I Wish I Had

I wish I had a wallaby To hop along and follow me When I go for a stroll,— Or a penguin would be rather nice, They say a penguin walks on ice With a deep-sea sailor's roll!

If I could have a porcupine— A little one—to just be mine, I'd make him very tame,— Then take him down the avenue And show him things he never knew Existed—e'er he came!

Of course he'd go much like a crab And no one ever ought to grab Or tease him—you could see;— But with his quills, and with his squeak He'd just be something so unique, And a curiosity!

I used to think, perhaps one day I'd own a monkey, small and grey,— —I asked them about that. But Dad and Mother both said, "No!" And Dinah said she'd promptly go If one came to this flat.

Meanwhile I always walk out now With Grannie's little Chu Chin Chow, For he must take the air. He has seen the avenue before And seems to find it such a bore— —Well, I'd rather have a bear.

My Mother says: "O Gwyneth—please O please don't ask for wallabys! Play with the nice park squirrels." And Grannie says: "We must use tact— Come, baby darling! Try to act Like other little girls!"