I Must Not Tease My Mother

I must not tease my mother,
For she is very kind;
And everything she says to me
I must directly mind;
For when I was a baby,
And could not speak or walk.
She let me in her bosom sleep,
And taught me how to talk.

I must not tease my mother;
And when she likes to read,
Or has the headache, I will step
Most silently indeed:
I will not choose a noisy play,
Nor trifling troubles tell,
But sit down quite by her side,
And try to make her well.

I must not tease my mother;
I've heard dear father say
When I was in my cradle sick
She nursed me night and day;
she lays me in my little bed,
She gives me clothes and food,
And I have nothing else to pay
But trying to be good.

I must not tease my mother;
She loves me all the day,
And she has patience with my faults,
And teaches me to pray,
How much I'll strive to please her
She every hour shall see;
For should she go away or die
What would become of me