Lined with a skin as soft as silk;
Within a fountain crystal clear,
A golden apple doth appear.
No doors there are to this stronghold,
Yet thieves break in and steal the gold.
_If all the world were water_
If all the world were water,
And all the sea were ink,
What should we do for bread and cheese?
What should we do for drink?
_GOD bless the master of this house_
GOD bless the master of this house,
The mistress bless also,
And all the little children
That round the table go;
And all your kin and kinsmen,
That dwell both far and near:
I wish you a merry Christmas,
And a happy new year.
_Birds, beasts, and fishes_
The Dog will come when he is called
The Cat will walk away;
The Monkey's cheek is very bald;
The Goat is fond of play.
The Parrot is a prate-apace,
Yet knows not what he says:
The noble Horse will win the race,
Or draw you in a chaise.
The Pig is not a feeder nice,
The Squirrel loves a nut,
The Wolf would eat you in a trice,
The Buzzard's eyes are shut.
The Lark sings high up in the air,
The Linnet in the tree;
The Swan he has a bosom fair,
And who so proud as he?
Oh, yes, the Peacock is more proud,
Because his tail has eyes;
The Lion roars so very loud,
He'd fill you with surprise.
The Raven's coat is shining black,
Or, rather, raven-grey:
The Camel's bunch is on his back,
The Owl abhors the day.
The Sparrow steals the cherry ripe.
The Elephant is wise,
The Blackbird charms you with his pipe,
The false Hyena cries.
The Hen guards well her little chicks,
The Cow--her hoof is slit:
The Beaver builds with mud and sticks,
The Lapwing cries "Peewit."
The little Wren is very small,
The Humming-bird is less;
The Lady-bird is least of all,
And beautiful in dress.
The Pelican she loves her young,
The Stork its parent loves;
The Woodcock's bill is very long,
And innocent are Doves.
The streaked Tiger's fond of blood,
The Pigeon feeds on peas,
The Duck will gobble in the mud,
The Mice will eat your cheese.
A Lobster's black, when boiled he's red,
The harmless Lamb must bleed;
The Cod-fish has a clumsy head,
The Goose on grass will feed.
The lady in her gown of silk,
The little Worm may thank;
The sick man drinks the Ass's milk,
The Weasel's long and lank.
The Buck gives us a venison dish,
When hunted for the spoil:
The Shark eats up the little fish,
The Whale produces oil.
The Glow-worm shines the darkest night,
With Lantern in his tail;
The Turtle is the cit's delight,
And wears a coat of mail.
In Germany they hunt the Boar,
The Bee brings honey home,
The Ant lays up a winter store,
The Bear loves honey-comb.
The Eagle has a crooked beak,
The Plaice has orange spots;
The Starling, if he's taught, will speak;
The Ostrich walks and trots.
The child that does not these things know,
Might well be called a dunce;
But I in knowledge quick will grow,
For youth can come but once.
_Snail, Snail_
Snail, Snail, come out of your hole,
Or else I'll beat you as black as a coal.
Snail, Snail, put out your horns,
Here comes a thief to pull down your walls.
_As I was going to sell my eggs_
As I was going to sell my eggs
I met a man with bandy legs;
Bandy legs and crooked toes,
I tripped up his heels, and he fell on his nose.
_A Farmer went trotting upon his grey mare_
A farmer went trotting upon his grey mare,
Bumpety, bumpety, bump!
With his daughter behind him so rosy and fair,
Lumpety, lumpety, lump!
A raven cried "Croak!" and they all tumbled down,
Bumpety, bumpety, bump!
The mare broke her knees, and the farmer his crown,
Lumpety, lumpety, lump!
The mischievous raven flew laughing away,
Bumpety, bumpety, bump!
And vowed he would serve them the same the next day,
Lumpety, lumpety, lump!
_My little brother_
I love you well, my little brother,
And you are fond of me;
Let us be kind to one another,
As brothers ought to be.
You shall learn to play with me,
And learn to use my toys;
And then I think that we shall be
Two happy little boys.
_There was an old woman lived under a hill_
There was an old woman lived under a hill,
She put a mouse in a bag and sent it to the mill;
The miller did swear by the point of his knife,
He never took toll of a mouse in his life.
_When I was a little boy_
When I was a little boy,
I washed my mammy's dishes,
I put my finger in my eye,
And pulled out golden fishes.
_Hickety, pickety_
Hickety, pickety, my black hen,
She lays eggs for gentlemen;
Gentlemen come every day
To see what my black hen doth lay.
[Illustration: "... MY BLACK HEN, LAYS EGGS FOR GENTLEMEN."]
_I had a little husband_
I had a little husband,
No bigger than my thumb;
I put him in a pint pot,
And there I bid him drum.
I bought a little horse,
That galloped up and down;
I bridled him, and saddled him,
And sent him out of town.
I gave him some garters,
To garter up his hose,
And a little handkerchief,
To wipe his pretty nose.
_Wash me and comb me_
Wash me and comb me,
And lay me down softly,
And lay me on a bank to dry,
That I may look pretty
When somebody comes by.
_Come take up your hats, and away let us haste_
Come take up your hats, and away let us haste,
To the Butterfly's Ball, and the Grasshopper's Feast.
The trumpeter, Gad-fly, has summoned the crew,
And the revels are now only waiting for you.
On the smooth shaven grass, by the side of a wood,
Beneath a broad oak which for ages had stood,
See the children of earth, and the tenants of air,
To an evening's amusement together repair.
And there came the Beetle so blind and so black,
Who carried the Emmet, his friend, on his back.
And there came the Gnat and the Dragonfly too,
With all their relations, green, orange, and blue.
And there came the Moth, with her plumage of down,
And the Hornet with jacket of yellow and brown;
And with him the Wasp, his companion, did bring,
But they promised that evening to lay by their sting.
Then the sly little Dormouse peeped out of his hole,
And led to the Feast his blind cousin the Mole:
And the Snail, with her horns peeping out of her shell,
Came, fatigued with the distance, the length of an ell.
A mushroom the table, and on it was spread
A water-dock leaf, which their table-cloth made.
The viands were various, to each of their taste,
And the Bee brought the honey to sweeten the feast.
With steps most majestic the Snail did advance,
And he promised the gazers a minuet to dance;
But they all laughed so loud that he drew in his head,
And went in his own little chamber to bed.
Then, as evening gave way to the shadows of night,
Their watchman, the Glow-worm, came out with his light.
So home let us hasten, while yet we can see,
For no watchman is waiting for you or for me.
_I had a little pony_
I had a little pony,
They called him Dapple Grey,
I lent him to a lady,
To ride a mile away.
She whipped him, she lashed him,
She drove him through the mire,
I wadna gie my pony yet
For all the lady's hire.
_Diddle-y-diddle-y-dumpty_
Diddle-y-diddle-y-dumpty,
The cat run up the plum-tree,
Half-a-crown
To fetch her down,
Diddle-y-diddle-y-dumpty.
_See, Saw, Margery Daw_
See, Saw, Margery Daw,
Sold her bed and lay upon straw;
Was not she a dirty slut,
To sell her bed and lie in the dirt!
* * * * *
Great A, little a, Bouncing B,
The cat's in the cupboard, and she can't see.
_There was a jovial beggar_
There was a jovial beggar,
He had a wooden leg,
Lame from his cradle,
And forced for to beg.
And a-begging we will go, we'll go, we'll go;
And a-begging we will go!
A bag for his oatmeal,
Another for his salt;
And a pair of crutches,
To show that he can halt.
And a-begging we will go, we'll go, we'll go;
And a-begging we will go!
A bag for his wheat,
Another for his rye;
A little bottle by his side
To drink when he's a-dry.
And a-begging we will go, we'll go, we'll go;
And a-begging we will go!
Seven years I begged
For my old Master Wild,
He taught me to beg
When I was but a child.
And a-begging we will go, we'll go, we'll go;
And a-begging we will go!
I begged for my master,
And got him store of pelf;
And now, Jove be praised!
I'm begging for myself.
And a-begging we will go, we'll go, we'll go;
And a-begging we will go!
In a hollow tree
I live, and pay no rent;
Providence provides for me,
And I am well content.
And a-begging we will go, we'll go, we'll go;
And a-begging we will go!
Of all the occupations,
A beggar's life's the best;
For whene'er he's weary,
He'll lay him down and rest.
And a-begging we will go, we'll go, we'll go,
And a-begging we will go!
I fear no plots against me,
I live in open cell;
Then who would be a king,
When beggars live so well?
And a-begging we will go, we'll go, we'll go;
And a-begging we will go!
_Now what do you think_
Now what do you think
Of little Jack Jingle?
Before he was married
He used to live single.
_Bobby Shaftoe_
Bobby Shaftoe's gone to sea,
Silver buckles on his knee;
He'll come back and marry me,
Bonny Bobby Shaftoe!
Bobby Shaftoe's young and fair,
Combing down his yellow hair,
He's my love for evermore,
Bonny Bobby Shaftoe.
_For want of a nail_
For want of a nail, the shoe was lost,
For want of the shoe, the horse was lost,
For want of the horse, the rider was lost,
For want of the rider, the battle was lost,
For want of the battle, the kingdom was lost,
And all from the want of a horseshoe nail!
_Rub-a-dub-dub_
Rub-a-dub-dub
Three men in a tub,
And who do you think they be?
The butcher, the baker,
The candlestick-maker;
Turn 'em out, knaves all three!
_There was an old woman called Nothing-at-all_
There was an old woman called Nothing-at-all,
Who rejoiced in a dwelling exceedingly small;
A man stretched his mouth to its utmost extent,
And down at one gulp house and old woman went.
_Jacky, come give me thy fiddle_
Jacky, come give me thy fiddle,
If ever thou mean to thrive.
Nay; I'll not give my fiddle
To any man alive.
If I should give my fiddle,
They'll think that I'm gone mad;
For many a joyful day
My fiddle and I have had.
_Young Lambs to sell_
Young Lambs to sell!
Young Lambs to sell!
If I'd as much money as I can tell,
I never would cry--Young Lambs to sell!
[Illustration: "YOUNG LAMBS TO SELL"]
_Johnny Pringle had a little pig_
Johnny Pringle had a little pig,
It was very little, so not very big:
As it was playing on a dunghill,
In a moment poor piggy was killed.
So Johnny Pringle, he sat down and cried,
Betsy Pringle, she lay down and died.
There is the history of one, two, and three,
Johnny Pringle, Betsy Pringle, and little Piggy.
_Yet didn't you see_
Yet didn't you see, yet didn't you see,
What naughty tricks they put upon me:
They broke my pitcher,
And spilt my water,
And huffed my mother,
And chid her daughter,
And kissed my sister instead of me.
_Hot-cross Buns!_
Hot-cross Buns!
Hot-cross Buns!
One a penny, two a penny
Hot-cross Buns!
Hot-cross Buns!
Hot-cross Buns!
If ye have no daughters,
Give them to your sons.
_Jack Jingle_
Jack Jingle went 'prentice
To make a horseshoe,
He wasted the iron
Till it would not do.
His master came in,
And began for to rail;
Says Jack, "The shoe's spoiled,
But 'twill still make a nail."
He tried at the nail,
But, chancing to miss,
Says, "If it won't make a nail,
It shall yet make a hiss."
Then into the water
Threw the hot iron, smack.
"Hiss!" quoth the iron;
"I thought so," says Jack.
_Hey ding-a-ding_
Hey ding-a-ding,
I heard a bird sing,
The parliament soldiers
Are gone to the king.
_Willy boy, where are you going?_
Willy boy, Willy boy, where are you going?
I will go with you, if that I may.
I'm going to the meadow to see them a mowing,
I'm going to help them make the hay.
_Little Nancy Etticoat_
Little Nancy Etticoat,
In a white petticoat,
And a red nose;
The longer she stands,
The shorter she grows.
_He that would thrive_
He that would thrive,
Must rise at five;
He that hath thriven,
May lie till seven;
And he that by the plough would thrive,
Himself must either hold or drive.
_I had a little nut tree_
I had a little nut tree, nothing would it bear
But a silver apple and a golden pear;
The King of Spain's daughter came to see me,
And all for the sake of my little nut tree.
I skipped over water, I danced over sea,
And all the birds in the air couldn't catch me.
_An apple pie_
An apple pie, when it looks nice,
Would make one long to have a slice,
But if the taste should prove so, too,
I fear one slice would scarcely do.
So to prevent my asking twice,
Pray, mamma, cut a good large slice.
[Illustration: I HAD A LITTLE NUT TREE]
_I saw three ships come sailing by_
I saw three ships come sailing by,
Sailing by, sailing by,
I saw three ships come sailing by,
On New-Year's Day in the morning.
And what do you think was in them then,
In them then, in them then?
And what do you think was in them then,
On New-Year's Day in the morning.
Three pretty girls were in them then,
In them then, in them then,
Three pretty girls were in them then,
On New-Year's Day in the morning.
And one could whistle, and one could sing,
And one could play on the violin,
Such joy there was at my wedding,
On New-Year's Day in the morning.
_Oh, who is so merry_
Oh, who is so merry, so merry, heigh ho!
As the light-hearted fairy, heigh ho! heigh ho!
He dances and sings
To the sound of his wings,
With a hey and a heigh and a ho!
Oh, who is so merry, so airy, heigh ho!
As the light-hearted fairy, heigh ho! heigh ho!
His nectar he sips
From a primrose's lips,
With a hey and a heigh and a ho!
Oh, who is so merry, so merry, heigh ho!
As the light-footed fairy, heigh ho! heigh ho!
His night is the noon
And his sun is the moon,
With a hey and a heigh and a ho!
_One, two, three, four, five_
One, two, three, four, five,
I have caught a fish alive;
Six, seven, eight, nine, ten,
I have let it go again.
Why did you let it go?
Because it bit my finger so.
Which finger did it bite?
The little one on the right.
_Little Polly Flinders_
Little Polly Flinders
Sat among the cinders,
Warming her pretty little toes!
Her mother came and caught her,
And whipped her little daughter,
For spoiling her nice new clothes.
_A curious discourse_
A curious discourse about an Apple-pie, that passed between the
Twenty-five Letters at Dinner-time.
Says A, Give me a good large slice.
Says B, A little Bit, but nice.
Says C, Cut me a piece of Crust.
Says D, It is as Dry as Dust.
Says E, I'll Eat now, fast who will.
Says F, I vow I'll have my Fill.
Says G, Give it to me Good and Great.
Says H, A little bit I Hate.
Says I, I love the Juice the best.
And K the very same confessed.
Says L, There's nothing more I Love.
Says M, It makes your teeth to Move.
N Noticed what the others said.
O Others' plates with grief surveyed.
P Praised the cook up to the life.
Q Quarrelled 'cause he'd a bad knife.
Says R, It Runs short, I'm afraid.
S Silent sat, and nothing said.
T thought that Talking might lose time.
U Understood it at meals a crime.
W Wished there had been a quince in.
Says X, Those cooks there's no convincing.
Says Y, I'll eat, let others wish.
Z sat as mute as any fish.
While ampersand, he licked the dish.
_The man in the moon_
The man in the moon
Came tumbling down,
And asked his way to Norwich;
He went by the south,
And burnt his mouth,
With supping cold pease-porridge.
_There were three jovial Welshmen_
There were three jovial Welshmen,
As I have heard them say,
And they would go a-hunting
Upon St. David's day.
All the day they hunted,
And nothing could they find;
But a ship a-sailing,
A-sailing with the wind.
One said it was a ship.
The other he said "Nay;"
The third said it was a house,
With the chimney blown away.
And all the night they hunted,
And nothing could they find,
But the moon a-gliding,
A-gliding with the wind.
One said it was the moon,
The other he said "Nay;"
The third said it was a cheese,
And half o' it cut away.
_The Hart he loves the high wood_
The Hart he loves the high wood,
The Hare she loves the hill,
The Knight he loves his bright sword,
The Lady--loves her will.
_I had a little moppet_
I had a little moppet,
I kept it in my pocket,
And fed it with corn and hay,
There came a proud beggar
Who swore he would have her,
And stole little moppet away.
_Wee Willie Winkie_
Wee Willie Winkie runs through the town,
Upstairs and downstairs in his nightgown,
Rapping at the window, crying through the lock,
"Are the children in their beds, for now it's eight o'clock?"
_There was a little woman_
There was a little woman, as I've been told,
Who was not very young, nor yet very old,
Now this little woman her living got,
By selling codlins, hot, hot, hot!
_Around the green gravel_
Around the green gravel the grass grows green,
And all the pretty maids are plain to be seen;
Wash them with milk, and clothe them with silk,
And write their names with a pen and ink.
_Buttons a farthing a pair_
Buttons a farthing a pair,
Come, who will buy them of me?
They're round and sound and pretty,
And fit for the girls of the city.
Come, who will buy them of me,
Buttons a farthing a pair?
_As little Jenny Wren_
As little Jenny Wren
Was sitting by the shed,
She waggled with her tail,
And nodded with her head.
She waggled with her tail,
And nodded with her head,
As little Jenny Wren
Was sitting by the shed.
_Three blind mice_
Three blind mice, see how they run!
They all ran after the farmer's wife,
Who cut off their tails with the carving-knife,
Did you ever see such a thing in your life?
As three blind mice.
_The north wind doth blow_
The north wind doth blow,
And we shall have snow,
And what will poor Robin do then?
Poor thing!
He'll sit in a barn,
And to keep himself warm,
Will hide his head under his wing.
Poor thing!
_Bless you, burny-bee_
Bless you, bless you, burny-bee:
Say when will your wedding be?
If it be to-morrow day,
Take your wings and fly away.
_The rose is red_
The rose is red, the violet blue,
The gilly-flower sweet, and so are you
These are the words you bade me say
For a pair of new gloves on Easter-day.
_Simple Simon met a pieman_
Simple Simon met a pieman
Going to the fair;
Says Simple Simon to the pieman,
"Let me taste your ware."
[Illustration: SIMPLE SIMON]
Says the pieman to Simple Simon,
"Show me first your penny."
Says Simple Simon to the pieman,
"Indeed, I have not any."
Simple Simon went a-fishing,
For to catch a whale;
All the water he had got
Was in his mother's pail.
_Yankee Doodle_
Yankee Doodle went to town,
Upon a little pony;
He stuck a feather in his hat,
And called it Macaroni.
[Illustration: TWEEDLE-DUM AND TWEEDLE-DEE]
Tweedle-dum and Tweedle-dee
Resolved to have a battle,
For Tweedle-dum said Tweedle-dee
Had spoiled his nice new rattle.
Just then flew by a monstrous crow,
As big as a tar barrel,
Which frightened both the heroes so,
They quite forgot their quarrel.
_Here's Sulky Sue_
Here's Sulky Sue,
What shall we do?
Turn her face to the wall
Till she comes to.
_Jack Sprat had a cat_
Jack Sprat
Had a cat,
It had but one ear;
It went to buy butter,
When butter was dear.
_A long-tailed pig_
A long-tailed pig, and a short-tailed pig,
Or a pig without e'er a tail,
A sow pig, or a boar pig,
Or a pig with a curly tail.
[Illustration: AS I WAS GOING UP PIPPEN HILL.]
As I was going up Pippen Hill
Pippen Hill was dirty;
There I met a pretty miss,
And she dropped me a curtsey.
Little miss, pretty miss,
Blessings light upon you!
If I had half-a-crown a day,
I'd spend it all on you.
_Lavender blue and rosemary green_
Lavender blue and rosemary green,
When I am king you shall be queen;
Call up my maids at four o'clock,
Some to the wheel and some to the rock,
Some to make hay and some to shear corn,
And you and I will keep ourselves warm.
_Hey, my kitten, my kitten_
Hey, my kitten, my kitten,
And hey, my kitten, my deary!
Such a sweet pet as this
Was neither far nor neary.
Here we go up, up, up,
And here we go down, down, downy;
And here we go backwards and forwards,
And here we go round, round, roundy.
[Illustration: "HERE WE GO BACKWARDS AND FORWARDS."]
_Polly put the kettle on_
Polly, put the kettle on,
Polly, put the kettle on,
Polly, put the kettle on,
And we'll all have tea.
Sukey, take it off again,
Sukey, take it off again,
Sukey, take it off again,
They're all gone away.
_There was a little boy went into a barn_
There was a little boy went into a barn,
And lay down on some hay;
An owl came out and flew about,
And the little boy ran away.
_The old woman and her pig_
An old woman was sweeping her house, and she found a little crooked
sixpence. "What," said she, "shall I do with this little sixpence? I
will go to market, and buy a little pig."
As she was coming home, she came to a stile; but the pig would not
go over the stile.
She went a little farther, and she met a dog. So she said to the
dog--
"Dog, dog, bite pig!
Pig won't get over the stile;
And I shan't get home to-night."
But the dog would not.
She went a little farther, and she met a stick. So she said--
"Stick, stick, beat dog!
Dog won't bite pig;
Pig won't get over the stile;
And I shan't get home to-night."
But the stick would not.
She went a little farther, and she met a fire. So she said--
"Fire, fire, burn stick!
Stick won't beat dog;
Dog won't bite pig;
Pig won't get over the stile;
And I shan't get home to-night."
But the fire would not.
She went a little farther, and she met some water. So she said--
"Water, water, quench fire!
Fire won't burn stick;
Stick won't beat dog;
Dog won't bite pig;
Pig won't get over the stile;
And I shan't get home to-night."
But the water would not.
She went a little farther, and she met an ox. So she said--
"Ox, ox, drink water!
Water won't quench fire;
Fire won't burn stick;
Stick won't beat dog;
Dog won't bite pig;
Pig won't get over the stile;
And I shan't get home to-night."
But the ox would not.
She went a little farther, and she met a butcher. So she said--
"Butcher, butcher, kill ox!
Ox won't drink water;
Water won't quench fire;
Fire won't burn stick;
Stick won't beat dog;
Dog won't bite pig;
Pig won't get over the stile;
And I shan't get home to-night."
But the butcher would not.
She went a little farther, and she met a rope. So she said--
"Rope, rope, hang butcher!
Butcher won't kill ox;
Ox won't drink water;
Water won't quench fire;
Fire won't burn stick;
Stick won't beat dog;
Dog won't bite pig;
Pig won't get over the stile;
And I shan't get home to-night."
But the rope would not.
She went a little farther, and she met a rat. So she said--
"Rat, rat, gnaw rope!
Rope won't hang butcher;
Butcher won't kill ox;
Ox won't drink water;
Water won't quench fire;
Fire won't burn stick;
Stick won't beat dog;
Dog won't bite pig;
Pig won't get over the stile;
And I shan't get home to-night."
But the rat would not.
She went a little farther, and she met a cat. So she said--
"Cat, cat, kill rat!
Rat won't gnaw rope;
Rope won't hang butcher;
Butcher won't kill ox;
Ox won't drink water;
Water won't quench fire;
Fire won't burn stick;
Stick won't beat dog;
Dog won't bite pig;
Pig won't get over the stile;
And I shan't get home to-night."
The cat said, "If you will give me a saucer of milk, I will kill the
rat."
So the old woman gave the cat the milk, and when she had lapped up
the milk--
The cat began to kill the rat;
The rat began to gnaw the rope;
The rope began to hang the butcher;
The butcher began to kill the ox;
The ox began to drink the water;
The water began to quench the fire;
The fire began to burn the stick;
The stick began to beat the dog;
The dog began to bite the pig;
The pig jumped over the stile;
And so the old woman got home that night.
_Tit, tat, toe_
Tit, tat, toe,
My first go,
Three jolly butcher boys
All of a row;
Stick one up,
Stick one down,
Stick one in the old man's crown.
_Monday alone_
Monday alone,
Tuesday together,
Wednesday we walk
When it's fine weather.
Thursday we kiss,
Friday we cry,
Saturday's hours
Seem almost to fly.
But of all days in the week
We will call
Sunday, the rest day,
The best day of all.
_As I was going o'er Westminster Bridge_
As I was going o'er Westminster Bridge,
I met with a Westminster scholar;
He pulled off his cap, _an' drew_ off his glove,
And wished me a very good-morrow,
What is his name?
[Illustration: AS I WALKED BY MYSELF]
As I walked by myself,
I talked to myself,
And the self-same self said to me,
Look out for thyself,
Take care of thyself,
For nobody cares for thee.
I answered myself,
And said to myself
In the self-same repartee,
Look to thyself,
Or not look to thyself,
The self-same thing will be.
[Illustration: THERE WAS A LITTLE MAN AND HE WOO'D A LITTLE MAID]
There was a little man,
And he wooed a little maid,
And he said, "Little maid, will you wed, wed, wed?
I have little more to say,
Than will you, yea or nay,
For least said is soonest mended-ded, ded, ded."
The little maid replied,
Some say a little sighed,
"But what shall we have for to eat, eat, eat?
Will the love that you're so rich in
Make a fire in the kitchen?
Or the little god of Love turn the spit, spit, spit?"
_Pussy sits beside the fire_