THE STARS THEY WERE SHINING, AND ALL THINGS
BRIGHT;
“OHO!” SAID THE FOX, “IT’S A VERY FINE NIGHT
FOR ME TO GO THROUGH THE TOWN, E-HO!”
THE FOX WHEN HE CAME TO YONDER STILE,
HE LIFTED HIS LUGS AND HE LISTENED AWHILE.
“OHO!” SAID THE FOX,” IT’S BUT A SHORT MILE
FROM THIS UNTO YONDER WEE TOWN, E-HO!”
THE FOX, WHEN HE CAME TO THE FARMER’S GATE,
WHOM SHOULD HE SEE BUT THE FARMER’S DRAKE;
“I LOVE YOU WELL FOR YOUR MASTER’S SAKE,
AND LONG TO BE PICKING YOUR BONE, E-HO!”
THE GREY GOOSE SHE RAN AROUND THE HAY-STACK.
“OHO! “SAID THE FOX,” YOU ARE VERY FAT;
YOU’LL GREASE MY BEARD, AND RIDE ON MY BACK
FROM THIS UNTO YONDER WEE TOWN, E-HO!”
OLD GAMMER HIPPLE-HOPPLE HOPPED OUT OF BED,
SHE OPENED THE CASEMENT, AND POPPED OUT HER
HEAD;
“O HUSBAND! O HUSBAND! THE GREY GOOSE IS DEAD,
AND THE FOX HAS GONE THROUGH THE TOWN, O!”
THEN THE OLD MAN GOT UP, IN HIS RED CAP,
AND SWORE HE WOULD CATCH THE FOX IN A TRAP,
BUT THE FOX WAS TOO CUNNING, AND GAVE HIM THE
SLIP,
AND RAN THROUGH THE TOWN, THE TOWN, 0!
WHEN THE FOX CAME BACK TO HIS DEN,
HE HAD YOUNG ONES BOTH NINE AND TEN:
“YOU’RE WELCOME HOME, DADDY, YOU MAY GO
AGAIN,
IF YOU BRING US SUCH NICE MEAT FROM THE
TOWN, O!”
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 THE COUNTING HOUSE,
COUNTING OUT HIS MONEY;
THE QUEEN WAS IN THE PARLOUR,
EATING BREAD AND HONEY;
THE MAID WAS IN THE GARDEN,
HANGING OUT THE CLOTHES;
THERE CAME BY A BLACKBIRD,
AND PECKED OFF HER NOSE.
BUT LITTLE JENNY WREN
CAME AND POPPED IT ON AGAIN.
There was a Little Boy
THERE WAS A LITTLE BOY AND A LITTLE GIRL
LIVED IN AN ALLEY;
SAYS THE LITTLE BOY TO THE LITTLE GIRL,
“SHALL I, OH! SHALL I?”
SAYS THE LITTLE GIRL TO THE LITTLE BOY,
“WHAT SHALL WE DO?”
SAYS THE LITTLE BOY TO THE LITTLE GIRL,
“I WILL KISS YOU.”
The Queen of Hearts
THE QUEEN OF HEARTS, SHE MADE SOME TARTS,
ALL ON A SUMMER’S DAY;
THE KNAVE OF HEARTS, HE STOLE THE TARTS,
AND TOOK THEM RIGHT AWAY.
THE KING OF HEARTS CALLED FOR THE TARTS,
AND BEAT THE KNAVE FULL SORE;
THE KNAVE OF HEARTS BROUGHT BACK THE TARTS,
AND VOWED HE’D STEAL NO MORE.
When Good King Arthur
WHEN GOOD KING ARTHUR RULED THE LAND,
HE WAS A GOODLY KING;
HE STOLE THREE PECKS OF BARLEY-MEAL,
TO MAKE A BAG-PUDDING.
A BAG-PUDDING THE QUEEN DID MAKE,
AND STUFFED IT WELL WITH PLUMS;
AND IN IT PUT GREAT LUMPS OF FAT,
AS BIG AS MY TWO THUMBS.
THE KING AND QUEEN DID EAT THEREOF,
AND NOBLEMEN BESIDE;
AND WHAT THEY COULD NOT EAT THAT NIGHT
THE QUEEN NEXT MORNING FRIED.
“THE QUEEN OF HEARTS SHE MADE SOME. TARTS
ALL ON A SUMMER’S DAY,”
Merry go the Bells
MERRY GO THE BELLS, AND MERRY DO THEY RING,
MERRY WAS MYSELF, AND MERRY DID I SING;
WITH A MERRY DING-DONG, DING-A-LING, DEE,
AND A MERRY SING-SONG, MERRY LET US BE!
WADDLE GOES YOUR GAIT, AND HOLLOW ARE YOUR HOSE,
NODDLE GOES YOUR PATE, AND NODDING IS YOUR NOSE;
MERRY IS YOUR SING-SONG, DING-A-LING, DEE,
WITH A MERRY DING-DONG, MERRY LET US BE!
MERRY HAVE WE MET, AND MERRY HAVE WE BEEN,
MERRY LET US PART AND MERRY MEET AGAIN;
WITH A MERRY SING-SONG, DING-A-LING, DEE,
AND A MERRY DING-DONG, MERRY LET US BE!
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 DAYS ARE TWENTY-NINE.
A Sunshiny Shower
A SUNSHINY SHOWER
WON’T LAST HALF AN HOUR.
Little Robin Redbreast Sat upon a Tree
LITTLE ROBIN REDBREAST SAT UPON A TREE,
UP WENT PUSSY-CAT, AND DOWN WENT HE;
DOWN CAME PUSSY-CAT, AND AWAY ROBIN RAN;
SAYS LITTLE ROBIN REDBREAST, “CATCH ME IF YOU CAN.”
LITTLE ROBIN REDBREAST JUMPED UPON A WALL,
PUSSY-CAT JUMPED AFTER HIM, AND ALMOST GOT A FALL.
LITTLE ROBIN CHIRPED AND SANG, AND WHAT DID PUSSY SAY?
PUSSY-CAT SAID, “MEW,” AND ROBIN FLEW AWAY.
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!
Here Am I
HERE AM I, LITTLE JUMPING JOAN.
WHEN NOBODY’S WITH ME I’M
ALWAYS ALONE.
Who Killed Cock Robin?
WHO KILLED COCK ROBIN?
“I,” SAID THE SPARROW,
“WITH MY BOW AND ARROW,
I KILLED COCK ROBIN.”
WHO SAW HIM DIE?
“I,” SAID THE FLY,
“WITH MY LITTLE EYE,
I SAW HIM DIE.”
WHO CAUGHT HIS BLOOD?
“I,” SAID THE FISH,
“WITH MY LITTLE DISH,
I CAUGHT HIS BLOOD.”
WHO MADE HIS SHROUD?
“I,” SAID THE BEETLE,
“WITH MY THREAD AND NEEDLE,
I MADE HIS SHROUD.”
WHO’LL DIG HIS GRAVE?
“I,” SAID THE OWL,
“WITH MY SPADE AND SHOW’L,
I’LL DIG HIS GRAVE.”
WHO’LL BE THE PARSON?
“I,” SAID THE ROOK,
“WITH MY LITTLE BOOK,
I’LL BE THE PARSON.”
WHO’LL BE THE CLERK?
“I,” SAID THE LARK,
“IF IT’S NOT IN THE DARK,
I’LL BE THE CLERK.”
WHO’LL CARRY HIM TO THE GRAVE?
“I,” SAID THE KITE,
“IF ’TIS NOT IN THE NIGHT,
I’LL CARRY HIM TO HIS GRAVE.”
WHO’LL CARRY THE LINK?
“I,” SAID THE LINNET,
“I’LL FETCH IT IN A MINUTE,
I’LL CARRY THE LINK.”
WHO’LL BE CHIEF MOURNER?
“I,” SAID THE DOVE,
“I MOURN FOR MY LOVE,
I’LL BE CHIEF MOURNER.”
WHO’LL SING A PSALM?
“I,” SAID THE THRUSH,
AS SHE SAT IN A BUSH,
“I’LL SING A PSALM.”
WHO’LL TOLL THE BELL?
“I,” SAID THE BULL,
“BECAUSE I CAN PULL,
I’LL TOLL THE BELL.”
ALL THE BIRDS OF THE AIR
FELL A-SIGHING AND A-SOBBING
WHEN THEY HEARD OF THE DEATH
OF POOR COCK ROBIN.
Shall We go A-shearing?
“OLD WOMAN, OLD WOMAN, SHALL WE GO A-SHEARING?”
“SPEAK A LITTLE LOUDER, SIR, I AM VERY HARD OF HEARING.”
“OLD WOMAN, OLD WOMAN, SHALL I LOVE YOU DEARLY?”
“THANK YOU, KIND SIR, I HEAR YOU VERY CLEARLY.”
Deedle, Deedle, Dumpling
DEEDLE, DEEDLE, DUMPLING, MY SON JOHN,
HE WENT TO BED WITH HIS STOCKINGS ON;
ONE STOCKING OFF, AND ONE STOCKING ON,
DEEDLE, DEEDLE, DUMPLING, MY SON JOHN.
Pussy-Cat, Pussy-Cat
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.
Three Little Kittens
THREE LITTLE KITTENS, THEY LOST THEIR MITTENS,
AND THEY BEGAN TO CRY,
“OH! MAMMY DEAR,
WE SADLY FEAR
OUR MITTENS WE HAVE LOST!”
“WHAT! LOST YOUR MITTENS, YOU NAUGHTY KITTENS!
THEN YOU SHALL HAVE NO PIE!”
MIEW, MIEW, MIEW, MIEW.
MIEW, MIEW, MIEW, MIEW.
THE THREE LITTLE KITTENS THEY FOUND THEIR MITTENS,
AND THEY BEGAN TO CRY,
“OH! MAMMY DEAR,
SEE HERE, SEE HERE!
OUR MITTENS WE HAVE FOUND!”
“WHAT! FOUND YOUR MITTENS, YOU LITTLE KITTENS,
THEN YOU SHALL HAVE SOME PIE!”
PURR, PURR, PURR, PURR,
PURR, PURR, PURR, PURR.
THE THREE LITTLE KITTENS PUT ON THEIR MITTENS,
AND SOON ATE UP THEIR PIE;
“OH! MAMMY DEAR
WE GREATLY FEAR
OUR MITTENS WE HAVE SOILED!”
“WHAT! SOILED YOUR MITTENS, YOU NAUGHTY KITTENS!”
THEN THEY BEGAN TO SIGH,
MIEW, MIEW, MIEW, MIEW,
MIEW, MIEW, MIEW, MIEW.
THE THREE LITTLE KITTENS THEY WASHED THEIR MITTENS,
AND HUNG THEM OUT TO DRY;
“OH, MAMMY DEAR,
LOOK HERE, LOOK HERE,
OUR MITTENS WE HAVE WASHED!”
“WHAT! WASHED YOUR MITTENS, YOU DARLING KITTENS—
BUT I SMELL A RAT CLOSE BY!”
HUSH! HUSH!—MIEW, MIEW,
“TO CATCH HIM LET US TRY.”
There was a Jolly Miller
THERE WAS A JOLLY MILLER
LIVED ON THE RIVER DEE;
HE WORKED AND SANG FROM MORN TILL NIGHT,
NO LARK SO BLITHE AS HE.
AND THIS THE BURDEN OF HIS SONG
FOR EVER USED TO BE—
I CARE FOR NOBODY—NO! NOT I!
SINCE NOBODY CARES FOR ME.
Rock-a-bye, Baby
ROCK-A-BYE, BABY, THY CRADLE IS GREEN;
FATHER’S A NOBLEMAN, MOTHER’S A QUEEN;
AND BETTY’S A LADY, AND WEARS A GOLD RING;
AND JOHNNY’S A DRUMMER, AND DRUMS FOR THE KING.
ROCK-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, CRADLE AND ALL.
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.
As Tittymouse Sat
AS TITTYMOUSE SAT IN THE WITTY TO SPIN,
PUSSY CAME TO HER AND BID HER GOOD E’EN.
“OH, WHAT ARE YOU DOING, MY LITTLE ’OMAN?”
“A-SPINNING A DOUBLET FOR MY GUDE MAN.”
“THEN SHALL I COME TO THEE AND WIND UP THY THREAD?”
“OH, NO, MR. PUSS, YOU WILL BITE OFF MY HEAD.”
Cock-a-Doodle-Doo!
COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO!
MY DAME HAS LOST HER SHOE;
MY MASTER’S LOST HIS FIDDLING-STICK,
AND DOESN’T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO!
WHAT IS MY DAME TO DO?
TILL MASTER FINDS HIS FIDDLING-STICK
SHE’LL DANCE WITHOUT HER SHOE.
COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO!
MY DAME HAS LOST HER SHOE,
AND MASTER’S FOUND HIS FIDDLING-STICK,
SING DOODLE-DOODLE-DOO!
COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO!
MY DAME WILL DANCE WITH YOU,
WHILE MASTER FIDDLES HIS FIDDLING-STICK,
FOR DAME AND DOODLE-DOO.
COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO!
MY DAME HAS LOST HER SHOE;
GONE TO BED AND SCRATCHED HER HEAD,
AND CAN’T TELL WHAT TO DO.
A Greedy Man
A GREEDY MAN IS HE WHO SITS
AND BITES BITS OFF THE PLATES ;
AND THEN TAKES DOWN THE CALENDARS
AND GOBBLES UP THE DATES.
Rain, Rain, go Away
RAIN, RAIN, GO AWAY;
COME AGAIN ANOTHER DAY;
LITTLE HARRY WANTS TO PLAY.
There Was an Old Woman Lived Under a Hill
THERE WAS AN OLD WOMAN LIVED UNDER A HILL,
AND IF SHE’S NOT GONE SHE LIVES THERE STILL.
Curly Locks, Curly Locks
CURLY LOCKS, CURLY LOCKS,
WILT THOU BE MINE?
THOU SHALT NOT WASH DISHES,
NOR YET FEED THE SWINE;
BUT SIT ON A CUSHION,
AND SEW A FINE SEAM,
AND FEED UPON STRAWBERRIES,
SUGAR AND CREAM.
Peter, Peter, Pumpkin-eater
PETER, PETER, PUMPKIN-EATER,
HAD A WIFE, AND COULDN’T KEEP HER;
HE PUT HER IN A PUMPKIN-SHELL,
AND THERE HE KEPT HER VERY WELL.
PETER, PETER, PUMPKIN-EATER,
HAD ANOTHER AND DIDN’T LOVE HER;
PETER LEARNED TO READ AND SPELL,
AND THEN HE LOVED HER VERY WELL.
March Winds
MARCH WINDS AND APRIL SHOWERS
BRING FORTH MAY FLOWERS.
“CURLY-LOCKS. CURLY-LOCKS.
WILT THOU BE MINE?”
When a Twister A-Twisting
WHEN A TWISTER, A-TWISTING, WILL TWIST HIM A TWIST;
FOR THE TWISTING OF HIS TWIST, HE THREE TIMES DOTH INTWIST;
BUT IF ONE OF THE TWINES OF THE TWIST DO UNTWIST,
THE TWINE THAT UNTWISTED, UNTWISTED THE TWIST.
UNTWIRLING THE TWINE THAT UNTWISTED BETWEEN,
HE TWIRLS, WITH THE TWISTER, THE TWO IN A TWINE;
THEN TWICE HAVING TWISTED THE TWINES OF THE TWINE,
HE TWISTED THE TWINE HE HAD TWINED IN TWAIN.
THE TWAIN THAT, IN TWINING, BEFORE IN THE TWINE,
AS THE TWINES WERE INTWISTED, HE NOW DOTH UNTWINE;
’TWIXT THE TWAIN INTER-TWISTING A TWINE MORE BETWEEN,
HE, TWIRLING HIS TWISTER, MAKES A TWIST OF THE TWINE.
Handy Spandy
HANDY SPANDY, JACK-A-DANDY,
LOVED PLUM-CAKE AND SUGAR-CANDY;
HE BOUGHT SOME AT A GROCER’S SHOP,
AND OUT HE CAME, HOP, HOP, HOP.
Husky, Baby, My Doll
HUSHY, BABY, MY DOLL, 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 WHOLE HEART.
There Were Two B
irds
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 FLEW AFTER, AND THEN THERE WAS NONE,
FA, LA, LA, LA, LAL, DE;
AND SO THE POOR STONE WAS LEFT ALL ALONE,
FA, LA, LA, LA, LAL, DE!
Little Tom Tucker
LITTLE TOM TUCKER
SINGS FOR HIS SUPPER;
WHAT SHALL HE EAT?
WHITE BREAD AND BUTTER
HOW SHALL HE CUT IT
WITHOUT E’ER A KNIFE?
HOW CAN HE MARRY
WITHOUT E’ER A WIFE?
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!
A was an Apple Pie
A WAS AN APPLE PIE, B BIT IT;
C CUT IT, D DEALT IT;
E EAT IT, F FOUGHT FOR IT;
G GOT IT, H HAD IT;
I INQUIRED FOR IT,
J JOINED IT, K KEPT IT;
L LONGED FOR IT, M MOURNED FOR IT;
N NODDED AT IT, O OPENED IT;
P PEEPED IN IT, Q QUARTERED IT;
R RAN FOR IT, S STOLE IT;
T TOOK IT, U USED IT,
V VIEWED IT; W WANTED IT,
X, Y, Z, AND AMPERS’ AND
ALL WISHED FOR A PIECE IN HAND.
One Misty, Moisty Morning
ONE MISTY, MOISTY MORNING,
WHEN CLOUDY WAS THE WEATHER,
THERE I MET AN OLD MAN
CLOTHED ALL IN LEATHER. CLOTHED ALL IN LEATHER
WITH CAP UNDER HIS CHIN—
HOW DO YOU DO, HOW DO YOU DO,
Mother Goose Page 3