What a Baby Costs

What a Baby Costs by Edgar Guest

"How much do babies cost ?" said he
The other night upon my knee;
And then I said: "They cost alot;
A lot of watching by a cot,
A lot of sleepless hours and care,
A lot of heartache and despair,
A lot of fear and trying dread,
and sometimes many tears are shed
In payment for our babies small,
But everyone is worth it all.

"For babies people have to pay
A heavy price from day to day--
There is no way to get one cheap.
Why, sometimes when they're fast asleep
You have to get up in the night
And go and see that they're all right.
But what they cost in constant care
And worry, does not half compare
With what they bring of joy and bliss--
You'd pay much more for just a kiss.

"Who buys a baby has to pay
A portion of the bill each day;
He has to give his time and thought
Unto the little one he's bought.
He has to stand a lot of pain
Inside his heart and not complain;
And pay with lonely days and sad
For all the happy hours he's had.
All this a baby costs, and yet
His smile is worth it all , you bet."

"It is never too early to begin impressing upon our children by both word and deed, the responsibilities of parenthood. Part of the job of raising children is raising them to be successful parents themselves." (William Bennett from Tnhe book of Virtues)