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THERE
was an old woman had three sons, Jerry, and James, and John : Jerry was hung, James was drowned, John was lost and never was found, And there was an end of her three sons, Jerry, and James, and John !
|
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THERE
was a man of Newington, And he was wondrous wise, He jump'd into a quickset hedge, And scratch'd out both his eyes ; But when he saw his eyes were out, With all his might and main He jump'd into another hedge, And scratch'd 'em in again.
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/ p.22 /
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WHEN I was a bachelor, I lived by myself, And all the bread and cheese I laid upon the shelf ; The rats and the mice they made such a strife, I was forc'd to go to London to buy me a wife ; The roads were so bad, and the lanes were so narrow, I was forced to bring my wife home in a wheelbarrow. The wheelbarrow broke, and my wife had a fall ; Deuce take the wheelbarrow, wife, and all.
|
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ROWSTY
dowt, my fire's all out, My little dame is not at home ! I'll saddle my cock, and bridle my hen, And fetch my little dame home again! Home she came, tritty trot, She asked for the porridge she left in the pot ; Some she ate and some she shod, And some she gave to the truckler's dog ; She took up the ladle and knocked its head, And now poor Dapsy dog is dead !
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/ p.23 /
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ROBIN
and Richard Were two pretty men ; They laid in bed Till the clock struck ten ; Then up starts Robin And looks at the sky, Oh ! brother Richard, The sun's very high. |
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You go before with the bottle and bag, And I will come after on little Jack Nag. You go first, and open the gate, And I'll come after, and break your pate.
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|
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WE make no spare Of John Hunkes' mare ; And now I Think she will die : He thought it good To put her in the wood, To seek where she might ly dry ; If the mare should chance to fale, Then the crownes would for her sale.
|
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I HAD
a little dog, and his name was Blue Bell, I gave him some work, and he did it very well ; I sent him up stairs to pick up a pin, He stepped in the coal-scuttle up to the chin. I sent him to the garden to pick some sage, He tumbled down and fell in a rage; I sent him to the cellar, to draw a pot of beer, He came up again and said there was none there.
|
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THERE
was a little man, And he woo'd a little maid, And he said, little maid, will you wed, wed, wed ? I have little more to say, Than will you, yea or nay, For least said is soonest mended—ded, ded, ded.
The little maid replied,
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/ p.25 /
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I HAD
a little moppet, I put it in my pocket, And fed it with corn and hay ; Then came a proud beggar, And swore he would have her, And stole little moppet away.
|
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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 !
|
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THERE was a little Guinea-pig, Who, being little, was not big, He always walked upon his feet, And never fasted when he eat. |
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When from a place he ran away, He never at that place did stay ; And while he ran, as I am told, He ne'er stood still for young or old.
He often squeak'd, and sometimes vi'lent,
One day, as I am certified,
|
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DID you not hear of Betty Pringle's pig ? It was not very little, nor yet very big ; The pig sat down upon a dunghill, And then poor piggy he made his will.
Betty Pringle came to see this pretty pig,
Then Johnny Pringle buried this very pretty pig,
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/ p.27 /
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THREE wise men of Gotham Went to sea in a bowl : And if the bowl had been stronger, My song would have been longer.
|
| [The following was most probably taken from a poetical tale in the "Choyce Poems," 12mo, Lond. 1662. As it is a very popular nursery song, I shall give the tale to which I allude in No. XLI.] |
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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,
You parents all that children have,
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/ p.28 /
|
|
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SOME Christian people all give ear, Unto the grief of us, Caused by the death of three children dear ; The which it hap'ned thus.
And eke there befel an accident,
May London say, wo woeth the carpenter,
For into the chips there fell a spark,
For lo, the bridge was wondrous high, |
|
And yet the fire consum'd the bridge, Not far from place of landing ; And though the building was full big, It fell down not-with-standing.
And eke into the water fell
And that the bridge of London town,
And thus you have all but half my song,
I'll tell you what the river's name is,
All on the tenth of January, |
|
Three children sliding thereabouts, Upon a place too thin, That so at last it did fall out, That they did all fall in.
A great lord there was that laid with the king,
He said it would bear a man for to slide,
Of which one's head was from his should-
"Oh! tut,-tut,-turn from thy sinful race,"
And thus being drown'd, alack, alack, |
|
Ye parents all that children have, And ye that have none yet ; Preserve your children from the grave, And teach them at home to sit.
For had they at a sermon been,
Even as a huntsman ties his dogs,
God bless our noble parliament,
|
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THERE was an old man in a velvet coat, He kiss'd a maid and gave her a groat ; The groat was crack'd, and would not go,— Ah, old man, d'ye serve me so ?
|
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THERE
was an old man, And he had a calf, And that's half : He took him out of the stall, And put him on the wall; And that's all.
|
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I'LL tell you a story About Jack a Nory, And now my story's begun : I'll tell you another About Jack his brother, And now my story's done.
|
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THE man in the moon, Came tumbling down, And ask'd his way to Norwich. He went by the south, And burnt his mouth, With supping cold pease porridge.
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/ p.33 /
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|
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THE man in the moon drinks claret, But he is a dull Jack-a-Dandy ; Would he know a sheep's head from a carrot, He should learn to drink cider and brandy.
|
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TOM,
Tom, the piper's son, Stole a pig, and away he run ! The pig was eat, and Tom was beat, And Tom went roaring down the street !
|
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THERE
was an old woman Liv'd under a hill, She put a mouse in a bag, And sent it to mill ;
The miller did swear,
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/ p.34 /
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FOUR
and twenty tailors went to kill a snail, The best man among them durst not touch her tail ; She put out her horns like a little kyloe cow, Run, tailors, run, or she'll kill you all e'en now.
|
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JACK SPRAT could eat no fat, His wife could eat no lean ; And so, betwixt them both, you see, They lick'd the platter clean.
|
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LITTLE
Jack Jingle, He used to live single : But when he got tired of this kind of life, He left off being single, and liv'd with his wife.
|
/ p.35 /
| [The last verse of the following song is popular in our nurseries, and must be of great antiquity, as it is alluded to in MS. Lansd. 762, in a poem of the time of Henry VII. See Reliquiæ Antiquæ, vol. i. p. 288.] |
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COME all ye brisk young bachelors, That wish to have good wives ; I'd have you be precautious, How you spend your lives. For women they are as various, As the fish are in the sea ; They're ten times more precarious, Than a winter or summer's day !
When first you begin to court them,
Now Aristotle chose |
|
But soon he found out 'Twas all a hum, You must not stay to pick them, But take them as they come !
Blank or prize 'tis all a chance,
There was a victim in a cart,
|
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THE lion and the unicorn, Were fighting for the crown ; The lion beat the unicorn, All round about the town. Some gave him white bread, And some gave him brown ; Some gave him plum cake, And sent him out of town.
|
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DOCTOR Faustus was a good man He whipt his scholars now and then ; When he whipp'd them he made them dance Out of Scotland into France, Out of France into Spain, And then he whipp'd them back again !
|
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LITTLE
Miss Mopsey, Sat in the shopsey, Eating of curds and whey ; There came a little spider, Who sat down beside her, And frightened Miss Mopsey away !
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/ p.38 /
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TOM married a wife on Sunday, Beat her well on Monday, Bad was she on Tuesday, Middling was she on Wednesday, Worse was she on Thursday, Dead was she on Friday ; Glad was Tom on Saturday night, To bury his wife on Sunday.
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SOLOMON GRUNDY, Born on 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.
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/ p.39 /
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THERE was a crooked man, and he went a crooked mile, He found a crooked sixpence against a crooked stile : He bought a crooked cat, which caught a crooked mouse, And they all lived together in a little crooked house.
|
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LITTLE blue Betty lived in a den, She sold good ale to gentlemen : Gentlemen came every day, And little blue Betty hopp'd away. She hopp'd up stairs to make her bed, And she tumbled down and broke her head.
|
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THE
fox and his wife they had a great strife, They never eat mustard in all their whole life ; They eat their meat without fork or knife, And loved to be picking a bone, e-oh !
The fox jumped up on a moonlight night ; |
|
The fox when he came to yonder stile, He lifted his lugs and he listened a while ! Oh, ho! said the fox, it's but a short mile From this unto yonder wee town, e-oh !
The fox when he came to the farmer's gate,
The gray goose she ran round the hay-stack,
The farmer's wife she jump'd out of bed,
The farmer he loaded his pistol with lead,
|
/ p.41 /
| [The "Song of the False Fox," printed from a MS. at Cambridge, of the fifteenth century in Reliquiæ Antiquæ, vol. i, p. 4, is here given on account of its similarity to the preceding song.] |
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THE fals fox camme unto owre croft, And so oure gese ful fast he sought ; With how, fox, how ! With hey, fox, hey ! Comme no more unto oure howse to bere owre gese aweye.
The fals fox camme unto oure stye,
The fals fox camme into oure yerde,
The fals fox camme unto oure gate,
The fals fox camme to owre halle dore,
The fals fox camme into oure halle, |
|
The fals fox camme unto oure cowpe, And there he made our gese to stowpe ; With how, &c.
He toke a gose fast by the neck,
The good wyfe camme out in her smok,
The good mann camme out with his flayle,
He threw a gose upon his bak,
The good man swore, yf that he myght,
The fals fox went into his denne,
He camme agene the next wek, |
|
The good man saide unto his wyfe, This fals fox lyveth a mery lyfe ; With how, &c.
The fals fox camme uppon a day,
He toke a gose fast by the nek,
I pray the, fox, said the goose thoo,
|
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THERE
was an old man, who lived in a wood, As you may plainly see ; He said he could do as much work in a day, As his wife could do in three. With all my heart, the old woman said, If that you will allow, To-morrow you'll stay at home in my stead, And I'll go drive the plough. |
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But you must milk the Tidy cow, For fear that she go dry ; And you must feed the little pigs That are within the sty ; And you must mind the speckled hen, For fear she lay away ; And you must reel the spool of yarn That I spun yesterday.
The old woman took a staff in her hand,
High ! Tidy ! Ho ! Tidy ! high !
He went to mind the speckled hen, |
|
So he swore by the sun, the moon, and the stars, And the green leaves on the tree, If his wife didn't do a day's work in her life, She should ne'er be ruled by he.
|
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THERE was a man in our toone, in our toone, in our toone, There was a man in our toone, and his name was Billy Pod; And he played upon an old razor, an old razor, an old razor, And he played upon an old razor, with my fiddle fiddle fe fum fo.
And his hat it was made of the good roast beef, the
And his coat it was made of the good fat tripe, the |
|
And his breeks they were made of the bawbie baps, the bawbie baps, &c. And his breeks they were made of the bawbie baps, and his name was Billy Pod ; And he played upon an old razor, &c.
And there was a man in tither toone, in tither toone,
And he eat up all the good roast beef, the good roast
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/ p.47 /
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THERE was a little man, And he had a little gun, And his bullets were made of lead, lead, lead. He went to a brook, And fired at a duck, And shot him through the head, head, head.
He carried it home,
The drake was a swimming,
|
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THE
little priest of Felton, The little priest of Felton, He kill'd a mouse within his house, And ne'er a one to help him.
|
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LUCY LOCKET lost her pocket, Kitty Fisher found it ; But the devil a penny was there in it, Except the binding round it.
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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.
|
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SAYS Aaron to Moses, Let's cut off our noses: Says Moses to Aaron, 'Tis the fashion to wear 'em.
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SAYS Moses to Aaron, That fellow's a swearing : Says Aaron to Moses, He's drunk I supposes.
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/ p.49 /
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AARON said unto Moses, Let's sit down and fuddle our noses,* Then said Moses unto Aaron, 'Twill do us more harm than you're aware on, So lend us your tobacco-box, for I've got ne'er a one.
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BESSY BELL and Mary Gray, They were two bonnie lasses : They built their house upon the lea, And covered it with rushes.
Bessy kept the garden gate,
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* See a similar line in Ritson's "Northern Garlands," 8vo, Lond. 1810, p. 39.
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MY lady Wind, my lady Wind, Went round about the house to find A chink to get her foot in : She tried the key-hole in the door, She tried the crevice in the floor, And drove the chimney soot in.
And then one night when it was dark,
And thus when once, my little dears,
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/ p.51 /
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UP
street and down street, Each window's made of glass ; If you go to Tommy Tickler's house, You'll find a pretty lass :
Hug her and kiss her,
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ROBIN
the Bobbin, the big-bellied Ben, He eat more meat than fourscore men; He eat a cow, he eat a calf, He eat a butcher and a half; He eat a church, he eat a steeple, He eat the priest and all the people !
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PEG,
Peg, with a wooden leg, Her father was a miller : He tossed the dumpling at her head, And said he could not kill her.
|
| [The tale of Jack Horner has long been appropriated to the nursery. The four lines which follow are the traditional ones, and they form part of "The pleasant History of Jack Horner, containing his witty Tricks and pleasant Pranks, which he plaied from his Youth to his riper Years," 12mo; a copy of which is in the Bodleian Library. I have reprinted it at the end of this volume.] |
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LITTLE Jack Horner sat in the corner, Eating a Christmas pie: He put in his thumb, and he took out a plum, And said, "What a good boy am I !"
|
| [This nursery song may probably commemorate a part of Tom Thumb's history, extant in a little Danish work, treating of "Swain Tomling, a man no bigger than a thumb, who would be married to a woman three ells and three quarters long." See Mr. Thoms' Preface to Tom à Lincoln, p.xi.] |
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I HAD
a little husband, No bigger than my thumb ; I put him in a pint pot, And there I bade him drum : I bridled him, and saddled him, And sent him out of town : I gave him a pair of garters To tie up his little hose ; And a little silk handkerchief, To wipe his little nose.
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THERE
was an old woman who lived in a shoe, She had so many children she didn't know what to do ; She gave them some broth without any bread, She whipped them all well and put them to bed.
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|
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THERE was an old woman, and she liv'd in a shoe, She had so many children, she didn't know what to do : She crumm'd 'em some porridge without any bread, And she borrow'd a beetle, and she knock'd 'em all o'th'head.
|
| [The following is a Scotch version of the same song. The concluding stanzas appear to be borrowed from "Mother Hubbard."] |
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THERE was a wee bit wifie, Who lived in a shoe ; She had so many bairns, She kenn'd na what to do. |
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She gaed to the market To buy a sheep-head ; When she came back They were a'lying dead. She went to the wright To get them a coffin ; When she came back They were a'lying laughing. She gaed up the stair, To ring the bell ; The bell-rope broke, And down she fell.
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AS
I went over the water, The water went over me, I heard an old woman crying, Will you buy some furmity ?
|
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TAFFY was a Welchman [lit.], Taffy was a thief ; Taffy came to my house and stole a piece of beef : I went to Taffy's house, Taffy was not at home ; Taffy came to my house, and stole a marrow-bone. |
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I went to Taffy's house, Taffy was not in ; Taffy came to my house, and stole a silver pin : I went to Taffy's house, Taffy was in bed, I took up a poker and flung it at his head.
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OLD Dr. Foster * went to Gloster, To preach the word of God : When he came there, he sat in his chair, And gave all the people a nod.
|
| [The following lines, slightly altered, in a little black-letter book by W. Wager, printed about the year 1560; See also a whole song, ending with these lines, in Ritson's "North Country Chorister," 8vo, Durham, 1802, p.1.] |
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BRYAN O'LIN, and his wife, and wife's mother, All went over a bridge together : The bridge was loose, and they all tumbled in, What a precious concern ! cried Bryan O'Lin.
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* Perhaps the clergyman mentioned by Pope:
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THE carrion crow, he sat upon an oak, And he called the tailor a cheating folk ; "Sing heigho, the carrion crow, Fol de rol, de rol, de rol, de rhino."
Wife, fetch me my good strong bow,
The tailor shot, and missed his mark,
|
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A carrion crow sat on an oak, Watching a tailor shape his cloak : Wife, said he, bring me my bow, That I may shoot yon carrion crow.
The tailor shot and miss'd his mark,
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/ p.57 /
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|
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HIC hoc, the carrion crow, For I've shot something too low : I have quite missed my mark, And shot the poor sow to the heart ; Wife, bring treacle in a spoon, Or else the poor sow's heart will down.
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THERE
was an old woman sat spinning, And that's the first beginning ; She had a calf, And that's half ; She took it by the tail, And threw it over the wall, And that's all.
|
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SOME
little mice sat in a barn to spin ; Pussy came by, and she popped her head in ; "Shall I come in, and cut your threads off ?" "Oh! no, kind sir, you will snap our heads off ?"
|
/ p.58 /
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THREE blind mice, see how they run ! They all ran after the farmer's wife, Who cut off their tails with the carving-knife, Did you ever see such fools in your life ? Three blind mice.
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ST. DUNSTAN, as the story goes, Once pulled the devil by the nose, With red-hot tongs, which made him roar, That he was heard ten miles or more.
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AS I was walking o'er little Moorfields, I saw St. Paul's a running on wheels, With a fee, fo, fum. Then for further frolics I'll go to France, While Jack shall sing and his wife shall dance, With a fee, fo, fum.
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/ p.59 /
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THERE was a little nobby colt, His name was Nobby Grey ; His head was made of pouce straw, His tail was made of hay ; He could ramble, he could trot, He could carry a mustard-pot, Round the town of Woodstock.
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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.
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THERE was a lady lov'd a swine, Honey, quoth she, Pig, Hog, wilt thou be mine? Hoogh, quoth he.
I'll build thee a silver sty, |
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Pinn'd with a silver pin, Honey, quoth she ; That you may go out and in : Hoogh, quoth he.
Wilt thou have me now, |
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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,
When this little woman first did wake, |
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"But if it be I, as I do hope it be, I've a little dog at home, and he'll know me ; If it be I, he'll wag his little tail, And if it be not I, he'll loudly bark and wail !"
Home went the little woman all in the dark,
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LITTLE
Jack Dandy-prat was my first suitor ; He had a dish and a spoon, and he'd some pewter ; He'd linen and woollen, and woollen and linen, A little pig in a string cost him five shilling.
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LITTLE
Mary Ester, Sat upon a tester, Eating of curds and whey ; There came a little spider, And sat him down beside her, And frightened Mary Ester away.
|
| [This nursery rhyme is quoted in Beaumont and Fletcher's "Bonduca," Act v, sc.2. It is probable also that Sir Toby alludes to this song in "Twelfth Night," Act ii, sc.3, when he says, "Come on; there is sixpence for you; let's have a song." |
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SING a song of sixpence, A bag full of rye ; Four and twenty blackbirds Baked in a pie ;
When the pie was open'd,
The king was in his counting-house
The maid was in the garden
Jenny was so mad,
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THE cock's on the dunghill a blowing his horn ; The bull's in the barn a thrashing of corn ; The maids in the meadow are making of hay ; The ducks in the rivers are swimming away.
|
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YANKEE DOODLE came to town, How do you think they serv'd him ? One took his bag, another his scrip, The quicker for to starve him.
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LITTLE Jenny Wren fell sick upon a time, When in came Robin Red-breast, and brought her bread and wine ; " Eat, Jenny, drink, Jenny, all shall be thine !" Then Jenny she got better, and stood upon her feet, And says to little Robin, "I love thee not a bit !" Then Robin he was angry and flew upon a twig, " Hoot upon thee, fie upon thee, ungrateful chit !"
|
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JENNY WREN fell sick Upon a merry time ; In came Robin Red-breast, And brought her sops and wine.
Eat well of the sop, Jenny,
Jenny, she got well,
Robin being angry,
|
| [As related by an old nurse, aged eighty-one. The story is of oriental origin ; but the song, as recited, was so very imperfect, that a few necessary additions and alterations have been made.] |
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THERE once was a gentleman grand, Who lived at his country seat ; He wanted an heir to his land, For he'd nothing but daughters yet.
His lady's again in the way,
The gentleman answered gruff,
The lady at this declaration, |
|
She sent her away to be nurs'd, Without seeing her gruff papa ; And when she was old enough, To a school she was packed away.
Fifteen summers are fled,
Her dresses so grand and so gay,
She knock'd at a castle gate,
My lady look'd long in her face,
So Catskin was under the cook, |
|
There is now a grand ball to be, When ladies their beauties show ; "Mrs. Cook," said Catskin, "dear me ! How much I should like to go."
"You go with your Catskin-robe,
A basin of water she took,
She washed every stain from her skin,
When she entered, the ladies were mute,
He pray'd her his partner to be, |
|
"Pray tell me, fair maid, where you live," For now was the sad parting time; But she no other answer would give, Than this distich of mystical rhyme,—
On her Catskin robe again ; And slipt in unseen by the cook, Who little thought where she had been.
The young lord the very next day,
There's another grand ball to be,
"You go with your Catskin robe,
In a rage the ladle she took, |
|
She washed every blood stain off In some crystal waterfall ; Put on a more beautiful dress, And hasted away to the ball.
My lord at the ball-room door,
When he asked her to dance, she again
"Pray tell me," said he, "where you live ;"
Then she flew from the ball, and put on Her Catskin robe again ; And slipt in unseen by the cook, Who little thought where she had been.
My lord did again the next day, |
|
Now another grand ball is to be, When ladies their beauty show : "Mrs. Cook," said Catskin, "dear me, How much I should like to go."
"You go with your Catskin robe,
In a fury she took the skimmer,
She washed the stains of blood
My lord at the ball-room door,
When he asked her to dance, she again |
|
"Pray tell me, fair maid, where you live ;" For now was the parting time : But she no other answer would give, Than this distich of mystical rhyme,—
Then she flew from the ball, and threw on Her catskin-cloak again ; And slipt in unseen by the cook, Who little thought where she had been.
But not by my lord unseen,
Next day he took to his bed,
He told him how dearly he lov'd her,
There's a struggle of pride and love, |
|
Then my lord got quickly well, When he was his charmer to wed ; And Catskin before a twelvemonth, Of a young lord was brought to bed.
To a way-faring woman and child,
The child gave the alms to the child,
This throw went to Catskin's heart,
They set out in my lord's own coach,
They put up at the head inn, |
|
When folks are away, in short time What great alterations appear! For the cold touch of death had all chill'd The hearts of her sisters dear.
Her father repented too late,
The old gentleman sat by the fire,
But my lord drew a chair close by,
The old man alarm'd, cried aloud,
Then my lord brought his wife and child, |
|
The bells, ringing up in the tower, Are sending a sound to the heart ; There's a charm in the old church bells, Which nothing in life can impart !
|
|
LITTLE
Robin Red-breast Sat upon a rail ; Niddle naddle went his head, Wiggle waggle went his tail.
|
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THE cock's on the dunghill a blowing his horn ; The bull's in the barn a threshing of corn ; The maids in the meadows are making of hay; The ducks in the river are swimming away.
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|
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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 to town,
Simple Simon went a fishing
Simple Simon went to look
|
|
THERE
was an old woman of Norwich, Who lived upon nothing but porridge ! Parading the town, She turned cloak into gown ; This thrifty old woman of Norwich.
|
/ p.76 /
|
BARNABY BRIGHT he was a sharp cur, He always would bark if a mouse did but stir ; But now he's grown old, and can no longer bark, He's condemn'd by the parson to be hang'd by the clerk.
|
|
THERE
was an old woman of Leeds Who spent all her time in good deeds ; She worked for the poor, Till her fingers were sore, This pious old woman of Leeds !
|
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OLD
mother Hubbard, Went to the cupboard, To get her poor dog a bone ; But when she came there, The cupboard was bare, And so the poor dog had none. |
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She went to the baker's To buy him some bread, But when she came back The poor dog was dead.
She went to the joiner's
She took a clean dish
She went to the ale-house
She went to the tavern
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* Probably loffing or loffin', to complete the rhyme. So in Shakspeare's "Mids. Night's Dream," Act ii, Sc.1—
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She went to the hatter's To buy him a hat, But when she came back He was feeding the cat.
She went to the barber's
She went to the fruiterer's
She went to the tailor's
She went to the cobbler's
She went to the sempstress |
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She went to the hosier's To buy him some hose, But when she came back He was dress'd in his clothes.
The dame made a curtsey,
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OLD
mother Widdle Waddle jumpt out of bed, And out of the casement she popt out her head; Crying, the house is on fire, the gray goose is dead, And the fox he is come to the town, oh !
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TOM * he was a piper's son, He learn'd to play when he was young, And all the tunes that he could play, Was "Over the hills and far away;" Over the hills, and a great way off, And the wind will blow my top-knot off.
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| * Mr. Ker (p.249) reads "Jockey." This writer only gives the first six lines. |
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Now Tom with his pipe made such a noise, That he pleas'd both the girls and boys, And they stopp'd to hear him play, " Over the hills and far away."
Tom with his pipe did play with such skill,
As Dolly was milking her cow one day,
He met old dame Trot with a basket of eggs,
He saw a cross fellow was beating an ass,
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/ p.81 /
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THERE was a lady all skin and bone, Sure such a lady was never known : This lady went to church one day, She went to church all for to pray.
And when she came to the church stile,
When she came to the church door,
On looking up, on looking down,
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| * This line has been adopted in the modern ballad of "Alonzo and the fair Imogene." The version given above was obtained from Lincolnshire, and differs slightly from the one in "Gammer Gurton's Garland," 8vo. Lond. 1810, p.29-30. |
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Then she unto the parson said, Shall I be so when I am dead? Oh yes ! oh yes ! the parson said, You will be so when you are dead.
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LITTLE
John Jiggy Jag, He rode a penny nag, And went to Wigan to woo : When he came to a beck, He fell and broke his neck,— Johnny, how dost thou now ?
I made him a hat,
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/ p.83 /
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SATURDAY night my wife did die, I buried her on the Sunday, I courted another a coming from church, And married her on the Monday. On Tuesday night I stole a horse, On Wednesday was apprehended, On Thursday I was tried and cast, And on Friday I was hanged.
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LITTLE Tom Trigger, Before he was bigger, Thought he would go out with his gun; Left off bow and arrows, With which he shot sparrows, And said he would have some fun.
He shot at a pig, |
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He shot at a cat, That had caught a rat, And hit her right on the pate; I'll have your furry skin To put my powder in, Your venison, no matter for that.
He started a hare,
He came to a stile,
Unhappy was his lot, |
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A house was in the vale, And Margery sold ale, Says he, I'll have some beer; Soon it will be night, And not a bit of light, My roundabout way home to cheer.
A sow in the sty,
Margery came out,
Tom at last got home, |
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Tom and his dog Tray, In the month of May, Went to play with a ball, Which he threw up to the sky, Yet not so very high, It soon came down with a fall.
He had a little stick,
He got up a tree,
A doctor they did call |
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Tom has now got better, Writes a pretty letter, And is always reading his book; He is not quite so wild, As when he was a child And no pains with his learning he took.
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THERE
was a frog liv'd in a well, Kitty alone, Kitty alone, There was a frog liv'd in a well, Kitty alone, and I. There was a frog liv'd in a well, And a farce* mouse in a mill, [*merry. Cock me cary, Kitty alone, Kitty alone and I.
This frog he would a wooing ride, |
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He rode till he came to my Lady Mouse hall, Kitty alone, &c. He rode till he came to my Lady Mouse hall, And there he did both knock and call, Cock me cary, &c.
Quoth he, Miss Mouse, I'm come to thee,
Quoth she, answer I'll give you none,
And when her uncle Rat came home,
Sir, there's been a worthy gentleman, |
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The frog he came whistling through the brook, Kitty alone, &c. The frog he came whistling through the brook, And there he met with a dainty duck, Cock me cary, &c.
This duck she swallow'd him up with a pluck,
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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 will he be married Without e'er a wife ?
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THERE was an old woman toss'd up in a blanket, Ninety-nine times as high as the moon : But where she was going no mortal could tell, For under her arm she carried a broom. |
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Old woman, old woman, old woman, said I, Whither, ah ! whither, whither so high ? Oh ! I'm sweeping the cobwebs off the sky, And I'll be with you by and by.
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I SAW
an old woman toss'd up in a basket, Nineteen times as high as the moon ; Where she was going I couldn't but ask it, For in her hand she carried a broom.
Old woman, old woman, old woman, quoth I,
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THERE
was an old woman Lived under a hill ; And if she's not gone, She lives there still.
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THERE
was an old woman, And she sold puddings and pies : She went to the mill, And the dust flew in her eyes : Hot pies and cold pies to sell ! Wherever she goes, You may follow her by the smell.
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OLD
Mother Niddity Nod swore by the pudding-bag She would go to Stoken Church fair ; And then old Father Peter, said he would meet her, Before she got half way there.
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GILES COLLINS he said to his old mother, Mother, come bind up my head ; And send to the parson of our parish, For to-morrow I shall be dead, dead, For to-morrow I shall be dead. |
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His mother she made him some water-gruel, And stirred it round with a spoon ; Giles Collins he ate up his water-gruel, And died before 'twas noon, And died before 'twas noon.
Lady Anna was sitting at her window,
What bear ye there, ye six strong men,
Set him down ! set him down ! Lady Anna, she cry'd,
Lady Anna was buried in the east, |
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There blew a cold north-easterly wind, And cut this lily in twain ; Which never there was seen before, And it never will again, again, And it never will again.
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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,
Then up she took her little crook,
It happen'd one day, as Bo-peep did stray, |
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She heav'd a sign and wip'd her eye, And over the hillocks went stump-o ; And tried what she could, as a shepherdess should, To tack again each to its rump-o.
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JOHN COOK had a little grey mare ; he, haw, hum ! Her back stood up, and her bones they were bare ; he, haw, hum.
John Cook was riding up Shuter's bank ; he, haw, hum.
John Cook was riding up Shuter's hill ; he haw, hum.
The bridle and saddle were laid on the shelf ; he, haw, hum.
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/ p.95 /
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THERE was a mad man and he had a mad wife, And they liv'd in a mad town : And they had children three at a birth, And mad they were every one.
The father was mad, the mother was mad,
They rode by night and they rode by day,
Old Nick was glad to see them so mad,
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THERE was an old man, and he liv'd in a wood ; And his lazy son Jack would snooze till noon : Nor followed his trade, although it was good, With a bill and stump for making of brooms, green brooms ; With a bill and a stump for making of brooms.
One morn in a passion, and sore with vexation,
Then Jack arose and slipt on his clothes,
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JACK SPRAT Had a cat, It had but one ear ; It went to buy butter, When butter was dear.
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