The Nursery Rhymes of England Part 48

Bobbin-a-Bobbin bent his bow, And shot at a woodc.o.c.k and kill'd a yowe: The yowe cried ba, and he ran away, But never came back 'till midsummer-day.

DLIX.

A little c.o.c.k sparrow sat on a green tree, (_tris_) And he cherruped, he cherruped so merry was he; (_tris_) A little c.o.c.k-sparrow sat on a green tree, And he cherruped, he cherruped so merry was he.

A naughty boy came with his wee bow and arrow, (_tris_) Determined to shoot this little c.o.c.k sparrow, (_tris_) A naughty, &c.

Determined, &c.

This little c.o.c.k sparrow shall make me a stew, (_tris_) And his giblets shall make me a little pie too, (_tris_) Oh, no! said ye sparrow I won't make a stew, So he flapped his wings and away he flew!

DLX.

Snail, snail, put out your horns, I'll give you bread and barleycorns.

DLXI.

[The following song is given in Whiter's 'Specimen, or a Commentary on Shakespeare,' 8vo, London, 1794, p. 19, as common in Cambridgeshire and Norfolk. Dr. Farmer gives another version as an ill.u.s.tration of a ditty of Jacques in 'As You Like It,' act ii, sc. 5. See Malone's Shakespeare, ed. 1821, vol. vi, p. 398; Caldecott's 'Specimen,' 1819, note on 'As You Like It,' p. 11; and Douce's 'Ill.u.s.trations,' vol. i, p. 297.]

Dame, what makes your ducks to die?

What the pize ails 'em? what the pize ails 'em?

They kick up their heels, and there they lie, What the pize ails 'em now?

Heigh, ho! heigh, ho!

Dame, what makes your ducks to die?

What a pize ails 'em? what a pize ails 'em?

Heigh, ho! heigh, ho!

Dame, what ails your ducks to die?

Eating o' polly-wigs, eating o' polly-wigs.

Heigh, ho! heigh, ho!

DLXII.

Lady bird, lady bird, fly away home, Thy house is on fire, thy children all gone, All but one, and her name is Ann, And she crept under the pudding-pan.

DLXIII.

Little Robin Redbreast sat upon a tree, Up went p.u.s.s.y cat, and down went he; Down came p.u.s.s.y cat, and away Robin ran; Says little Robin Redbreast, "Catch me if you can."

Little Robin Redbreast jump'd upon a wall, p.u.s.s.y cat jump'd after him, and almost got a fall, Little Robin chirp'd and sang, and what did p.u.s.s.y say?

p.u.s.s.y cat said "Mew," and Robin jump'd away.

DLXIV.

There was a little boy went into a barn, And lay down on some hay; An owl came out and flew about, And the little boy ran away.

DLXV.

Snail, snail, shut out your horns; Father and mother are dead: Brother and sister are in the back yard, Begging for barley bread.

DLXVI.

I had a little hen, the prettiest ever seen, She washed me 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 brew'd me my ale, She sat by the fire and told many a fine tale.

DLXVII.

p.u.s.s.ey cat sits by the fire, How did she come there?

In walks the little dog, Says, "p.u.s.s.ey! are you there?

How do you do, Mistress p.u.s.s.ey?

Mistress p.u.s.s.ey, how d'ye do?"

"I thank you kindly, little dog, I fare as well as you!"

DLXVIII.

[A north country version of a very common nursery rhyme, sung by a child, who imitates the crowing of a c.o.c.k.]

c.o.c.k-a-doodle-do, My dad's gane to ploo; Mammy's lost her pudding-poke, And knows not what to do.

DLXIX.

Higglepy Piggleby, My black hen, She lays eggs For gentlemen; Sometimes nine, And sometimes ten, Higglepy Piggleby, My black hen!

DLXX.

Pretty John Watts, We are troubled with rats, Will you drive them out of the house?

We have mice, too, in plenty, That feast in the pantry; But let them stay, And nibble away; What harm in a little brown mouse?

DLXXI.

Jack Sprat Had a cat, It had but one ear; It went to buy b.u.t.ter, When b.u.t.ter was dear.

DLXXII.

On Christmas eve I turn'd the spit, I burnt my fingers, I feel it yet; The c.o.c.k sparrow flew over the table; The pot began to play with the ladle.

DLXXIII.