For Every Child’s Birthday
GREETING
TO THE AUDIENCE
Spoken in front of the curtain
by
THE CHILD WHOSE BIRTHDAY IT IS
To-day it is my birthday. Yes! Now who this group among
Can guess, I wonder, just how old I am, or just how young:
One, two, three, four, five, six, or seven; eight, nine, ten, or ... stay!
I’m one year older than I was this same hour yesterday!
Wait till you see my birthday cake in which a candle burns
For every year I’ve lived, plus one for luck and glad returns!
I’ve read that children carefully their birthdays ought to keep,
And yet how can we, when they come, and go, when we’re asleep?
Still, if you’ll kindly help me keep this one I’ll do my best
That no one ... no, not even Time, shall rob me of the rest!
Then when I’m very, very old I’ll tell you what I’ll do:
I’ll give those birthdays all away. And some I’ll give to you!