Laura Rountree Smith

“ As he went off down the road Daddy Do-Little began to weep, but Curly-Tail cried,
“I’m not going away, I promise to stay,
A year, a week, a month and day.”
[90]
Then Pedro said,
“If what Parrots say is ever true,
I’ll NEVER say good bye to you.”
Then Daddy Do-Little felt cheered up you may be sure. He said to the Parrot,
“You’ll have to behave, Sir, for one of your age,
I’d really expect you to stay in your cage.”
Turning to Curly-Tail he said,
“’Tis time for bed, oh goodness me,
Each hour grows later as you see.” ”

“ Curly-Tail tried to get breakfast and make Daddy Do-Little forget his troubles, but the old fellow would only sit in his high backed chair and scold.
By and by Curly-Tail said, “I have no doubt but Sly Foot, the old Wolf, knows where your cookies and crackers, and doughnuts, and ginger snaps are, and I will go and visit him to-day.”
Daddy Do-Little said,
“You’re a cunning fellow and ought to thrive,
But you’ll never come back from there alive.”
Curly-Tail laughed as he put on his new coat and cap and mittens, but Daddy Do-Little said, “He will make mince meat of you in a minute.” ”

“ If you ever plant a garden,
This thing you should know,
Plant some little magic seeds,
To make your garden grow.
Daddy Do-Little was not very fond of work.
He woke up one morning scolding,
“I must grumble, oh yes, indeed,
I haven’t a single garden seed.”
This happened at breakfast, and the Fourteen Little Darling Dogs laid down their fourteen little spoons, and [85] Curly-Tail and Tangle-Tail called in one breath, “We will plant your garden, we will wish for Magic seed.”
Then the funniest thing happened.
Daddy Do-Little turned up his cup, and there inside, lay a package of garden seed. ”