---
title: Improvement Era
description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930.
authors:
  - Whittle, C. Byron
collections:
  - periodicals
tags:
  - magazine
  - improvement-era
periodical: Improvement Era
volume: 23
number: 12
published: 1920-10
publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations
publisher_place: Salt Lake City
language: en
type: magazine
reference: 'C. Byron Whittle, "My Baby," *Improvement Era* 23, no. 12 (October 1920): 1079.'
source:
  url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2312unse
  transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers.
  identifier: improvementera2312unse
start_page: 1079
end_page: 1079
rights:
  status: public-domain
  basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1920-10)
  source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2312unse
  publication_year: 1920
  note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1920, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright.
---

# My Baby

<!-- page:1079 -->

My Baby
     [The author of these tender verses is the son of Elder Orson F. Whitney
of the Council of the Twelve.     A native son of Salt Lake City, he resided
here until recently, connected with the Publicity Department of the Utah-
Idaho Sugar Company, whose organ Tfie Cossette, he founded and edited.
He left this employ to engage with the Lubrite Oil Refining Company, of
St. Louis.  Immediately on his arrival there he was chosen to preside over
the local branch of the Y. M. M. I. A., in   which capacity he now serves.
Editors.]
               Tell me, my little one, tell me,
                 Since you've come to our earthly shore,
               What are the wondrous tales you bring
                 From the Land of the Herebefore?
               From which bright world came you hither?
                 What is your message to me?
               As a wee little helpless creature,
                 Just what might your mission be?

               Our scholars and poets and sages
                 Can teach you what men have learned here,
               But your own little mind holds the secret
                   Of that mystical former sphere.
               You are silent—you seem to marvel.
                 Are you fearful? And yet so wise!
               Or did the great Power who sent you
                 Seal your lips when he opened your eyes?

               Nor yet were the bud-lips parted;
                 Nor was it a voice that spake;
               But out of two eyes, heaven-glancing,
                 Their owner this answer did make:
               I came here that you might behold me
                 While spotless and pure is my soul,
               That the Master who bade you be like me,
                 Might thus help you win the high goal.
               I   came here to bring joy and gladness,
                 From the fulness of glory above;
               That the blest human pair, my earth parents,
                 Might see what a great thing is love.
               I was sent here to show the man-creature
                 That life is no frivolous fling;
                                  —            —
               That the woman my mother who bore me
                 Is a noble and wonderful thing.

               I   came to this stage of progression,
                   In the plan of an infinite God,
               To add to the works of my fathers,
                   And walk in the ways they have trod.
               The rest I've forgotten.    What matter?
                   Why dwell on a life that is done?
               I   joy in the happier knowledge
                   That a still greater life has begun.
                                                     C.   Byron Wh\U\e\.