When we go out to Grandmama’s,
We play the livelong day,
But, as the sun begins to set.
We put our dolls away.
For then we know that very soon
The birds will go to bed,
And Grandmama says that ’s the time
For children to be fed.
She pours us out the milk so sweet,
And cuts the bread so white:
She always waits on Neltje first,
And that is only right—
For Neltje is the oldest one,
As you of course can see,
And should be waited on before
A little girl like me.
But when the supper ’s over,
And the daylight ’s gone to sleep,
We draw the chairs before the fire
To watch the shadows creep,
While Neltje sits by Grandmama
As grown up as can be;
And then, because I ’m littlest,
I ’m cuddled on her knee.