National Rhymes of the Nursery Part 10

She went to the barber's To buy him a wig, And when she came back He was dancing a jig.

She went to the fruiterer's To buy him some fruit, And when she came back He was playing the flute.

She went to the tailor's To buy him a coat, And when she came back He was riding a goat.

She went to the cobbler's To buy him some shoes, And when she came back He was reading the news.

She went to the sempstress To buy him some linen, And when she came back The dog was spinning.

She went to the hosier's To buy him some hose, And when she came back He was dressed in his clothes.

The dame made a curtsey, The dog made a bow; The dame said, "Your servant,"

The dog said, "Bow, wow!"

_See-saw, sacaradown_

See-saw, sacaradown, Which is the way to London town?

One foot up, the other down, This is the way to London town.

_To market_

To market, to market, to buy a plum bun, Home again, home again, market is done.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Hector Protector]

Hector Protector was dressed all in green; Hector Protector was sent to the Queen.

The Queen did not like him, No more did the King: So Hector Protector was sent back again.

_Is John Smith within?_

Is John Smith within?

Yes, that he is.

Can he set a shoe?

Ay, marry, two.

Here a nail, there a nail, Now your horse is shoed.

_Johnny shall have a new bonnet_

Johnny shall have a new bonnet, And Johnny shall go to the fair.

And Johnny shall have a blue ribbon To tie up his bonny brown hair.

And why may not I love Johnny?

And why may not Johnny love me?

And why may not I love Johnny As well as another body?

And here's a leg for a stocking, And here is a leg for a shoe, And he has a kiss for his daddy, And two for his mammy, I trow.

And why may not I love Johnny?

And why may not Johnny love me?

And why may not I love Johnny, As well as another body?

[Ill.u.s.tration: I Saw a Ship a Sailing]

I saw a ship a-sailing.

A-sailing on the sea; And it was full of pretty things For baby and for me.

There were comfits in the cabin, And apples in the hold; The sails were all of velvet, And the masts of beaten gold.

The four-and-twenty sailors That stood between the decks, Were four-and-twenty white mice, With chains about their necks.

The captain was a duck, With a packet on his back; And when the ship began to move, The captain said, "Quack! quack!"

_Nose, nose_

Nose, nose, jolly red nose; And what gave thee that jolly red nose?

Nutmegs and cinnamon, spices and cloves, And they gave me this jolly red nose.

_The King of France_

The King of France went up the hill, With twenty thousand men; The King of France came down the hill, And ne'er went up again.

[Ill.u.s.tration: "Went up the hill."]

[Ill.u.s.tration: "Came down again!"]

_The Babes in the Wood_

A Gentleman of good account In Norfolk dwelt of late, Whose wealth and riches did surmount Most men of his estate.

Sore sick he was, and like to die, No help his life could save; His wife by him as sick did lie, And both were near the grave.

No love between these two was lost: Each to the other kind; In love they lived, in love they died, And left two babes behind.

Now, if the children chanced to die, Ere they to age should come, Their uncle should possess their wealth!

For so the will did run.

"Now, brother," said the dying man, "Look to my children dear; Be good unto my boy and girl, No friends else have they here."

Their parents being dead and gone, The children home he takes, And brings them both unto his house, Where much of them he makes.

He had not kept those pretty babes A twelvemonth and a day, When, for their wealth, he did devise To make them both away.

He bargained with two ruffians bold, Who were of savage mood, That they should take the children twain, And slay them in a wood.