National Rhymes of the Nursery Part 14

The bee doth love the sweetest flower, So doth the blossom the April shower.

_One, two, buckle my shoe_

One, two, Buckle my shoe; Three, four, Shut the door; Five, six, Pick up sticks; Seven, eight, Lay them straight; Nine, ten, A good fat hen; Eleven, twelve, Who will delve?

Thirteen, fourteen, Maids a-courting; Fifteen, sixteen, Maids in the kitchen; Seventeen, eighteen, Maids a waiting; Nineteen, twenty, My plate's empty.

_Six little mice sat down to spin_

Six little mice sat down to spin, p.u.s.s.y pa.s.sed by, and she peeped in.

"What are you at, my little men?"

"Making coats for gentlemen."

"Shall I come in and bite off your thread?"

"No, no, Miss p.u.s.s.y, you'll bite off our head."

_Jocky was a piper's son_

Jocky was a piper's son, And he fell in love when he was young, And the only tune 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.

_There was a piper had a cow_

There was a piper had a cow, And he had nought to give her; He pulled out his pipes, and played her a tune, And bade the cow consider.

The cow considered very well, And gave the piper a penny, And bade him play the other tune-- "Corn rigs are bonny."

_Mary, Mary, quite contrary_

Mary, Mary, Quite contrary, How does your garden grow?

Silver bells, And c.o.c.kle-sh.e.l.ls, And pretty maids all of a row.

[Ill.u.s.tration: "PRETTY MAIDS ALL OF A ROW."]

_There was a crooked man_

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.

_There was a jolly miller_

There was a jolly miller Lived on the river Dee: He worked and sung from morn till night, No lark so blithe as he, And this the burden of his song For ever used to be-- I jump mejerrime jee!

I care for n.o.body--no! not I, Since n.o.body cares for me.

_Who killed c.o.c.k Robin?_

Who killed c.o.c.k Robin?

"I," said the sparrow, "With my bow and arrow, I killed c.o.c.k 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'll make his shroud?

"I," said the beetle, "With my thread and needle, I'll make his shroud."

Who'll bear the torch?

"I," said the linnet, "Will come in a minute, I'll bear the torch."

Who'll be the clerk?

"I," said the lark, "I'll say Amen in the dark, I'll be the clerk."

Who'll dig his grave?

"I," said the owl, "With my spade and shovel, 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 chief mourner?

"I," said the dove, "I mourn for my love, I'll be chief mourner."

Who'll sing his dirge?

"I," said the thrush, "As I sing in a bush, I'll sing his dirge."

Who'll carry his coffin?

"I," said the kite, "If it be in the night, I'll carry his coffin."

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 sighing and sobbing, When they heard the bell toll For poor c.o.c.k Robin.

_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.

_p.u.s.s.y-cat, p.u.s.s.y-cat_

p.u.s.s.y-cat, p.u.s.s.y-cat, where have you been?