The Nursery Rhyme Book Part 6

The fox when he came to the farmer's gate, Who should he see but the farmer's drake; I love you well for your master's sake, And long to be picking your bone, e-ho!

The grey goose she ran round the hay-stack, Oh, ho! said the fox, you are very fat; You'll grease my beard and ride on my back From this into yonder wee town, e-ho!

Old Gammer Hipple-hopple hopped out of bed, She opened the cas.e.m.e.nt, and popped out her head; Oh! husband, oh! husband, the grey goose is dead, And the fox is gone through the town, oh!

Then the old man got up in his red cap, And swore he would catch the fox in a trap; But the fox was too cunning, and gave him the slip, And ran through the town, the town, oh!

When he got up to the top of the hill, He blew his trumpet both loud and shrill, For joy that he was safe Through the town, oh!

When the fox came back to his den, He had young ones both nine and ten, "You're welcome home, daddy, you may go again, If you bring us such nice meat From the town, oh!"

[Ill.u.s.tration: Decoration]

MY father he died, but I can't tell you how; He left me six horses to drive in my plough: With my wing w.a.n.g waddle oh, Jack sing saddle oh, Blowsey boys buble oh, Under the broom.

I sold my six horses and I bought me a cow, I'd fain have made a fortune but did not know how: With my, &c.

I sold my cow, and I bought me a calf; I'd fain have made a fortune, but lost the best half!

With my, &c.

I sold my calf, and I bought me a cat; A pretty thing she was, in my chimney corner sat: With my, &c.

I sold my cat, and bought me a mouse; He carried fire in his tail, and burnt down my house: With my, &c.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Says t'auld man t.i.t oak tree]

SAYS t'auld man t.i.t oak tree, Young and l.u.s.ty was I when I kenn'd thee; I was young and l.u.s.ty, I was fair and clear, Young and l.u.s.ty was I mony a lang year; But sair fail'd am I, sair fail'd now, Sair fail'd am I sen I kenn'd thou.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Decoration]

POLLY put the kettle on, Polly put the kettle on, Polly put the kettle on, And let's drink tea.

Sukey take it off again, Sukey take it off again, Sukey take it off again, They're all gone away.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Decoration]

LITTLE Bo-Peep has lost her sheep, And can't tell where to find them; Leave them alone, and they'll come home, And bring their tails behind them.

Little Bo-peep fell fast asleep, And dreamt she heard them bleating; But when she awoke, she found it a joke, For they were still a-fleeting.

Then up she took her little crook, Determin'd for to find them; She found them indeed, but it made her heart bleed, For they'd left all their tails behind 'em.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Decoration]

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

When the pie was open'd, The birds began to sing; Was not that a dainty dish, To set before the king?

The king was in his counting-house Counting out his money; The queen was in the parlour Eating bread and honey;

The maid was in the garden Hanging out the clothes, There came a little blackbird, And snapt off her nose.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Decoration]

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: Decoration]

ELSIE MARLEY is grown so fine, She won't get up to serve the swine, But lies in bed till eight or nine, And surely she does take her time.

And do you ken Elsie Marley, honey?

The wife who sells the barley, honey?

She won't get up to serve her swine, And do you ken Elsie Marley, honey?

[Ill.u.s.tration: Decoration]

TOM he was a piper's son, He learn'd to play when he was young, But all the tunes that he could play, Was "Over the hills and far away;"

[Ill.u.s.tration: Over the hills, and a great way off]

Over the hills, and a great way off, And the wind will blow my top-knot off.

Now Tom with his pipe made such a noise, That he pleas'd both the girls and boys, And they stopp'd to hear him play "Over the hills and far away."

Tom with his pipe did play with such skill, That those who heard him could never keep still; Whenever they heard they began for to dance, Even pigs on their hind legs would after him prance.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Even pigs on their hind legs would after him prance]

As Dolly was milking her cow one day, Tom took out his pipe and began for to play; So Doll and the cow danced "the Cheshire round,"

Till the pail was broke, and the milk ran on the ground.

He met old Dame Trot with a basket of eggs; He used his pipe, and she used her legs; She danced about till the eggs were all broke; She began for to fret, but he laughed at the joke.

[Ill.u.s.tration: So Doll and the cow danced "the Cheshire round"]

He saw a cross fellow was beating an a.s.s, Heavy laden with pots, pans, dishes, and gla.s.s; He took out his pipe and played them a tune, And the jacka.s.s's load was lightened full soon.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Decoration]

LONDON BRIDGE is broken down, Dance o'er my Lady Lee; London Bridge is broken down, With a gay lady.