Mother Goose

by Vredenburg, Edric

  HE WAS FEEDING THE CAT.

  SHE WENT TO THE BARBER’S

  TO BUY HIM A WIG;

  BUT WHEN SHE CAME BACK,

  HE WAS DANCING A JIG.

  SHE WENT TO THE FRUITERER’S

  TO BUY HIM SOME FRUIT;

  BUT WHEN SHE CAME BACK,

  HE WAS PLAYING THE FLUTE.

  SHE WENT TO THE TAILOR’S

  TO BUY HIM A COAT;

  BUT WHEN SHE CAME BACK,

  HE WAS RIDING A GOAT.

  SHE WENT TO THE COBBLER’S

  TO BUY HIM SOME SHOES;

  BUT WHEN SHE CAME BACK,

  HE WAS READING THE NEWS.

  SHE WENT TO THE SEAMSTRESS

  TO BUY HIM SOME LINEN;

  BUT WHEN SHE CAME BACK,

  THE DOG WAS SPINNING.

  SHE WENT TO THE HOSIER’S

  TO BUY HIM SOME HOSE;

  BUT WHEN SHE CAME BACK,

  HE WAS DRESSED IN HIS CLOTHES.

  THE DAME MADE A CURTSEY,

  THE DOG MADE A BOW;

  THE DAME SAID, “YOUR SERVANT,”

  THE DOG SAID, “BOW WOW.”

  THIS WONDERFUL DOG

  WAS DAME HUBBARD’S DELIGHT;

  HE COULD SING, HE COULD DANCE,

  HE COULD READ, HE COULD WRITE.

  SHE GAVE HIM RICH DAINTIES

  WHENEVER HE FED,

  AND ERECTED A MONUMENT

  WHEN HE WAS DEAD.

  Brow Brink

  BROW BRINKY, EYE WINKY, CHIN CHOPPY,

  NOSE NOPPY, CHEEK CHERRY, MOUTH MERRY.

  Three Wise Men

  THREE WISE MEN OF GOTHAM

  WENT TO SEA IN A BOWL;

  AND IF THE BOWL HAD BEEN STRONGER

  MY SONG WOULD HAVE BEEN LONGER.

  There was a Fat Man of Bombay

  THERE WAS A FAT MAN OF BOMBAY,

  WHO WAS SMOKING ONE SUNSHINY DAY,

  WHEN A BIRD, CALLED A SNIPE,

  FLEW AWAY WITH HIS PIPE,

  WHICH VEXED THE FAT MAN OF BOMBAY.

  I Saw Three Ships

  I SAW THREE SHIPS COME SAILING BY,

  COME SAILING BY, COME 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?

  WAS IN THEM THEN, WAS 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,

  WERE IN THEM THEN, WERE IN THEM THEN;

  THREE PRETTY GIRLS WERE IN THEM THEN,

  ON NEW YEAR’S DAY IN THE MORNING.

  ONE COULD WHISTLE, AND ONE COULD SING,

  AND ONE COULD PLAY THE VIOLIN,—

  SUCH JOY WAS THERE AT MY WEDDING,

  ON NEW YEAR’S DAY IN THE MORNING.

  A Dillar, A Dollar

  A DILLAR, A DOLLAR, A TEN-O’CLOCK SCHOLAR,

  WHAT MAKES YOU COME SO SOON?

  YOU USED TO COME AT TEN O’CLOCK,

  AND NOW YOU COME AT NOON.

  Daffy-Down-Dilly

  DAFFY-DOWN-DILLY HAS COME UP TO TOWN,

  IN A YELLOW PETTICOAT AND A GREEN GOWN.

  I Love Sixpence, Pretty Little Sixpence

  I LOVE SIXPENCE, PRETTY LITTLE SIXPENCE,

  I LOVE SIXPENCE BETTER THAN MY LIFE;

  I SPENT A PENNY OF IT, I SPENT ANOTHER,

  AND I TOOK FOURPENCE HOME TO MY WIFE.

  OH, MY LITTLE FOURPENCE, PRETTY LITTLE FOUR-PENCE,

  I LOVE FOURPENCE BETTER THAN MY LIFE;

  I SPENT A PENNY OF IT, I SPENT ANOTHER,

  AND I TOOK TWOPENCE HOME TO MY WIFE.

  OH, MY LITTLE TWOPENCE, MY PRETTY LITTLE TWO-PENCE,

  I LOVE TWOPENCE BETTER THAN MY LIFE;

  I SPENT A PENNY OF IT, I SPENT ANOTHER,

  AND I TOOK NOTHING HOME TO MY WIFE.

  OH, MY LITTLE NOTHING, MY PRETTY LITTLE NOTHING,

  WHAT WILL NOTHING BUY FOR MY WIFE?

  I HAVE NOTHING, I SPEND NOTHING,

  I LOVE NOTHING BETTER THAN MY WIFE.

  “DAFFY-DOWN-DILLY HAS COME UP TO TOWN

  IN A YELLOW PETTICOAT AND A GREEN GOWN,”

  Dame, Get Up and Bake Your Pies

  DAME, GET UP AND BAKE YOUR PIES,

  BAKE YOUR PIES, BAKE YOUR PIES;

  DAME, GET UP AND BAKE YOUR PIES

  ON CHRISTMAS-DAY IN THE MORNING.

  DAME, WHAT MAKES YOUR MAIDENS LIE,

  MAIDENS LIE, MAIDENS LIE;

  DAME, WHAT MAKES YOUR MAIDENS LIE

  ON CHRISTMAS-DAY IN THE MORNING?

  DAME, WHAT MAKES YOUR DUCKS TO DIE,

  DUCKS TO DIE, DUCKS TO DIE;

  DAME, WHAT MAKES YOUR DUCKS TO DIE

  ON CHRISTMAS-DAY IN THE MORNING?

  THEIR WINGS ARE CUT AND THEY CANNOT FLY,

  CANNOT FLY, CANNOT FLY;

  THEIR WINGS ARE CUT, AND THEY CANNOT FLY

  ON CHRISTMAS-DAY IN THE MORNING.

  There was an Old Man of Tobago

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF TOBAGO,

  WHO LIVED ON RICE, GRUEL, AND SAGO;

  TILL, MUCH TO HIS BLISS,

  HIS PHYSICIAN SAID THIS,

  “TO A LEG, SIR, OF MUTTON YOU MAY GO.”

  Ding Dong Bell

  DING DONG BELL, PUSSY’S IN THE WELL!

  WHO PUT HER IN?-LITTLE JOHNNY GREEN.

  WHO PULLED HER OUT?-LITTLE TOMMY TROUT.

  WHAT A NAUGHTY BOY WAS THAT

  TO DROWN POOR PUSSY CAT,

  WHO NEVER DID HIM ANY HARM,

  BUT KILLED THE MICE IN HIS FATHER’S BARN!

  Leg Over, Leg Over

  LEG OVER, LEG OVER,

  AS THE DOG WENT TO DOVER;

  WHEN HE CAME TO A STILE,

  HOP HE WENT OVER.

  There was a Man and he had Naught

  THERE WAS A MAN, AND HE HAD NAUGHT,

  AND ROBBERS CAME TO ROB HIM;

  HE CREPT UP TO THE CHIMNEY-POT,

  AND THEN THEY THOUGHT THEY’D GOT HIM.

  BUT HE GOT DOWN ON T’OTHER SIDE,

  AND THEN THEY COULD NOT FIND HIM;

  HE RAN FOURTEEN MILES IN FIFTEEN DAYS,

  AND NEVER LOOKED BEHIND HIM.

  Once I Saw a Little Bird

  ONCE I SAW A LITTLE BIRD

  COME HOP, HOP, HOP;

  SO I CRIED, “LITTLE BIRD,

  WILL YOU STOP, STOP, STOP?”

  AND WAS GOING TO THE WINDOW

  TO SAY, “HOW DO YOU DO?”

  BUT HE SHOOK HIS LITTLE TAIL,

  AND FAR AWAY HE FLEW.

  A was an Archer

  A WAS AN ARCHER, AND SHOT AT A FROG,

  B WAS A BUTCHER, AND HAD A GREAT DOG.

  C WAS A CAPTAIN, ALL COVERED WITH LACE;

  D WAS A DUSTMAN, AND HAD A RED FACE.

  E WAS AN ESQUIRE, WITH PRIDE ON HIS BROW;

  F WAS A FARMER, AND FOLLOWED THE PLOUGH.

  G WAS A GAMESTER, WHO HAD BUT ILL-LUCK ;

  H WAS A HUNTER, AND HUNTED A BUCK.

  I WAS AN IDLE BOY, WOULD NOT AROUSE;

  J WAS A JOINER, AND BUILT UP A HOUSE.

  K WAS KING WILLIAM, ONCE GOVERNED THE LAND;

  L WAS A LADY, WHO HAD A WHITE HAND.

  M WAS A MISER, AND HOARDED UP GOLD;

  N WAS A NOBLEMAN, GALLANT AND BOLD.

  O WAS AN OYSTER-GIRL, AND WENT ABOUT TOWN,

  P WAS A PARSON, AND WORE A BLACK GOWN.

  Q WAS A QUEEN, WHO WAS FOND OF GOOD FLIP;

  R WAS A ROBBER AND WANTED A WHIP.

  S WAS A SAILOR, AND SPENT ALL HE GOT;

  T WAS A TINKER, AND MENDED A POT.

  U WAS A USURER, A MISERABLE ELF;

  V WAS A VINTNER, WHO DRANK ALL HIMSELF.

  W WAS A WATCHMAN, AND GUARDED THE DOOR;

  X WAS (E)XPENSIVE, AND SO BECAME POOR.

  Y WAS A YOUTH THAT DID NOT LOVE SCHOOL;

  Z WAS A ZANY, A POOR, HARMLESS FOOL.

  When I was a Little Boy
r />   WHEN I WAS A LITTLE BOY,

  I LIVED BY MYSELF,

  AND ALL THE BREAD AND CHEESE I GOT

  I PUT UPON THE SHELF.

  THE RATS AND THE MICE

  THEY LED ME SUCH A LIFE

  I WAS FORCED TO GO TO LONDON TOWN

  TO BUY ME A WIFE.

  THE STREETS WERE SO BROAD,

  AND THE LANES WERE SO NARROW,

  I COULD NOT GET MY WIFE HOME

  IN A WHEELBARROW.

  THE WHEELBARROW BROKE,

  AND MY WIFE GOT A FALL,

  DOWN CAME THE WHEELBARROW,

  WIFE AND ALL.

  The Old Woman who Rode on a Broom

  THERE WAS AN OLD WOMAN WHO RODE ON A BROOM,

  WITH A HIGH GEE HO, GEE HUMBLE:

  AND SHE TOOK HER OLD CAT BEHIND FOR A GROOM,

  WITH A BIMBLE, BAMBLE, BUMBLE.

  THEY TRAVELLED ALONG TILL THEY CAME TO THE SKY,

  WITH A HIGH GEE HO, GEE HUMBLE;

  BUT THE JOURNEY SO LONG MADE THEM VERY

  HUNGRY,

  WITH A BIMBLE, BAMBLE, BUMBLE.

  SAYS TOM, “I CAN FIND NOTHING HERE TO EAT,

  WITH A HIGH GEE HO, GEE HUMBLE;

  SO LET US GO BACK AGAIN, I ENTREAT,

  WITH A BIMBLE, BAMBLE, BUMBLE.”

  THE OLD WOMAN WOULD NOT GO BACK SO SOON,

  WITH A HIGH GEE HO, GEE HUMBLE;

  FOR SHE WANTED TO VISIT THE MAN IN THE MOON,

  WITH A BIMBLE, BAMBLE, BUMBLE.

  SAYS TOM, “I’LL GO BACK MYSELF TO OUR HOUSE,

  WITH A HIGH GEE HO, GEE HUMBLE;

  FOR THERE I CAN CATCH A GOOD RAT OR A MOUSE,

  WITH A BIMBLE, BAMBLE, BUMBLE.”

  “BUT,” SAYS THE OLD WOMAN, “HOW WILL YOU GO?

  WITH A HIGH GEE HO, GEE HUMBLE;

  YOU SHAN’T HAVE MY NAG, I PROTEST AND VOW,

  WITH A BIMBLE, BAMBLE, BUMBLE.”

  “NO, NO,” SAYS TOM, “I’VE A PLAN OF MY OWN,

  WITH A HIGH GEE HO, GEE HUMBLE.”

  SO HE SLID DOWN THE RAINBOW AND LEFT HER

  ALONE,

  WITH A BIMBLE, BAMBLE, BUMBLE.

  SO NOW, IF YOU HAPPEN TO VISIT THE SKY,

  WITH A HIGH GEE HO, GEE HUMBLE,

  AND WANT TO COME BACK, YOU TOM’S METHOD

  MAY TRY,

  WITH A BIMBLE, BAMBLE, BUMBLE.

  One, Two, Buckle my Shoe

  ONE, TWO, BUCKLE MY SHOE;

  THREE, FOUR, SHUT THE DOOR;

  FIVE, SIX, PICK UP STICKS;

  SEVEN, EIGHT, LAY THEM STRAIGHT;

  NINE, TEN, A GOOD FAT HEN;

  ELEVEN, TWELVE, DIG AND DELVE ;

  THIRTEEN, FOURTEEN, MAIDS A-COURTING;

  FIFTEEN, SIXTEEN, MAIDS IN THE KITCHEN;

  SEVENTEEN, EIGHTEEN, MAIDS A-WAITING;

  NINETEEN, TWENTY, MY PLATE’S EMPTY.

  Ride, Baby, Ride

  RIDE, BABY, RIDE, PRETTY BABY SHALL RIDE,

  AND HAVE A LITTLE PUPPY-DOG TIED TO HER SIDE,

  AND A LITTLE PUSSY-CAT TIED TO HER OTHER,

  AND AWAY SHE SHALL RIDE TO SEE HER GRANDMOTHER,

  TO SEE HER GRANDMOTHER

  TO SEE HER GRANDMOTHER.

  Hey! Diddle, Diddle

  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.

  Mary had a Little Lamb

  MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB,

  ITS FLEECE WAS WHITE AS SNOW;

  AND EVERYWHERE THAT MARY WENT,

  THE LAMB WAS SURE TO GO.

  HE FOLLOWED HER TO SCHOOL ONE DAY;

  THAT WAS AGAINST THE RULE;

  IT MADE THE CHILDREN LAUGH AND PLAY

  TO SEE A LAMB AT SCHOOL.

  AND SO THE TEACHER TURNED HIM OUT,

  BUT STILL HE LINGERED NEAR,

  AND WAITED PATIENTLY ABOUT

  TILL MARY DID APPEAR.

  THEN HE RAN TO HER, AND LAID

  HIS HEAD UPON HER ARM,

  AS IF HE SAID, “I’M NOT AFRAID—

  YOU’LL KEEP ME FROM ALL HARM.”

  “WHAT MAKES THE LAMB LOVE MARY SO?”

  THE EAGER CHILDREN CRY.

  “OH, MARY LOVES THE LAMB, YOU KNOW,”

  THE TEACHER DID REPLY.

  “MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB

  ITS FLEECE WAS WHITE AS SNOW.”

  AND YOU EACH GENTLE ANIMAL

  IN CONFIDENCE MAY BIND,

  AND MAKE THEM FOLLOW AT YOUR WILL

  IF YOU ARE ONLY KIND.

  Johnny shall have a New Bonnet

  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 LEG 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?

  Tommy Trot

  TOMMY TROT, A MAN OF LAW,

  SOLD HIS BED AND LAY UPON STRAW;

  SOLD THE STRAW AND SLEPT ON GRASS,

  TO BUY HIS WIFE A LOOKING-GLASS.

  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.

  Three Children Sliding 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.

  NOW HAD THESE CHILDREN BEEN AT HOME,

  OR SLIDING ON DRY GROUND,

  TEN THOUSAND POUNDS TO ONE PENNY

  THEY HAD NOT ALL BEEN DROWNED.

  YOU PARENTS ALL THAT CHILDREN HAVE,

  AND YOU THAT HAVE GOT NONE,

  IF YOU WOULD HAVE THEM SAFE ABROAD,

  PRAY KEEP THEM SAFE AT HOME.

  The Lion and the Unicorn

  THE LION AND THE UNICORN

  WERE FIGHTING FOR THE CROWN!

  THE LION BEAT THE UNICORN

  ALL ROUND ABOUT THE TOWN.

  SOME GAVE THEM WHITE BREAD,

  AND SOME GAVE THEM BROWN ;

  SOME GAVE THEM PLUM-CAKE,

  AND SENT THEM OUT OF TOWN.

  There was a Monkey

  THERE WAS A MONKEY CLIMBED UP A TREE;

  WHEN HE FELL DOWN, THEN DOWN FELL HE.

  THERE WAS A CROW SAT ON A STONE;

  WHEN HE WAS GONE, THEN THERE WAS NONE.

  THERE WAS AN OLD WIFE DID EAT AN APPLE;

  WHEN SHE’D EATEN TWO, SHE’D EATEN A COUPLE

  THERE WAS A HORSE GOING TO THE MILL;

  WHEN HE WENT ON, HE STOOD NOT STILL.

  THERE WAS A BUTCHER CUT HIS THUMB;

  WHEN IT DID BLEED, THEN BLOOD DID COME.

  THERE WAS A LACKEY RAN A RACE;

  WHEN HE RAN FAST, HE RAN APACE.

  THERE WAS A COBBLER CLOUTING SHOON;

  WHEN THEY WERE MENDED, THEY WERE DONE.

  THERE WAS A CHANDLER MAKING CANDLE;

  WHEN HE THEM STRIP, HE DID THEM HANDLE.

  THERE WAS A NAVY WENT INTO SPAIN;

  WHEN IT RETURNED, IT CAME AGAIN.

  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.

  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.

  The North Wind

  THE NORTH WIND DOTH BLOW,

  AND WE SHALL HAVE SNOW,

  AND WHAT WILL THE ROBIN DO THEN,

  POOR THING?

  HE’LL SIT IN THE BARN

  AND KEEP HIMSELF WARM,

  AND HIDE HIS HEAD UNDER HIS WING,

  POOR THING!

  THE NORTH WIND DOTH BLOW,

  AND WE SHALL HAVE SNOW,

  AND WHAT SHALL THE HONEY-BEE DO,

  POOR THING?

  IN HIS HIVE HE WILL STAY,

  TILL THE COLD’S PASSED AWAY,

  AND THEN HE’LL COME OUT IN THE SPRING,

  POOR THING!

  THE NORTH WIND DOTH BLOW,

  AND WE SHALL HAVE SNOW,

  AND WHAT WILL THE DORMOUSE DO THEN,

  POOR THING?

  ROLLED UP LIKE A BALL

  IN HIS NEST SNUG AND SMALL,

  HE’LL SLEEP TILL WARM WEATHER COMES BACK,

  POOR THING!

  THE NORTH WIND DOTH BLOW,

  AND WE SHALL HAVE SNOW,

  AND WHAT WILL THE CHILDREN DO THEN,

  POOR THINGS?

  WHEN LESSONS ARE DONE,

  THEY’LL JUMP, SKIP, AND RUN,

  AND THAT’S HOW THEY’LL KEEP THEMSELVES WARM,

  POOR THINGS!

  The Fox and His Wife

  THE FOX AND HIS WIFE, THEY HAD A GREAT STRIFE,

  THEY NEVER ATE MUSTARD IN ALL THEIR WHOLE LIFE;

  THEY ATE THEIR MEAT WITHOUT FORK OR KNIFE,

  AND LOVED TO BE PICKING A BONE, E-HO!

  THE FOX JUMPED UP ON A MOONLIGHT NIGHT,