Page 11 - English Expedition Class 4

1 The First Tooth

Do you have a younger brother or sister? How do you feel about them? Do you feel jealous
that they are the centre of attention? Or, do you love and care for them?
Read the following poem to see how the little girl in this poem feels about her younger

brother.

1
Through the house what busy joy ,
2
Just because the infant boy

Has a tiny tooth to show.

I have got a double row,

All as white, and all as small;

Yet no one cares for mine at all.

He can say but half a word,

Yet that single sound’s preferred 3

To all the words that I can say

In the longest summer day.

He cannot walk, yet if he put

4
With mimic motion out his foot,
5
As if he thought he were advancing ,

6
It’s prized more than my best dancing.

Charles and Mary Lamb (abridged)

1 busy joy: excitement 4 mimic motion: mock movement
2 infant: a toddler 5 advancing: moving forward
3 preferred: liked or favoured 6 prized: valued
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