Classic Poem

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 that 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.