" WHEN Robin's a big man, what will wee Robin be? "
So he peeped, half afraid,
From the cozy little nest that in mother's gown he'd made,
Our plump, rosy Robin, he peeped out and said:
" A sailor I will be,
To sail upon the sea,
But papa and mamma, won't you sail along with me? "

" No! the captain of the ship wouldn't let mamma sail,
He'd only take me. "
" Then oh! what a cruel man the captain must be,
Not to take my dear mamma to sail upon the sea.
So, papa, I'll be instead,
A soldier all in red,
With a sword in my hand and a helmet on my head —

" And I'll fight, fight, fight, for papa and for mamma. "
" But if you were killed? " " Then I'd fly
Far away above the clouds O, so, so high,
Till I came to our Father on his throne in the sky,
And ask to be instead
Of a soldier all in red,
An angel all in white to keep watch beside your bed. "