Just Folks

Baby's Got a Tooth

          The telephone rang in my office to-day,
              as it often has tinkled before.
          I turned in my chair in a half-grouchy way,
              for a telephone call is a bore;
          And I thought, "It is somebody wanting to know
              the distance from here to Pekin."
          In a tone that was gruff I shouted "Hello,"
              a sign for the talk to begin.
          "What is it?" I asked in a terrible way.
              I was huffy, to tell you the truth,
          Then over the wire I heard my wife say:
              "The baby, my dear, has a tooth!"

          I have seen a man jump when the horse that he
              backed finished first in a well-driven race.
          I have heard the man cheer, as a matter of fact,
              and I've seen the blood rush to his face;
          I've been on the spot when good news has come
              in and I've witnessed expressions of glee
          That range from a yell to a tilt of the chin; and
              some things have happened to me
          That have thrilled me with joy from my toes to
              my head, but never from earliest youth
          Have I jumped with delight as I did when she
              said, "The baby, my dear, has a tooth."

          I have answered the telephone thousands of times
              for messages both good and bad;
          I've received the reports of most horrible crimes,
              and news that was cheerful or sad;
          I've been telephoned this and been telephoned
              that, a joke, or an errand to run;
          I've been called to the phone for the idlest of chat,
              when there was much work to be done;
          But never before have I realized quite the thrill
              of a message, forsooth,
          Till over the wire came these words that I write,
              "The baby, my dear, has a tooth."