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A Baby In The House

I knew that a baby was hid in the house;

Though I saw no cradle and heard no cry,

But the husband went tiptoeing round like a mouse,

And the good wife was humming a soft lullaby;

And there was a look on the face of that mother

That I knew could mean only one thing, and no other.

"The mother," I said to myself; for I knew

That the woman before me was certainly that,

For there lay in the corner a tiny cloth shoe,

And I saw on the stand such a wee little hat;

And the beard of the husband said plain as could be,

"Two fat, chubby hands have been tugging at me."

And he took from his pocket a gay picture-book,

And a dog that would bark if you pulled on a string;

And the wife laid them up with such a pleased look;

And I said to myself, "There is no other thing

But a babe that could bring about all this, and so

That one is in hiding here somewhere, I know."

I stayed but a moment, and saw nothing more,

And heard not a sound, yet I knew I was right;

What else could the shoe mean that lay on the floor,

The book and the toy, and the faces so bright?

And what made the husband as still as a mouse?

I am sure, very sure, there's a babe in that house.