"It's too big to carry," replied the balloon man. "I'll come around for it to-morrow with a horse and wagon."
Pretty soon all the passengers had gone, leaving Puss alone under the willow tree. All of a sudden the baby began to cry, so Puss sang softly:
"Hush-a-by, baby, upon the tree top,
When the wind blows the cradle will rock."
And then the baby stopped crying, so Puss turned away and entered the old mill that stood in the shade of the old willow tree.
THE ROCK-A-BY BABY
"WELCOME, Sir Cat," said the dusty miller. "Sit down and tell me the news." But just then a sweet voice commenced to sing:
Down in the village all the long day
Mother's been toiling the hours away;
While up in the tree-top beneath the blue sky
Baby has rocked to the wind's lullaby.
Waiting is over, my sweet little one,
Mother is here for her own blue-eyed son.
Home we will go, and baby shall rest,
All the night through on mother's warm breast.
"Dearie me," suddenly exclaimed the dusty miller, "how tired she looks," and he walked to the door.