Little boy grown

Boy, come six years old today
 Grandly giving your toys away,
 Dealing out to the younger ones
 Balls and whistles and wooden guns;
 Oh, little boy grown too big to ride
 The rocking horse, control your pride
 And lay the teddy bear aside.
Give the littler ones your blocks,
 Your rubber cat, and the duck that rocks;
 And give the engine and cars instead
Of the teddy bear that you took to bed;
 For you may find that nights will bring
 Need of a friend to which to cling
 And teddy bears are comforting.

EDITH CHERRINGTON.