Old Daddy Hubbard
Went to the cupboard,
To get poor Puss some meat;
But when he got there,
I do declare,
There was nothing but two pig's feet.
Daddy went to the fish shop
To get Puss a sprat,
And when he came back,
She was watching a rat.
Daddy went to the carpenter's
To get Puss a house,
And when he came back
She was catching a mouse.
Daddy went to the miller's
To get Puss some meal,
And when he came back
She was skinning an eel.
Daddy went to a meadow
To get milk from a cow,
And when he came back,
Puss cried: "Me-ow, Me-ow."
Daddy went to the crockery shop
To get Puss a dish,
And when he came back
She had caught Ma's goldfish.
Daddy went to the dairy
To get Puss some curd,
And when he came back
She'd ate Ma's pet bird.
Daddy went to the brewer's
To get Puss some beer,
And when he came back
She's a flea in her ear.
Daddy went for some water,
To give Puss some souse,
And when he came back
Puss was top of the house.
Daddy went to the ironmonger's
To get Puss a saw,
And when he came back
She had scalded her paw.
Daddy went to the photographer's
To get Puss some pictures,
And when he came back,
She had burnt off her whiskers.
Daddy went to the garden
To get Puss a snail,
And when he came back
She'd a bottle-brush tail.
Daddy went to the grocer's
To get Puss some tea,
And when he came back
She had run up a tree.
Daddy went to the draper's
To buy Puss some mittens,
And when he came back
She was licking her kittens.
Daddy went to the stable
To get Puss a donkey,
And when he got back
She was teaching the monkey.
Daddy went to the confectioner's
To buy Puss a lollie,
And when he came back
She was nursing the dolly.
Daddy went to get clothes
To make Puss a lady,
And when he came back
She was kissing the baby.
Daddy took Cole's balloon
And got Puss a cloud,
But Puss when she saw it
Laughed right out loud.
[Illustration: Laughing Cat.]
Daddy went to the store
To get Puss a herring,
And when he came back
She kept loving and purring
Daddy went to the furrier's
To get Puss a muff,
And when he came back
She was taking some snuff.
Daddy went to the baker's
To get Puss a bun,
And when he came back
She was beating a drum.
Daddy went to the dressmaker's
To buy Puss a frock,
And when he came back
She was winding the clock.
Daddy went to the jeweller's
To get Puss a brooch,
And when he came back
She'd caught a cockroach.
Daddy went to Cole's Book Arcade
Some cheap music to buy,
And when he came back
Puss had made a mud pie.
Daddy went to Cole's Book Arcade
To buy Puss some pens,
And when he came back
She was feeding some hens.
Daddy went to Cole's Book Arcade
To buy Puss a slate,
And when he came back
She opened the gate.
Daddy went to Cole's Book Arcade
To buy Puss some ink,
And when he came back
She gave him a wink.
Daddy went to Cole's Book Arcade
For an exercise book,
And when he came back
Puss gave a wise look.
Daddy went to Cole's Book Arcade
To buy Puss a purse,
And when he came back
She was singing a verse.
Daddy went to Cole's Book Arcade
And Oh me! Oh my!
And when he came back
Puss had swallowed a fly.
Daddy went to Cole's Book Arcade
Some paper to buy,
And when he came back
Puss thought she would die.
Daddy went to the doctor's
To get Puss a pill,
And when he came back
She still looked very ill.
Daddy went to the auction sale
To buy Puss a bed,
And when he came back
Puss Shammed to be dead.
This was a very wise, knowing Puss; she could read and write, and
liked books very, very much, and didn't want to die and be buried,
and leave all the mice, and milk, and sausages, and nice books; so
she made haste and got better, and when
Daddy went to the cemetery
To dig her a grave,
Puss rushed off at once
Into Cole's Book Arcade.
And that is the present residence of Miss Puss.
[Page 153--Pussy Land]
[Illustration: Cat Pouncing On Mouse.]
The Story of a Little Mouse:
Or, Our Happy Family.
Once there was a little mouse,
Who came to live in our house;
She came because she was terribly frighten'd
To stay outside as it thunder'd and lighten'd.
When she came in 'twas nearly dark,
And Ponto he began to bark;
But she ran round at a rapid rate,
Then darted in behind the grate.
Ponto smelt, and sniff'd, and bark'd and scratch'd,
But Mousey was safe and couldn't be catch'd;
So Ponto, when tired laid down to sleep,
And Mousey quite quiet determined to keep.
Mousey stayed there a month, as she thought it was better,
And Ponto could smell her, but never could get her,
But every morning when Ponto went out,
Miss Mousey crept forth, and for crumbs looked about.
Now one day as Ponto came into the house,
Thinks he, I'll be KIND to that poor little mouse;
"So come out Miss Mousey," our Ponto he said,
"And if anyone hurts you I'll bite off his head."
So the poor little mouse came out of the grate,
And ate with our Ponto out of his plate,
And always when Ponto laid down on the mat,
Beside him Miss Mousey in her little chair sat.
But one rainy night as Miss Mousey sat still,
A thing called a bat, came over the hill;
But Ponto says to him, "You are not wanted here,"
And sent the bat off with a flea in his ear.
The very same night as they lay on the mat,
What should come rushing in but a great big rat;
Up jumped Mr. Ponto and gave a loud bark,
And that rat scampered off out into the dark.
They had just got rid of the bat and the rat,
And what should come in but a GREAT TOM CAT;
Came jumping, springing, and bounding along,
And frightened Miss Mousey more than a gong.
He raced after mousey, around, in and out,
Through the house and the yard, and all round about;
To the East, to the West, to the North, to the South,
And at last caught her up in his great big mouth.
He squeezed her back hard and frighten'd her so,
She scarcely could say, "O, please let me go!"
But Tom spoke and said, "Mouse is very good meat,
And as I feel hungry, why, it's you I shall eat."
Tom let her go once, but caught her afresh,
Although Mousey made a most desperate dash;
And again Mousey pleaded, "Oh, please let me go";
But Tom only answered, "Decidedly No!"
But as luck should now have it, our Ponto came in,
And asked Mr. Puss, "What's this horrible din?"
Says Puss to our Ponto, "I've caught this sly thief,
And now I intend to bring her to grief."
Says Ponto to Puss, "The mouse is my friend,
And if you would hurt her, why I must defend
That nice little, kind little, good little mouse,
As long as she ever remains in this house."
Says Pussy to Ponto, "I pray you don't fret;
I'll love and I'll cherish your poor little pet;
She shall sleep on the mat, and we'll find her in food,
Because she is nice and because she is good."
So the nice little mouse, the dog and the cat,
all three ate together, and slept on the mat;
They sung, danc'd and romp'd with joy and merry laughter,
And as the old take says, "Lived happy ever after."
[Page 154--Pussy Land]
[Illustration: Startled Cat.]