Chapter I: Front Matter

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.