The National Nursery Book Part 10

Who pulled her out?

Little Tommy Trout.

What a naughty boy was that, To drown poor little p.u.s.s.y cat, Who never did him any harm, But killed the mice in his father's barn.

[Ill.u.s.tration: "MULTIPLICATION IS VEXATION."]

Multiplication is vexation; Division is as bad; The Rule of Three doth puzzle me, And Practice drives me mad.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE DAPPLE-GREY PONY.]

I had a little pony, His name was Dapple Grey, I lent him to a lady, To ride a mile away.

She whipped him, she slashed him, She rode him through the mire; I would not lend my pony now, For all the lady's hire.

[Ill.u.s.tration: OLD WOMAN, OLD WOMAN, SAYS I.]

Old woman, old woman, old woman say I, O whither, O whither, O whither so high?

To sweep the cobwebs off the sky.

Shall I go with you? Ay, by-and-by.

[Ill.u.s.tration: DAME TROT AND HER CAT.]

Dame Trot and her cat Led a peaceable life When they were not troubled With other folks' strife.

When Dame had her dinner Puss near her would wait, And was sure to receive A nice piece from her plate.

[Ill.u.s.tration: SIMPLE SIMON.]

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 a-fishing For to catch a whale; All the water he had got Was in his mother's pail.

[Ill.u.s.tration: MARY HAD A PRETTY BIRD.]

Mary had a pretty bird, With feathers bright and yellow, Slender legs--upon my word, He was a pretty fellow.

The sweetest notes he always sang, Which much delighted Mary; And near the cage she'd ever sit, To hear her own Canary.

[Ill.u.s.tration: IS JOHN SMITH WITHIN?]

Is John Smith within?

Yes, that he is.

Can he set a shoe?

Ay, marry, two; Here a nail and there a nail, Tick, tack, too.

[Ill.u.s.tration: GUY FAWKES.]

Please to remember The fifth of November, Gunpowder treason and plot.

I know no reason Why gunpowder treason Should ever be forgot.

[Ill.u.s.tration: JACK AND JILL.]

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.

[Ill.u.s.tration: LITTLE FRED.]

When little Fred went to bed, He always said his prayers.

He kissed mamma and then papa, And straightway went upstairs.

[Ill.u.s.tration: LITTLE TOM TUCKER.]

Little Tommy Tucker, Sings for his supper.

What shall he eat?

White bread and b.u.t.ter.

How shall he cut it Without e'er a knife?

How will he be married Without e'er a wife.

[Ill.u.s.tration: WHERE ARE YOU GOING, MY PRETTY MAID?]

Where are you going, my pretty maid?

I'm going a milking, sir, she said.

May I go with you, my pretty maid?

You're kindly welcome, sir, she said.

What is your fortune, my pretty maid?

My face is my fortune, sir, she said.

Then I won't marry you, my pretty maid.

n.o.body asked you, sir, she said.

[Ill.u.s.tration: RIDE A c.o.c.k-HORSE.]

Ride a c.o.c.k-horse to Banbury Cross, To see an old lady upon a white horse; Rings on her fingers and bells on her toes, And so she makes music wherever she goes.

[Ill.u.s.tration: SING A SONG OF SIXPENCE.]

Sing a song of sixpence, A bag full of rye; Four-and-twenty blackbirds Baked in a pie.

When the pie was opened The birds began to sing.

Was not that a dainty dish To set before the king?

The king was in his countinghouse, Counting out his money; The queen was in the parlour, Eating bread and honey.

The maid was in the garden, Hanging out the clothes; 'Long came a blackbird And snapt off her nose.

[Ill.u.s.tration: TOM, TOM, THE PIPER'S SON.]

Tom, Tom, the piper's son, Stole a pig and away he run!