THE REAL
MOTHER GOOSE
_Illustrated by_
Blanche Fisher Wright
1916
A LIST OF THE RHYMES
Little Bo-Peep
Little Boy Blue
Rain
The Clock
Winter
Fingers and Toes
A Seasonable Song
Dame Trot and Her Cat
Three Children on the Ice
Cross Patch
The Old Woman Under a Hill
Tweedle-Dum and Tweedle-Dee
Oh Dear!
Old Mother Goose
Little Jumping Joan
Pat-a-Cake
Money and the Mare
Robin Redbreast
A Melancholy Song
Jack
Going to St. Ives
Thirty Days Hath September
Baby Dolly
Bees
Come Out to Play
If Wishes Were Horses
To Market
Old Chairs to Mend
Robin and Richard
A Man and a Maid
Here Goes My Lord
The Clever Hen
Two Birds
Leg Over Leg
Lucy Locket
When Jenny Wren Was Young
Barber
The Flying Pig
Solomon Grundy
Hush-a-Bye
Burnie Bee
Three Wise Men of Gotham
The Hunter of Reigate
Little Polly Flinders
Ride Away, Ride Away
Pippen Hill
Pussy-Cat and Queen
The Winds
Clap Handies
Christmas
Elizabeth
Just Like Me
Play Days
Heigh-Ho, the Carrion Crow
ABC
A Needle and Thread
Banbury Cross
The Man in Our Town
Georgy Porgy
For Every Evil
Cushy Cow
Wee Willie Winkie
About the Bush
See-Saw
Robin-a-Bobbin
John Smith
Simple Simon
Three Blind Mice
Five Toes
A Little Man
Doctor Foster
Diddle Diddle Dumpling
Jerry Hall
Lengthening Days
The Black Hen
The Mist
A Candle
Miss Muffet
Curly-Locks
Humpty Dumpty
One, Two, Three
The Dove and the Wren
Master I Have
Pins
Shall We Go A-Shearing?
Goosey, Goosey, Gander
Old Mother Hubbard
The Cock and the Hen
Blue Bell Boy
Why May Not I Love Johnny?
Jack Jelf
Jack Sprat
Hush-a-Bye
Daffodils
The Girl in the Lane
Hush-a-Bye
Nancy Dawson
Handy Pandy
Jack and Jill
The Alphabet
Dance to Your Daddie
One Misty Moisty Morning
Robin Hood and Little John
Rain
The Old Woman from France
Teeth and Gums
The Robins
The Old Man
T'Other Little Tune
My Kitten
If All the Seas Were One Sea
Pancake Day
A Plum Pudding
Forehead, Eyes, Cheeks, Nose, etc.
Two Pigeons
A Sure Test
Lock and Key
The Lion and the Unicorn
The Merchants of London
I Had a Little Husband
To Babylon
I'll Tell You a Story
A Strange Old Woman
Sleep, Baby, Sleep
Cry, Baby
Baa, Baa, Black Sheep
Little Fred
The Cat and the Fiddle
Doctor Fell
A Counting-Out Rhyme
Jack and His Fiddle
Buttons
Hot Boiled Beans
Little Pussy
Sing a Song of Sixpence
Tommy Tittlemouse
The Derby Ram
The Hobby-Horse
The Mulberry Bush
Young Lambs to Sell
Boy and the Sparrow
Old Woman, Old Woman
The First of May
Sulky Sue
The House That Jack Built
Saturday, Sunday
Little Jenny Wren
The Old Woman and the Pedlar
Bobby Snooks
The Little Moppet
I Saw a Ship A-Sailing
A Walnut
The Man in the Moon
One, He Loves
Bat, Bat
Hark! Hark!
The Hart
My Love
The Man of Bombay
Poor Old Robinson Crusoe!
A Sieve
My Maid Mary
A Difficult Rhyme
Pretty John Watts
Good Advice
I Love Sixpence
Bye, Baby Bunting
Tom, Tom, the Piper's Son
Comical Folk
Cock-Crow
Tommy Snooks
The Three Sons
The Blacksmith
Two Gray Kits
One, Two, Buckle My Shoe
Cock-a-Doodle-Do!
Pairs or Pears
Belleisle
Old King Cole
See, See
Dapple-Gray
A Well
Coffee and Tea
Pussy-Cat Mew
The Little Girl with a Curl
Dreams
A Cock and Bull Story
For Baby
Myself
Over the Water
Candle-Saving
Fears and Tears
The Kilkenny Cats
Old Grimes
A Week of Birthdays
A Chimney
Ladybird
The Man Who Had Naught
The Tailors and the Snail
Around the Green Gravel
Intery, Mintery
Caesar's Song
As I Was Going Along
Hector Protector
Billy, Billy
Rock-a-Bye, Baby
The Man in the Wilderness
Little Jack Horner
The Bird Scarer
Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary
Bessy Bell and Mary Gray
Needles and Pins
Pussy-Cat and the Dumplings
Dance, Thumbkin, Dance
Mary's Canary
The Little Bird
Birds of a Feather
The Dusty Miller
A Star
The Greedy Man
The Ten O'Clock Scholar
Cock-a-Doodle-Do
An Icicle
A Ship's Nail
The Old Woman of Leeds
The Boy in the Barn
Sunshine
Willy, Willy
Tongs
Jack Jingle
The Quarrel
The Pumpkin-Eater
Shoeing
Betty Blue
That's All
Bedtime
Dance, Little Baby
My Little Maid
For Want of a Nail
Pease Porridge
Ring a Ring o' Roses
The Crooked Sixpence
This Is the Way
Ducks and Drakes
The Donkey
If
The Bells
Little Girl and Queen
The King of France
Peter Piper
One to Ten
An Equal
The Tarts
Come, Let's to Bed
Little Maid
What Are Little Boys Made Of?
Bandy Legs
The Girl and the Birds
A Pig
Jenny Wren
Little Tom Tucker
Where Are You Going, My Pretty
Maid?
The Old Woman of Gloucester
Multiplication Is Vexation
Little King Boggen
Whistle
Bell Horses
Taffy
The Robin
The Old Woman of Harrow
Young Roger and Dolly
The Piper and His Cow
The Man of Derby
The Coachman
There was an Old Woman
A Thorn
The Old Woman of Surrey
The Little Mouse
Boy and Girl
When
Sing, Sing
London Bridge
March Winds
The Balloon
A Cherry
The Lost Shoe
Hot Codlins
Swan
Three Straws
The Man of Tobago
Ding, Dong, Bell
A Sunshiny Shower
The Farmer and the Raven
Christmas
Willy Boy
Polly and Sukey
The Death and Burial of Poor Cock Robin
The Mouse and the Clock
Hot-Cross Buns
Bobby Shaftoe
The Bunch of Blue Ribbons
The Woman of Exeter
Sneezing
Pussy-Cat by the Fire
When the Snow Is on the Ground
AN ALPHABETICAL LIST OF
FIRST LINES
A, B, C, and D
About the bush, Willie
A carrion crow sat on an oak
A diller, a dollar, a ten o'clock scholar!
A duck and a drake
A farmer went trotting, upon his gray mare
A hill full, a hole full
A little boy went into a barn
A little cock-sparrow sat on a green tree
A little old man of Derby
A man went a-hunting at Reigate
A riddle, a riddle, as I suppose
A robin and a robin's son
Around the green gravel the grass grows green
As I walked by myself
As I was going along, along
As I was going to Derby all on a market-day
As I was going to St. Ives
As I was going to sell my eggs
As I was going up Pippen Hill
As I went through the garden gap
As I went to Bonner
As little Jenny Wren
As round as an apple, as deep as a cup
As soft as silk, as white as milk
As the days grow longer
As Tommy Snooks and Bessy Brooks
A sunshiny shower
A swarm of bees in May
At the siege of Belleisle
Away, birds, away!
Baa, baa, black sheep
Barber, barber, shave a pig
Bat, bat
Bell horses, bell horses, what time of day?
Bessy Bell and Mary Gray
"Billy, Billy, come and play"
Birds of a feather flock together
Black within and red without
Bobby Shaftoe's gone to sea
Bow-wow-wow!
Burnie bee, burnie bee
Buttons, a farthing a pair!
Bye, baby bunting
Christmas comes but once a year
Christmas is coming, the geese are getting fat
Clap, clap handies
Cock-a-doodle-do!
"Cock, cock, cock, cock"
Cocks crow in the morn
Cold and raw the north wind doth blow
Come when you're called
Cross patch, draw the latch
Cry, baby, cry
Curly-locks, Curly-locks, wilt thou be mine?
Cushy cow, bonny, let down thy milk
Daffy-down-dilly has come to town
Dame Trot and her cat
Dance, little Baby, dance up high!
Dance, Thumbkin, dance
Dance to your daddie
Dear, dear! what can the matter be?
Dickory, dickory, dare
Diddle diddle dumpling, my son John
Ding, dong, bell
Doctor Foster went to Glo'ster
Donkey, donkey, old and gray
Doodle doodle doo
Elizabeth, Elspeth, Betsy, and Bess
Every lady in this land
Flour of England, fruit of Spain
For every evil under the sun
For want of a nail, the shoe was lost
Four and Twenty tailors
Friday nights dream, on Saturday told
Georgy Porgy, pudding and pie
Girls and boys, come out to play
Goosey, goosey, gander
Great A, little a
Great A, little a
Handy Pandy, Jack-a-dandy
Hark, hark! the dogs do bark!
Hector Protector was dressed all in green
Here am I, little jumping Joan
Here goes my lord
Here sits the Lord Mayor
Here's Sulky Sue
Here we go round the mulberry bush
Hey, diddle, diddle!
Hey diddle dinkety poppety pet
Hey, my kitten, my kitten
Hick-a-more, Hack-a-more
Hickery, dickery, 6 and 7
Hickety, pickety, my black hen
Hickory, dickory, dock!
High diddle doubt, my candle's out
Higher than a house, higher than a tree
Hot-cross Buns!
How many days has my baby to play?
How many miles is it to Babylon?
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall
Hush-a-bye, baby
Hush-a-bye, baby, lie still with thy daddy
Hush-a-bye, baby, on the tree top!
Hush, baby, my dolly, I pray you don't cry
"I am a gold lock"
I do not like thee, Doctor Fell
If all the seas were one sea
If all the world were apple pie
If I'd as much money as I could spend
If I'd as much money as I could tell
If wishes were horses, beggars would ride
If you are to be a gentleman
If you sneeze on Monday, you sneeze for danger
I had a little boy
I had a little hen, the prettiest ever seen
I had a little hobby-horse
I had a little husband no bigger than my thumb
I had a little moppet
I had a little pony
I had two pigeons bright and gay
I have seen you, little mouse
I like little Pussy
I'll tell you a story
I love sixpence, a jolly, jolly sixpence
In a cottage in Fife
Intery, mintery, cutery corn
I saw a ship a-sailing
Is John Smith within?
I went to the wood and got it
"I went up one pair of stairs"
I won't be my father's Jack
Jack and Jill went up the hill
Jack be nimble, Jack be quick
Jack Sprat
"Jacky, come and give me thy fiddle"
Jerry Hall, he was so small
Johnny shall have a new bonnet
Ladies and gentlemen come to supper
Ladybird, ladybird, fly away home!
Leg over leg
"Lend me thy mare to ride a mile"
Little Betty Blue
Little Bobby Snooks was fond of his books
Little Bo-Peep has lost her sheep
Little Boy Blue, come, blow your horn!
"Little girl, little girl, where have you been?"
Little Jack Horner
Little Jack Jelf
Little Jack Jingle
Little Jenny Wren fell sick
Little King Boggen, he built a fine hall
"Little maid, pretty maid, whither goest thou?"
Little Miss Muffet
Little Nanny Etticoat
Little Polly Flinders
Little Robin Redbreast sat upon a tree
Little Tommy Tittlemouse
Little Tom Tucker
Lives in winter
London Bridge is broken down
Long legs, crooked thighs
Lucy Locket lost her pocket
March winds and April showers
Margaret wrote a letter
Mary had a pretty bird
Mary, Mary, quite contrary
Master I have, and I am his man
Mister East gave a feast
Molly, my sister and I fell out
Monday's child is fair of face
Multiplication is vexation
My little old man and I fell out
My maid Mary she minds the dairy
Nancy Dawson was so fine
Needles and pins, needles and pins
Oh, dear, what can the matter be?
Oh, my pretty cock, oh, my handsome cock
Old Grimes is dead, that good old man
Old King Cole
Old Mother Goose, when
Old Mother Hubbard
Old Mother Twitchett had but one eye
"Old woman, old woman, shall we go a-shearing?"
Once I saw a little bird
One, he loves; two, he loves
One misty moisty morning
One, two, buckle my shoe
One, two, three, four, five
1,2,3,4,5!
On Saturday night
Over the water
Over the water, and over the sea
Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake
Pease porridge hot
Peter, Peter, pumpkin-eater
Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers
Piping hot, smoking hot
Polly, put the kettle on
Poor old Robinson Crusoe!
Pretty John Watts
Pussy-cat ate the dumplings, the dumplings
Pussy-cat Mew jumped over a coal
"Pussy-cat, pussy-cat"
Pussy-cat sits by the fire
Rain, rain, go away
Rain, rain, go to Spain
Read my riddle, I pray
Ride a cock-horse to Banbury Cross
Ride away, ride away
Ring a ring o' roses
"Robert Barnes, my fellow fine"
Robin-a-Bobbin
Robin and Richard were two pretty men
Robin Hood, Robin Hood
Rock-a-bye, baby, thy cradle is green
Saw ye aught of my love a-coming from the market?
See a pin and pick it up
See-saw, Margery Daw
See, see! What shall I see?
Shoe the colt
Simple Simon met a pieman
Sing a song of sixpence
Sing, sing, what shall I sing?
Sleep, baby, sleep
Solomon Grundy
Swan, swan, over the sea
Taffy was a Welshman, Taffy was a thief
The cock's on the housetop blowing his horn
The dove says coo, coo, what shall I do?
The fair maid who, the first of May
The girl in the lane, that couldn't speak plain
The greedy man is he who sits
The hart he love's the high wood
The King of France went up the hill
The little robin grieves
The Lion and the Unicorn were fighting for the crown
The Man in the Moon came tumbling down
The Man in the Moon looked out of the moon
The man in the wilderness
The north wind doth blow
The Queen of Hearts
There came an old woman from France
There dwelt an old woman at Exeter
There's a neat little clock
There was a crooked man, and he went a crooked mile
There was a fat man of Bombay
There was a little boy and a little girl
There was a little girl who had a little curl
There was a little man
There was a little man, and he had a little gun
There was a little woman, as I've been told
There was a man and he had naught
There was a man in our town
There was an old man
There was an old man of Tobago
There was an old woman
There was an old woman, and what do you think?
There was an old woman, as I've heard tell
There was an old woman had three sons
There was an old woman in Surrey
There was an old woman of Gloucester
There was an old woman of Harrow
There was an old woman of Leeds
There was an old woman sat spinning
There was an old woman tossed in a basket
There was an old woman who lived in a shoe
There was a piper had a cow
There were once two cats of Kilkenny
There were two birds sat on a stone
The two gray kits
Thirty days hath September
Thirty white horses upon a red hill
This is the house that Jack built
This is the way the ladies ride
This little pig went to market
Three blind mice! See how they run!
Three children sliding on the ice
Three straws on a staff
Three wise men of Gotham
"To bed! To bed"
To make your candles last for aye
To market, to market, to buy a fat pig
Tommy's tears and Mary's fears
Tom, Tom, the piper's son
Trip upon trenchers
'Twas once upon a time, when Jenny Wren was young
Tweedle-dum and Tweedle-dee
Twelve pairs hanging high
Up at Piccadilly, oh!
Wee Willie Winkle runs through the town
What are little boys made of, made of?
"What is the news of the day"
What is the rhyme for porringer?
When I was a bachelor
When I was a little girl, about seven years old
When little Fred went to bed
"Where are you going, my pretty maid?"
"Whistle, daughter, whistle"
Who killed Cock Robin?
"Willy boy, Willy boy, where are you going?"
Willy, Willy Wilkin
Young Roger came tapping at Dolly's window
"You owe me five shillings"
You shall have an apple
THE REAL
MOTHER GOOSE
LITTLE BO-PEEP
Little Bo-Peep has lost her sheep,
And can't tell where to find them;
Leave them alone, and they'll come home,
And bring their tails behind them.
Little Bo-Peep fell fast asleep,
And dreamt she heard them bleating;
But when she awoke, she found it a joke,
For still they all were fleeting.
Then up she took her little crook,
Determined for to find them;
She found them indeed, but it made her heart bleed,
For they'd left all their tails behind 'em!
It happened one day, as Bo-peep did stray
Unto a meadow hard by--
There she espied their tails, side by side,
All hung on a tree to dry.
She heaved a sigh and wiped her eye,
And over the hillocks she raced;
And tried what she could, as a shepherdess should,
That each tail should be properly placed.
LITTLE BOY BLUE
Little Boy Blue, come, blow your horn!
The sheep's in the meadow, the cow's in the corn.
Where's the little boy that looks after the sheep?
Under the haystack, fast asleep!
RAIN
Rain, rain, go away,
Come again another day;
Little Johnny wants to play.
THE CLOCK
There's a neat little clock,--
In the schoolroom it stands,--
And it points to the time
With its two little hands.
And may we, like the clock,
Keep a face clean and bright,
With hands ever ready
To do what is right.
WINTER
Cold and raw the north wind doth blow,
Bleak in the morning early;
All the hills are covered with snow,
And winter's now come fairly.
FINGERS AND TOES
Every lady in this land
Has twenty nails, upon each hand
Five, and twenty on hands and feet:
All this is true, without deceit.
A SEASONABLE SONG
Piping hot, smoking hot.
What I've got
You have not.
Hot gray pease, hot, hot, hot;
Hot gray pease, hot.
DAME TROT AND HER CAT
Dame Trot and her cat
Led a peaceable life,
When they were not troubled
With other folks' strife.
When Dame had her dinner
Pussy would wait,
And was sure to receive
A nice piece from her plate.
THREE CHILDREN ON THE ICE
Three children sliding on the ice
Upon a summer's day,
As it fell out, they all fell in,
The rest they ran away.
Oh, had these children been at school,
Or sliding on dry ground,
Ten thousand pounds to one penny
They had not then been drowned.
Ye parents who have children dear,
And ye, too, who have none,
If you would keep them safe abroad
Pray keep them safe at home.
CROSS PATCH
Cross patch, draw the latch,
Sit by the fire and spin;
Take a cup and drink it up,
Then call your neighbors in.
THE OLD WOMAN UNDER A HILL
There was an old woman
Lived under a hill;
And if she's not gone,
She lives there still.
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.
OH, DEAR!
Dear, dear! what can the matter be?
Two old women got up in an apple-tree;
One came down, and the other stayed till Saturday.
OLD MOTHER GOOSE
Old Mother Goose, when
She wanted to wander,
Would ride through the air
On a very fine gander.
LITTLE JUMPING JOAN
Here am I, little jumping Joan,
When nobody's with me
I'm always alone.
PAT-A-CAKE
Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake,
Baker's man!
So I do, master,
As fast as I can.
Pat it, and prick it,
And mark it with T,
Put it in the oven
For Tommy and me.
MONEY AND THE MARE
"Lend me thy mare to ride a mile."
"She is lamed, leaping over a stile."
"Alack! and I must keep the fair!
I'll give thee money for thy mare."
"Oh, oh! say you so?
Money will make the mare to go!"
ROBIN REDBREAST
Little Robin Redbreast sat upon a tree,
Up went Pussy-Cat, down went he,
Down came Pussy-Cat, away Robin ran,
Says little Robin Redbreast: "Catch me if you can!"
Little Robin Redbreast jumped upon a spade,
Pussy-Cat jumped after him, and then he was afraid.
Little Robin chirped and sang, and what did Pussy say?
Pussy-Cat said: "Mew, mew, mew," and Robin flew away.
A MELANCHOLY SONG
Trip upon trenchers,
And dance upon dishes,
My mother sent me for some barm, some barm;
She bid me go lightly,
And come again quickly,
For fear the young men should do me some harm.
Yet didn't you see, yet didn't you see,
What naughty tricks they put upon me?
They broke my pitcher
And spilt the water,
And huffed my mother,
And chid her daughter,
And kissed my sister instead of me.
JACK
Jack be nimble, Jack be quick,
Jack jump over the candlestick.
GOING TO ST. IVES
As I was going to St. Ives
I met a man with seven wives.
Every wife had seven sacks,
Every sack had seven cats,
Every cat had seven kits.
Kits, cats, sacks, and wives,
How many were going to St. Ives?
THIRTY DAYS HATH SEPTEMBER
Thirty days hath September,
April, June, and November;
February has twenty-eight alone,
All the rest have thirty-one,
Excepting leap-year, that's the time
When February's days are twenty-nine.
BABY DOLLY
Hush, baby, my dolly, I pray you don't cry,
And I'll give you some bread, and some milk by-and-by;
Or perhaps you like custard, or, maybe, a tart,
Then to either you're welcome, with all my heart.
BEES
A swarm of bees in May
Is worth a load of hay;
A swarm of bees in June
Is worth a silver spoon;
A swarm of bees in July
Is not worth a fly.
COME OUT TO PLAY
Girls and boys, come out to play,
The moon doth shine as bright as day;
Leave your supper, and leave your sleep,
And come with your playfellows into the street.
Come with a whoop, come with a call,
Come with a good will or not at all.
Up the ladder and down the wall,
A half-penny roll will serve us all.
You find milk, and I'll find flour,
And we'll have a pudding in half an hour.
IF WISHES WERE HORSES
If wishes were horses, beggars would ride.
If turnips were watches, I would wear one by my side.
And if "ifs" and "ands"
Were pots and pans,
There'd be no work for tinkers!
TO MARKET
To market, to market, to buy a fat pig.
Home again, home again, jiggety jig.
To market, to market, to buy a fat hog,
Home again, home again, jiggety jog.
To market, to market, to buy a plum bun,
Home again, home again, market is done.
OLD CHAIRS TO MEND
If I'd as much money as I could spend,
I never would cry old chairs to mend;
Old chairs to mend, old chairs to mend;
I never would cry old chairs to mend.
If I'd as much money as I could tell,
I never would cry old clothes to sell;
Old clothes to sell, old clothes to sell;
I never would cry old clothes to sell.
ROBIN AND RICHARD
Robin and Richard were two pretty men,
They lay in bed till the clock struck ten;
Then up starts Robin and looks at the sky,
"Oh, brother Richard, the sun's very high!
You go before, with the bottle and bag,
And I will come after on little Jack Nag."
A MAN AND A MAID
There was a little man,
Who wooed a little maid,
And he said, "Little maid, will you wed, wed, wed?
I have little more to say,
So will you, yea or nay,
For least said is soonest mended-ded, ded, ded."
The little maid replied,
"Should I be your little bride,
Pray what must we have for to eat, eat, eat?
Will the flame that you're so rich in
Light a fire in the kitchen?
Or the little god of love turn the spit, spit, spit?"
HERE GOES MY LORD
Here goes my lord
A trot, a trot, a trot, a trot,
Here goes my lady
A canter, a canter, a canter, a canter!
Here goes my young master
Jockey-hitch, jockey-hitch, jockey-hitch, jockey-hitch!
Here goes my young miss
An amble, an amble, an amble, an amble!
The footman lags behind to tipple ale and wine,
And goes gallop, a gallop, a gallop, to make up his time.
THE CLEVER HEN
I had a little hen, the prettiest ever seen,
She washed me the dishes and kept the house clean;
She went to the mill to fetch me some flour,
She brought it home in less than an hour;
She baked me my bread, she brewed me my ale,
She sat by the fire and told many a fine tale.
TWO BIRDS
There were two birds sat on a stone,
Fa, la, la, la, lal, de;
One flew away, and then there was one,
Fa, la, la, la, lal, de;
The other bird flew after,
And then there was none,
Fa, la, la, la, lal, de;
And so the stone
Was left alone,
Fa, la, la, la, lal, de.
LEG OVER LEG
Leg over leg,
As the dog went to Dover;
When he came to a stile,
Jump, he went over.
LUCY LOCKET
Lucy Locket lost her pocket,
Kitty Fisher found it;
Nothing in it, nothing in it,
But the binding round it.
WHEN JENNY WREN WAS YOUNG
'Twas once upon a time, when Jenny Wren was young,
So daintily she danced and so prettily she sung,
Robin Redbreast lost his heart, for he was a gallant bird.
So he doffed his hat to Jenny Wren, requesting to be heard.
"Oh, dearest Jenny Wren, if you will but be mine,
You shall feed on cherry pie and drink new currant wine,
I'll dress you like a goldfinch or any peacock gay,
So, dearest Jen, if you'll be mine, let us appoint the day."
Jenny blushed behind her fan and thus declared her mind:
"Since, dearest Bob, I love you well, I'll take your offer kind.
Cherry pie is very nice and so is currant wine,
But I must wear my plain brown gown and never go too fine."
BARBER
Barber, barber, shave a pig.
How many hairs will make a wig?
Four and twenty; that's enough.
Give the barber a pinch of snuff.
THE FLYING PIG
Dickory, dickory, dare,
The pig flew up in the air;
The man in brown soon brought
him down,
Dickory,
dickory,
dare.
SOLOMON GRUNDY
Solomon Grundy,
Born on a Monday,
Christened on Tuesday,
Married on Wednesday,
Took ill on Thursday,
Worse on Friday,
Died on Saturday,
Buried on Sunday.
This is the end
Of Solomon Grundy.
HUSH-A-BYE
Hush-a-bye, baby, on the tree top!
When the wind blows the cradle will rock;
When the bough breaks the cradle will fall;
Down will come baby, bough, cradle and all.
BURNIE BEE
Burnie bee, burnie bee,
Tell me when your wedding be?
If it be to-morrow day,
Take your wings and fly away.
THREE WISE MEN OF GOTHAM
Three wise men of Gotham
Went to sea in a bowl;
If the bowl had been stronger
My song had been longer.
THE HUNTER OF REIGATE
A man went a-hunting at Reigate,
And wished to leap over a high gate.
Says the owner, "Go round,
With your gun and your hound,
For you never shall leap over my gate."
LITTLE POLLY FLINDERS
Little Polly Flinders
Sat among the cinders
Warming her pretty little toes;
Her mother came and caught her,
Whipped her little daughter
For spoiling her nice new clothes.
RIDE AWAY, RIDE AWAY
Ride away, ride away,
Johnny shall ride,
And he shall have pussy-cat
Tied to one side;
And he shall have little dog
Tied to the other,
And Johnny shall ride
To see his grandmother.
PIPPEN HILL
As I was going up Pippen Hill,
Pippen Hill was dirty;
There I met a pretty Miss,
And she dropped me a curtsy.
Little Miss, pretty Miss,
Blessings light upon you;
If I had half-a-crown a day,
I'd spend it all upon you.
PUSSY-CAT AND QUEEN
"Pussy-cat, pussy-cat,
Where have you been?"
"I've been to London
To look at the Queen."
"Pussy-cat, pussy-cat,
What did you there?"
"I frightened a little mouse
Under the chair."
THE WINDS
Mister East gave a feast;
Mister North laid the cloth;
Mister West did his best;
Mister South burnt his mouth
Eating cold potato.
CLAP HANDIES
Clap, clap handies,
Mammie's wee, wee ain;
Clap, clap handies,
Daddie's comin' hame,
Hame till his bonny wee bit laddie;
Clap, clap handies,
My wee, wee ain.
CHRISTMAS
Christmas comes but once a year,
And when it comes it brings good cheer.
ELIZABETH
Elizabeth, Elspeth, Betsy, and Bess,
They all went together to seek a bird's nest;
They found a bird's nest with five eggs in,
They all took one, and left four in.
JUST LIKE ME
"I went up one pair of stairs."
"Just like me."
"I went up two pairs of stairs."
"Just like me."
"I went into a room."
"Just like me."
"I looked out of a window."
"Just like me."
"And there I saw a monkey."
"Just like me."
PLAY DAYS
How many days has my baby to play?
Saturday, Sunday, Monday,
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday,
Saturday, Sunday, Monday.
HEIGH-HO, THE CARRION CROW
A carrion crow sat on an oak,
Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding do,
Watching a tailor shape his cloak;
Sing heigh-ho, the carrion crow,
Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding do!
Wife, bring me my old bent bow,
Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding do,
That I may shoot yon carrion crow;
Sing heigh-ho, the carrion crow,
Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding do!
The tailor he shot, and missed his mark,
Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding do!
And shot his own sow quite through the heart;
Sing heigh-ho, the carrion crow,
Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding do!
Wife! bring brandy in a spoon,
Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding do!
For our old sow is in a swoon;
Sing heigh-ho, the carrion crow,
Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding do!
ABC
Great A, little a,
Bouncing B!
The cat's in the cupboard,
And can't see me.
A NEEDLE AND THREAD
Old Mother Twitchett had but one eye,
And a long tail which she let fly;
And every time she went through a gap,
A bit of her tail she left in a trap.
BANBURY CROSS
Ride a cock-horse to Banbury Cross,
To see an old lady upon a white horse.
Rings on her fingers, and bells on her toes,
She shall have music wherever she goes.
THE MAN IN OUR TOWN
There was a man in our town,
And he was wondrous wise,
He jumped into a bramble bush,
And scratched out both his eyes;
But when he saw his eyes were out,
With all his might and main,
He jumped into another bush,
And scratched 'em in again.
GEORGY PORGY
Georgy Porgy, pudding and pie,
Kissed the girls and made them cry.
When the boys came out to play,
Georgy Porgy ran away.
FOR EVERY EVIL
For every evil under the sun
There is a remedy or there is none.
If there be one, seek till you find it;
If there be none, never mind it.
CUSHY COW
Cushy cow, bonny, let down thy milk,
And I will give thee a gown of silk;
A gown of silk and a silver tee,
If thou wilt let down thy milk to me.
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? Now it's eight o'clock."
ABOUT THE BUSH
About the bush, Willie,
About the beehive,
About the bush, Willie,
I'll meet thee alive.
SEE-SAW
See-saw, Margery Daw,
Sold her bed and lay upon straw.
ROBIN-A-BOBBIN
Robin-a-Bobbin
Bent his bow,
Shot at a pigeon,
And killed a crow.
JOHN SMITH
Is John Smith within?
Yes, that he is.
Can he set a shoe?
Ay, marry, two.
Here a nail, there a nail,
Tick, tack, too.
SIMPLE SIMON
Simple Simon met a pieman,
Going to the fair;
Says Simple Simon to the pieman,
"Let me taste your ware."
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 could find
Was in his mother's pail!
Simple Simon went to look
If plums grew on a thistle;
He pricked his fingers very much,
Which made poor Simon whistle.
He went to catch a dicky bird,
And thought he could not fail,
Because he had a little salt,
To put upon its tail.
He went for water with a sieve,
But soon it ran all through;
And now poor Simple Simon
Bids you all adieu.
THREE BLIND MICE
Three blind mice! See how they run!
They all ran after the farmer's wife,
Who cut off their tails with a carving knife.
Did you ever see such a thing in your life
As three blind mice?
FIVE TOES
This little pig went to market;
This little pig stayed at home;
This little pig had roast beef;
This little pig had none;
This little pig said, "Wee, wee!
I can't find my way home."
A LITTLE MAN
There was a little man, and he had a little gun,
And his bullets were made of lead, lead, lead;
He went to the brook, and saw a little duck,
And shot it right through the head, head, head.
He carried it home to his old wife Joan,
And bade her a fire to make, make, make.
To roast the little duck he had shot in the brook,
And he'd go and fetch the drake, drake, drake.
The drake was a-swimming with his curly tail;
The little man made it his mark, mark, mark.
He let off his gun, but he fired too soon,
And the drake flew away with a quack, quack, quack.
DOCTOR FOSTER
Doctor Foster went to Glo'ster,
In a shower of rain;
He stepped in a puddle, up to his middle,
And never went there again.
DIDDLE DIDDLE DUMPLING
Diddle diddle dumpling, my son John
Went to bed with his breeches on,
One stocking off, and one stocking on;
Diddle diddle dumpling, my son John.
JERRY HALL
Jerry Hall, he was so small,
A rat could eat him, hat and all.
LENGTHENING DAYS
As the days grow longer
The storms grow stronger.
THE BLACK HEN
Hickety, pickety, my black hen,
She lays eggs for gentlemen;
Gentlemen come every day
To see what my black hen doth lay.
THE MIST
A hill full, a hole full,
Yet you cannot catch a bowl full.
A CANDLE
Little Nanny Etticoat
In a white petticoat,
And a red nose;
The longer she stands
The shorter she grows.
MISS MUFFET
Little Miss Muffet
Sat on a tuffet,
Eating of curds and whey;
There came a big spider,
And sat down beside her,
And frightened Miss Muffet away.
CURLY-LOCKS
Curly-locks, Curly-locks, wilt thou be mine?
Thou shalt not wash the dishes, nor yet feed the swine;
But sit on a cushion, and sew a fine seam
And feed upon strawberries, sugar, and cream.
HUMPTY DUMPTY
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall;
All the King's horses, and all the King's men
Cannot put Humpty Dumpty together again.
ONE, TWO, THREE
One, two, three, four, five,
Once I caught a fish alive.
Six, seven, eight, nine, ten,
But I let it go again.
Why did you let it go?
Because it bit my finger so.
Which finger did it bite?
The little one upon the right.
THE DOVE AND THE WREN
The dove says coo, coo, what shall I do?
I can scarce maintain two.
Pooh, pooh! says the wren, I've got ten,
And keep them all like gentlemen.
MASTER I HAVE
Master I have, and I am his man,
Gallop a dreary dun;
Master I have, and I am his man,
And I'll get a wife as fast as I can;
With a heighty gaily gamberally,
Higgledy piggledy, niggledy, niggledy,
Gallop a dreary dun.
PINS
See a pin and pick it up,
All the day you'll have good luck.
See a pin and let it lay,
Bad luck you'll have all the day.
SHALL WE GO A-SHEARING?
"Old woman, old woman, shall we go a-shearing?"
"Speak a little louder, sir, I am very thick of hearing."
"Old woman, old woman, shall I kiss you dearly?"
"Thank you, kind sir, I hear you very clearly."
GOOSEY, GOOSEY, GANDER
Goosey, goosey, gander,
Whither dost thou wander?
Upstairs and downstairs
And in my lady's chamber.
There I met an old man
Who wouldn't say his prayers;
I took him by the left leg,
And threw him down the stairs.
OLD MOTHER HUBBARD
Old Mother Hubbard
Went to the cupboard,
To give her poor dog a bone;
But when she got there
The cupboard was bare,
And so the poor dog had none.
She went to the baker's
To buy him some bread;
When she came back
The dog was dead.
She went to the undertaker's
To buy him a coffin;
When she got back
The dog was laughing.
She took a clean dish
To get him some tripe;
When she came back
He was smoking a pipe.
She went to the alehouse
To get him some beer;
When she came back
The dog sat in a chair.
She went to the tavern
For white wine and red;
When she came back
The dog stood on his head.
She went to the hatter's
To buy him a hat;
When she came back
He was feeding the cat.
She went to the barber's
To buy him a wig;
When she came back
He was dancing a jig.
She went to the fruiterer's
To buy him some fruit;
When she came back
He was playing the flute.
She went to the tailor's
To buy him a coat;
When she came back
He was riding a goat.
She went to the cobbler's
To buy him some shoes;
When she came back
He was reading the news.
She went to the sempster's
To buy him some linen;
When she came back
The dog was a-spinning.
She went to the hosier's
To buy him some hose;
When she came back
He was dressed in his clothes.
The dame made a curtsy,
The dog made a bow;
The dame said, "Your servant,"
The dog said, "Bow-wow."
THE COCK AND THE HEN
"Cock, cock, cock, cock,
I've laid an egg,
Am I to gang ba--are-foot?"
"Hen, hen, hen, hen,
I've been up and down
To every shop in town,
And cannot find a shoe
To fit your foot,
If I'd crow my hea--art out."
BLUE BELL BOY
I had a little boy,
And called him Blue Bell;
Gave him a little work,--
He did it very well.
I bade him go upstairs
To bring me a gold pin;
In coal scuttle fell he,
Up to his little chin.
He went to the garden
To pick a little sage;
He tumbled on his nose,
And fell into a rage.
He went to the cellar
To draw a little beer;
And quickly did return
To say there was none there.
WHY MAY NOT I LOVE JOHNNY?
Johnny shall have a new bonnet,
And Johnny shall go to the fair,
And Johnny shall have a blue ribbon
To tie up his bonny brown hair.
And why may not I love Johnny?
And why may not Johnny love me?
And why may not I love Johnny
As well as another body?
And here's a leg for a stocking,
And here's a foot for a shoe,
And he has a kiss for his daddy,
And two for his mammy, I trow.
And why may not I love Johnny?
And why may not Johnny love me?
And why may not I love Johnny
As well as another body?
JACK JELF
Little Jack Jelf
Was put on the shelf
Because he could not spell "pie";
When his aunt, Mrs. Grace,
Saw his sorrowful face,
She could not help saying, "Oh, fie!"
And since Master Jelf
Was put on the shelf
Because he could not spell "pie,"
Let him stand there so grim,
And no more about him,
For I wish him a very good-bye!
JACK SPRAT
Jack Sprat
Could eat no fat,
His wife could eat no lean;
And so,
Betwixt them both,
They licked the platter clean.
HUSH-A-BYE
Hush-a-bye, baby,
Daddy is near;
Mamma is a lady,
And that's very clear.
DAFFODILS
Daffy-down-dilly has come to town
In a yellow petticoat and a green gown.
THE GIRL IN THE LANE
The girl in the lane, that couldn't speak plain,
Cried, "Gobble, gobble, gobble":
The man on the hill that couldn't stand still,
Went hobble hobble, hobble.
HUSH-A-BYE
Hush-a-bye, baby, lie still with thy daddy,
Thy mammy has gone to the mill,
To get some meal to bake a cake,
So pray, my dear baby, lie still.
NANCY DAWSON
Nancy Dawson was so fine
She wouldn't get up to serve the swine;
She lies in bed till eight or nine,
So it's Oh, poor Nancy Dawson.
And do ye ken Nancy Dawson, honey?
The wife who sells the barley, honey?
She won't get up to feed her swine,
And do ye ken Nancy Dawson, honey?
HANDY PANDY
Handy Pandy, Jack-a-dandy,
Loves plum cake and sugar candy.
He bought some at a grocer's shop,
And out he came, hop, hop, hop!
JACK AND JILL
Jack and Jill went up the hill,
To fetch a pail of water;
Jack fell down, and broke his crown,
And Jill came tumbling after.
Then up Jack got and off did trot,
As fast as he could caper,
To old Dame Dob, who patched his nob
With vinegar and brown paper.
THE ALPHABET
A, B, C, and D,
Pray, playmates, agree.
E, F, and G,
Well, so it shall be.
J, K, and L,
In peace we will dwell.
M, N, and O,
To play let us go.
P, Q, R, and S,
Love may we possess.
W, X, and Y,
Will not quarrel or die.
Z, and ampersand,
Go to school at command.
DANCE TO YOUR DADDIE
Dance to your daddie,
My bonnie laddie;
Dance to your daddie, my bonnie lamb;
You shall get a fishy,
On a little dishy;
You shall get a fishy, when the boat comes home.
ONE MISTY MOISTY MORNING
One misty moisty morning,
When cloudy was the weather,
I chanced to meet an old man,
Clothed all in leather.
He began to compliment
And I began to grin.
How do you do? And how do you do?
And how do you do again?
ROBIN HOOD AND LITTLE JOHN
Robin Hood, Robin Hood,
Is in the mickle wood!
Little John, Little John,
He to the town is gone.
Robin Hood, Robin Hood,
Telling his beads,
All in the greenwood
Among the green weeds.
Little John, Little John,
If he comes no more,
Robin Hood, Robin Hood,
We shall fret full sore!
RAIN
Rain, rain, go to Spain,
And never come back again.
THE OLD WOMAN FROM FRANCE
There came an old woman from France
Who taught grown-up children to dance;
But they were so stiff,
She sent them home in a sniff,
This sprightly old woman from France.
TEETH AND GUMS
Thirty white horses upon a red hill,
Now they tramp, now they champ, now they stand still.
THE ROBINS
A robin and a robin's son
Once went to town to buy a bun.
They couldn't decide on plum or plain,
And so they went back home again.
THE OLD MAN
There was an old man
In a velvet coat,
He kissed a maid
And gave her a groat.
The groat it was crack'd
And would not go,--
Ah, old man, do you serve me so?
T'OTHER LITTLE TUNE
I won't be my father's Jack,
I won't be my father's Jill;
I will be the fiddler's wife,
And have music when I will.
T'other little tune,
T'other little tune,
Prithee, Love, play me
T'other little tune.
MY KITTEN
Hey, my kitten, my kitten,
And hey, my kitten, my deary!
Such a sweet pet as this
Was neither far nor neary.
IF ALL THE SEAS WERE ONE SEA
If all the seas were one sea,
What a _great_ sea that would be!
And if all the trees were one tree,
What a _great_ tree that would be!
And if all the axes were one axe,
What a _great_ axe that would be!
And if all the men were one man,
What a _great_ man he would be!
And if the _great_ man took the _great_ axe,
And cut down the _great_ tree,
And let it fall into the _great_ sea,
What a splish splash _that_ would be!
PANCAKE DAY
Great A, little a,
This is pancake day;
Toss the ball high,
Throw the ball low,
Those that come after
May sing heigh-ho!
A PLUM PUDDING
Flour of England, fruit of Spain,
Met together in a shower of rain;
Put in a bag tied round with a string;
If you'll tell me this riddle,
I'll give you a ring.
FOREHEAD, EYES, CHEEKS, NOSE, MOUTH, AND CHIN
Here sits the Lord Mayor,
Here sit his two men,
Here sits the cock,
Here sits the hen,
Here sit the little chickens,
Here they run in.
Chin-chopper, chin-chopper, chin chopper, chin!
TWO PIGEONS
I had two pigeons bright and gay,
They flew from me the other day.
What was the reason they did go?
I cannot tell, for I do not know.
A SURE TEST
If you are to be a gentleman,
As I suppose you'll be,
You'll neither laugh nor smile,
For a tickling of the knee.
LOCK AND KEY
"I am a gold lock."
"I am a gold key."
"I am a silver lock."
"I am a silver key."
"I am a brass lock."
"I am a brass key."
"I am a lead lock."
"I am a lead key."
"I am a don lock."
"I am a don key!"
THE LION AND THE UNICORN
The Lion and the Unicorn were fighting for the crown,
The Lion beat the Unicorn all around the town.
Some gave them white bread, and some gave them brown,
Some gave them plum-cake, and sent them out of town.
THE MERCHANTS OF LONDON
Hey diddle dinkety poppety pet,
The merchants of London they wear scarlet,
Silk in the collar and gold in the hem,
So merrily march the merchant men.
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 handkerchief to wipe his little nose,
And a pair of little garters to tie his little hose.
TO BABYLON
How many miles is it to Babylon?--
Threescore miles and ten.
Can I get there by candle-light?--
Yes, and back again.
If your heels are nimble and light,
You may get there by candle-light.
I'LL TELL YOU A STORY
I'll tell you a story
About Jack-a-Nory:
And now my story's begun.
I'll tell you another
About his brother:
And now my story is done.
A STRANGE OLD WOMAN
There was an old woman, and what do you think?
She lived upon nothing but victuals and drink;
Victuals and drink were the chief of her diet,
And yet this old woman could never be quiet.
SLEEP, BABY, SLEEP
Sleep, baby, sleep,
Our cottage vale is deep:
The little lamb is on the green,
With woolly fleece so soft and clean--
Sleep, baby, sleep.
Sleep, baby, sleep,
Down where the woodbines creep;
Be always like the lamb so mild,
A kind, and sweet, and gentle child.
Sleep, baby, sleep.
CRY, BABY
Cry, baby, cry,
Put your finger in your eye,
And tell your mother it wasn't I.
BAA, BAA, BLACK SHEEP
Baa, baa, black sheep,
Have you any wool?
Yes, marry, have I,
Three bags full;
One for my master,
One for my dame,
But none for the little boy
Who cries in the lane.
LITTLE FRED
When little Fred went to bed,
He always said his prayers;
He kissed mamma, and then papa,
And straightway went upstairs.
THE CAT AND THE FIDDLE
Hey, diddle, diddle!
The cat and the fiddle,
The cow jumped over the moon;
The little dog laughed
To see such sport,
And the dish ran away with the spoon.
DOCTOR FELL
I do not like thee, Doctor Fell;
The reason why I cannot tell;
But this I know, and know full well,
I do not like thee, Doctor Fell!
A COUNTING-OUT RHYME
Hickery, dickery, 6 and 7,
Alabone, Crackabone, 10 and 11,
Spin, spun, muskidun,
Twiddle 'em, twaddle 'em, 21.
JACK AND HIS FIDDLE
"Jacky, come and 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've gone mad;
For many a joyous day
My fiddle and I have had."
BUTTONS
Buttons, a farthing a pair!
Come, who will buy them of me?
They're round and sound and pretty,
And fit for girls of the city.
Come, who will buy them of me?
Buttons, a farthing a pair!
HOT BOILED BEANS
Ladies and gentlemen come to supper--
Hot boiled beans and very good butter.
LITTLE PUSSY
I like little Pussy,
Her coat is so warm,
And if I don't hurt her
She'll do me no harm;
So I'll not pull her tail,
Nor drive her away,
But Pussy and I
Very gently will play.
SING A SONG OF SIXPENCE
Sing a song of sixpence,
A pocket full of rye;
Four-and-twenty blackbirds
Baked in a pie!
When the pie was opened
The birds began to sing;
Was not that a dainty dish
To set before the king?
The king was in his counting-house,
Counting out his money;
The queen was in the parlor,
Eating bread and honey.
The maid was in the garden,
Hanging out the clothes;
When down came a blackbird
And snapped off her nose.
TOMMY TITTLEMOUSE
Little Tommy Tittlemouse
Lived in a little house;
He caught fishes
In other men's ditches.
THE DERBY RAM
As I was going to Derby all on a market-day,
I met the finest ram, sir, that ever was fed upon hay;
Upon hay, upon hay, upon hay;
I met the finest ram, sir, that ever was fed upon hay.
This ram was fat behind, sir; this ram was fat before;
This ram was ten yards round, sir; indeed, he was no more;
No more, no more, no more;
This ram was ten yards round, sir; indeed, he was no more.
The horns that grew on his head, sir, they were so wondrous high,
As I've been plainly told, sir, they reached up to the sky.
The sky, the sky, the sky;
As I've been plainly told, sir, they reached up to the sky.
The tail that grew from his back, sir, was six yards and an ell;
And it was sent to Derby to toll the market bell;
The bell, the bell, the bell;
And it was sent to Derby to toll the market bell.
THE HOBBY-HORSE
I had a little hobby-horse,
And it was dapple gray;
Its head was made of pea-straw,
Its tail was made of hay.
I sold it to an old woman
For a copper groat;
And I'll not sing my song again
Without another coat.
THE MULBERRY BUSH
Here we go round the mulberry bush,
The mulberry bush, the mulberry bush,
Here we go round the mulberry bush.
On a cold and frosty morning.
This is the way we wash our hands,
Wash our hands, wash our hands,
This is the way we wash our hands,
On a cold and frosty morning.
This is the way we wash our clothes.
Wash our clothes, wash our clothes,
This is the way we wash our clothes,
On a cold and frosty morning.
This is the way we go to school,
Go to school, go to school,
This is the way we go to school,
On a cold and frosty morning.
This is the way we come out of school,
Come out of school, come out of school,
This is the way we come out of school,
On a cold and frosty morning.
YOUNG LAMBS TO SELL
If I'd as much money as I could tell,
I never would cry young lambs to sell;
Young lambs to sell, young lambs to sell;
I never would cry young lambs to sell.
BOY AND THE SPARROW
A little cock-sparrow sat on a green tree,
And he chirruped, he chirruped, so merry was he;
A naughty boy came with his wee bow and arrow,
Determined to shoot this little cock-sparrow.
"This little cock-sparrow shall make me a stew,
And his giblets shall make me a little pie, too."
"Oh, no," says the sparrow "I won't make a stew."
So he flapped his wings and away he flew.
OLD WOMAN, OLD WOMAN
There was an old woman tossed in a basket,
Seventeen times as high as the moon;
But where she was going no mortal could tell,
For under her arm she carried a broom.
"Old woman, old woman, old woman," said I,
"Whither, oh whither, oh whither so high?"
"To sweep the cobwebs from the sky;
And I'll be with you by-and-by."
THE FIRST OF MAY
The fair maid who, the first of May,
Goes to the fields at break of day,
And washes in dew from the hawthorn-tree,
Will ever after handsome be.
SULKY SUE
Here's Sulky Sue,
What shall we do?
Turn her face to the wall
Till she comes to.
THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT
This is the house that Jack built.
This is the malt
That lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the rat,
That ate the malt
That lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the cat,
That killed the rat,
That ate the malt
That lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the dog,
That worried the cat,
That killed the rat,
That ate the malt
That lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the cow with the crumpled horn,
That tossed the dog,
That worried the cat,
That killed the rat,
That ate the malt
That lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the maiden all forlorn,
That milked the cow with the crumpled horn,
That tossed the dog,
That worried the cat,
That killed the rat,
That ate the malt
That lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the man all tattered and torn,
That kissed the maiden all forlorn,
That milked the cow with the crumpled horn,
That tossed the dog,
That worried the cat,
That killed the rat,
That ate the malt
That lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the priest all shaven and shorn,
That married the man all tattered and torn,
That kissed the maiden all forlorn,
That milked the cow with the crumpled horn,
That tossed the dog,
That worried the cat,
That killed the rat,
That ate the malt
That lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the cock that crowed in the morn,
That waked the priest all shaven and shorn,
That married the man all tattered and torn,
That kissed the maiden all forlorn,
That milked the cow with the crumpled horn,
That tossed the dog,
That worried the cat,
That killed the rat,
That ate the malt
That lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the farmer sowing the corn,
That kept the cock that crowed in the morn,
That waked the priest all shaven and shorn,
That married the man all tattered and torn,
That kissed the maiden all forlorn,
That milked the cow with the crumpled horn,
That tossed the dog,
That worried the cat,
That killed the rat,
That ate the malt
That lay in the house that Jack built.
SATURDAY, SUNDAY
On Saturday night
Shall be all my care
To powder my locks
And curl my hair.
On Sunday morning
My love will come in.
When he will marry me
With a gold ring.
LITTLE JENNY WREN
Little Jenny Wren fell sick,
Upon a time;
In came Robin Redbreast
And brought her cake and wine.
"Eat well of my cake, Jenny,
Drink well of my wine."
"Thank you, Robin, kindly,
You shall be mine."
Jenny she got well,
And stood upon her feet,
And told Robin plainly
She loved him not a bit.
Robin being angry,
Hopped upon a twig,
Saying, "Out upon you! Fie upon you!
Bold-faced jig!"
THE OLD WOMAN AND THE PEDLAR
There was an old woman, as I've heard tell,
She went to market her eggs for to sell;
She went to market all on a market-day,
And she fell asleep on the King's highway.
There came by a pedlar whose name was Stout,
He cut her petticoats all round about;
He cut her petticoats up to the knees,
Which made the old woman to shiver and freeze.