, �You are behaving ill today, Such conduct will not do.�
I�d always give you jelly-cake For breakfast, and I�d never shake My head, and say, �You must not take So very large a slice.� I�d never say, �My dear, I trust You will not make me say you must Eat up your oatmeal�; or �The crust You�ll find is very nice.�
I�d buy you candy every day; I�d go down town with you, and say, �What would my darling like? You may Have anything you see.� I�d never say, �My pet, you know �Tis bad for health and teeth, and so I cannot let you have it. No� It would be wrong in me.�
And every day I�d let you wear Your nicest dress, and never care If it should get a great big tear; I�d only say to you, �My precious treasure, never mind, For little clothes will tear, I find.� Now, Mamma, wouldn�t that be kind? That�s just what I should do.
I�d never say, �Well, just a few !� I�d let you stop your lessons, too; I�d say, �They are too hard for you, Poor child, to understand.� I�d put the books and slates away; You shouldn�t do a thing but play, And have a party every day. Ah-h-h! wouldn�t that be grand!
But, Mamma dear, you cannot grow Into a little girl, you know, And I can�t be your mamma; so The only thing to do, Is just for you to try and see How very, very nice �twould be For you to do all this for me , Now, Mamma, couldn�t you?
