National Rhymes of the Nursery Part 3

[Ill.u.s.tration: CURLY LOCKS! CURLY LOCKS!]

_Four brothers over the sea_

I had four brothers over the sea, Perrie, Merrie, Dixie, Dominie.

And they each sent a present unto me, Petrum, Partrum, Paradise, Temporie, Perrie, Merrie, Dixie, Dominie.

The first sent a chicken, without any bones; The second sent a cherry, without any stones.

Petrum, &c.

The third sent a book, which no man could read; The fourth sent a blanket, without any thread.

Petrum, &c.

How could there be a chicken without any bones?

How could there be a cherry without any stones?

Petrum, &c.

How could there be a book which no man could read?

How could there be a blanket without a thread?

Petrum, &c.

When the chicken's in the egg-sh.e.l.l, there are no bones; When the cherry's in the blossom, there are no stones.

Petrum, &c.

When the book's in ye press no man it can read; When the wool is on the sheep's back, there is no thread.

Petrum, &c.

_Two, three, and four legs_

Two legs sat upon three legs, With one leg in his lap;

In comes four legs, And runs away with one leg.

Up jumps two legs, Catches up three legs,

Throws it after four legs, And makes him bring back one leg.

_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 have got ten, And keep them all like gentlemen!

_A puzzle_

Have you seen the old woman of Banbury Cross, Who rode to the fair on the top of her horse?

And since her return she still tells, up and down, Of the wonderful lady she saw when in town.

She has a small mirror in each of her eyes, And her nose is a bellows of minnikin size; There's a neat little drum fix'd in each of her ears, Which beats a tattoo to whatever she hears.

She has in each jaw a fine ivory mill, And day after day she keeps grinding it still.

Both an organ and flute in her small throat are placed, And they are played by a steam engine worked in her breast.

But the wonder of all, in her mouth it is said, She keeps a loud bell that might waken the dead; And so frightened the woman, and startled the horse, That they galloped full speed back to Banbury Cross.

Long legs, crooked thighs, Little head and no eyes. (_a pair of tongs_)

_Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake_

Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, baker's man!

Make me a cake, as fast as you can:

Pat it, and p.r.i.c.k it, and mark it with T, Put it in the oven for Tommy and me.

Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit Pie!

Come, my ladies, come and buy; Else your babies they will cry.

_The man in the wilderness_

The man in the wilderness asked me, How many strawberries grew in the sea?

I answered him, as I thought good, As many as red herrings grew in the wood.

_One old Oxford ox_

One old Oxford ox opening oysters; Two tee-totums totally tired of trying to trot to Tedsbury; Three thick thumping tigers tickling trout; Four fat friars fanning fainting flies; Five frippy Frenchmen foolishly fishing for flies; Six sportsmen shooting snipes; Seven Severn salmons swallowing shrimps; Eight Englishmen eagerly examining Europe; Nine nimble n.o.blemen nibbling nonpareils; Ten tinkers tinkling upon ten tin tinder-boxes with ten tenpenny tacks; Eleven elephants elegantly equipt; Twelve typographical topographers typically translating types.

_I like little p.u.s.s.y_

I like little p.u.s.s.y, her coat is so warm, And if I don't hurt her she'll do me no harm; So I'll not pull her tail, nor drive her away, But p.u.s.s.y and I very gently will play.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THERE WAS A MAN OF NEWINGTON]

There was a man of Newington, And he was wond'rous 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.