National Rhymes of the Nursery Part 15

I've been up to London to look at the queen.

p.u.s.s.y-cat, p.u.s.s.y-cat, what did you there?

I frightened a little mouse under the chair.

[Ill.u.s.tration: p.u.s.s.y-CAT p.u.s.s.y-CAT]

_Billy, Billy, come and play_

"Billy, Billy, come and play, While the sun shines bright as day."

"Yes, my Polly, so I will, For I love to please you still."

"Billy, Billy, have you seen, Sam and Betsy on the green?"

"Yes, my Poll, I saw them pa.s.s, Skipping o'er the new-mown gra.s.s."

"Billy, Billy, come along, And I will sing a pretty song."

"O then, Polly, I'll make haste, Not one moment will I waste, But will come and hear you sing, And my fiddle I will bring."

_I had a little hen_

I had a little hen, the prettiest ever seen, She washed up 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 me a fine tale.

_Lady bird, lady bird_

Lady bird, lady bird, fly away home, Your house is on fire, your children have flown.

All but one, and her name is Ann, And she has crept under the pudding-pan.

_Hushy 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.

But how, my dear baby, shall I make you eat Of the bread, or the milk, or the custard, or meat?

For those pretty red lips seem shut up so fast, I much fear they won't open to taste the repast.

Ah! but then, my sweet child, you'll surely not cry, Oh no, not one tear is there now in your eye; Come kiss me, my dear, then, although you're but wood, For I'm sure now you smile, and look very good.

_c.o.c.k a doodle doo!_

c.o.c.k a doodle doo!

My dame has lost her shoe; My master's lost his fiddling stick, And don't know what to do.

c.o.c.k a doodle doo!

What is my dame to do?

Till master finds his fiddling stick, She'll dance without her shoe.

c.o.c.k a doodle doo!

My dame has lost her shoe, And master's found his fiddling stick, Sing doodle doodle doo!

c.o.c.k a doodle doo!

My dame will dance with you.

While master fiddles his fiddling stick, For dame and doodle doo.

c.o.c.k a doodle doo!

Dame has lost her shoe; Gone to bed and scratched her head, And can't tell what to do.

_There was an old woman_

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!

_When the wind is in the east_

When the wind is in the east, 'Tis neither good for man nor beast; When the wind is in the north, The skilful fisher goes not forth; When the wind is in the south, It blows the bait in the fishes' mouth; When the wind is in the west, Then 'tis at the very best.

[Ill.u.s.tration: "WHEN THE WIND IS IN THE EAST"]

_Where should a baby rest?_

Where should a baby rest?

Where but on its mother's arm-- Where can a baby lie Half so safe from every harm?

Lulla, lulla, lullaby, Softly sleep, my baby; Lulla, lulla, lullaby, Soft, soft, my baby.

Nestle there, my lovely one!

Press to mine thy velvet cheek; Sweetly coo, and smile, and look, All the love thou canst not speak, Lulla, lulla, lullaby, Softly sleep, my baby; Lulla, lulla, lullaby, Soft, soft, my baby.

_Let us go to the woods_

"Let us go to the woods," says Richard to Robin, "Let us go to the woods," says Robin to Bobbin, "Let us go to the woods," says John all alone, "Let us go to the woods," says every one.

"What to do there?" says Richard to Robin, "What to do there?" says Robin to Bobbin, "What to do there?" says John all alone, "What to do there?" says every one.

"We will shoot a wren," says Richard to Robin, "We will shoot a wren," says Robin to Bobbin, "We will shoot a wren," says John all alone, "We will shoot a wren," says every one.

"Then pounce, pounce," says Richard to Robin, "Then pounce, pounce," says Robin to Bobbin, "Then pounce, pounce," says John all alone, "Then pounce, pounce," says every one.

"She is dead, she is dead," says Richard to Robin, "She is dead, she is dead," says Robin to Bobbin, "She is dead, she is dead," says John all alone, "She is dead, she is dead," says every one.

"How shall we get her home?" says Richard to Robin, "How shall we get her home?" says Robin to Bobbin, "How shall we get her home?" says John all alone, "How shall we get her home?" says every one.

"In a cart with six horses," says Richard to Robin, "In a cart with six horses," says Robin to Bobbin, "In a cart with six horses," says John all alone.