Mom always had time for her son, until the new baby was born, then she spent her time 'feeding and changing, and wiping his eye.' At first the new baby was an unwelcomed stranger who could "go home with Uncle Ned. He's so little he can't even weed the garden bed."

The older sibling thinks of all kinds of ways to rid himself of this little intrudet, including, "I'd would climb to the very top of the very highest tree and leave him there to live wiht the birds, if it were up to me."

Over time, however, he sees the advantages of having a brother around, "We could be our own best friends when there is no one about, I think it's better to have one, than to do without."