Little Brother's Story

We sat in front of the fire; Grandmother was in the rocking chair doing her knitting And Little Brother and I were lying down flat. “Please tell us a story, Grandmother,” we said. But she put her head on one side and began counting the stitches, “Suppose you tell me one instead.” I made up one about a spotted tiger That had a knot in his tail; But though I liked this about the knot, I did not know why it was put there. So I said: “Little Brother’s turn.” “I know a perfect story,” he cried, waving his hands. Grandmother laid down her knitting. “Do tell us, dear.” “Once upon a time there was a bad little girl And her Mummy gave her the slipper, and that’s all.” It was not a very special story. But we pretended to be very pleased And Grandmother gave him jumps on her lap.