The cunningest thing that a baby can
Is the very first time it plays peek-a-boo;
When it hides its pink little face in its hands,
And crows, and shows that it
What nurse, and mamma and papa, too,
Mean when they hide and cry, "Peek-a-boo, peek-a-boo."Oh, what a wonderful thing it is,
When they find that baby can play like this;
And everyone listens, and thinks it
That baby's gurgle means "Peek-a-boo, peek-a-boo";
And over and over the changes are
On the marvelous infant who talks so young.
I wonder if any one ever knewA baby that never played peek-a-boo, peek-a-boo.'Tis old as the hills are.
I
Cain was taught it by Mother Eve;
For Cain was an innocent baby, too,
And I am sure he played peek-a-boo, peek-a-boo.
And the whole world full of the children of men,
Have all of them played that game since then.
Kings and princes and beggars, too,
Everyone has played peek-a-boo, peek-a-boo.
Thief and robber and ruffian bold,
The crazy tramp and the drunkard old,
All have been babies who laughed and
How to hide, and play peek-a-boo, peek-a-boo.