Why the Baby Says “Goo”

"Why the Baby Says 'Goo'" by Julia Darrow Cowles is a charming children's book that explores the delightful sounds and babbling of infants. Through playful language and engaging illustrations, the book captures the essence of early childhood communication and the innocent curiosity of babies as they interact with the world around them. It's a celebration of growth, language development, and the joy of parenthood, making it a perfect read for parents and children alike.

• Children
• Short story

								
MANY, many moons ago there lived among the Red people a warrior who
was greatly respected and admired by all his tribe.

When an enemy came to attack them, this warrior was always the first
to resist. His arm was strong, and his arrows went true and straight
to the mark. He had gone alone on many a daring hunt, and had
contended with the fiercest beasts of the forest and slain them. But
greatest of all, he had fought alone with mighty giants, and overcome
them, so that his tribe was rid of their evil magic. It was no wonder
that the people thought him great.

But then, as so often follows, the warrior became puffed up with
thoughts of his own courage and power, and he was filled with pride,
and boastings.

“There is no one, among men or beasts,” he said, “who does not fear
me. All men obey me. They tremble at the sound of my voice.”

Now there was in the tribe of this warrior an old grandmother to whom
age had given great wisdom. And she thought within her heart, “Our
warrior is becoming puffed up. He thinks too well of himself. It would
be good for him to be humbled.” So among the women she said, “There is
one whom I know, who is greater than the mighty warrior. He would
not tremble at his voice, nor obey his word.”

This saying was repeated to the men of the tribe, and in time it came
to the ears of the great warrior himself. Immediately he went to the
lodge of the grandmother.

“What is this, that I hear?” he enquired. “Show me who it is that will
not obey my voice! Tell me his name!”

“His name is Wasis,” replied the grandmother, “and he sits inside my
lodge.”

The warrior threw back the hanging of deer skin covering the entrance
of the lodge, and strode within. There, upon the ground, sucking a
piece of maple sugar, sat Wasis, the baby. The warrior looked at him
in surprise. He knew nothing about babies, having been too busy all
his life with battles and adventures to pay any attention to the
little people of the tribe. But here was just a tiny fellow. It would
be no trouble to get him to obey!

So without any ado, the warrior said, “Ho, baby, come here to me!”

The baby looked at him, but did not move. He repeated his command. The
baby stopped sucking his maple sugar long enough to say “Goo, goo,”
but he did not move.

Then the warrior said, “I will show him that I am to be feared, and
then he will obey me.” So he began a war dance, and uttered fierce war
cries, and Wasis opened his mouth and sent forth such piercing yells
and shrieks, that the warrior stopped in amazement. And when he had
stopped the baby began sucking his maple sugar again.

“Ho, baby, come here to me!” he repeated once more, but at that the
baby again opened his mouth and cried so lustily that the great
warrior covered his ears and ran from the lodge. “It is worse than the
war cries of the Frost Giants!” he exclaimed.

“Did he obey you?” asked the grandmother.

“No,” said the warrior. “He is a little fellow, but he is mightier
than I.”

“Yes,” answered the grandmother, “Wasis, the baby, conquers us all,
and no one can resist him.”

And the baby, left alone in the lodge with his maple sugar, stopped
now and then to say, “Goo, goo!” For had he not conquered the mighty
warrior, the great brave of the tribe?
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