The Nursery Rhymes of England Part 50

Goosey, goosey, gander, Where shall I wander?

Up stairs, down stairs, And in my lady's chamber; There I met an old man That would not say his prayers; I took him by the left leg, And threw him down stairs.

DXCI.

Goosy, goosy, gander, Who stands yonder?

Little Betsy Baker; Take her up, and shake her.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

SIXTEENTH CLa.s.s.

ACc.u.mULATIVE STORIES.

DXCII.

I sell you the key of the king's garden: I sell you the string that ties the key, &c.

I sell you the rat that gnawed the string, &c.

I sell you the cat that caught the rat, &c.

I sell you the dog that bit the cat, &c.

DXCIII.

[Traditional pieces are frequently so ancient, that possibility will not be outraged by conjecturing the John Ball of the following piece to be the priest who took so distinguished a part in the rebellion temp. Richard II.]

John Ball shot them all; John Scott made the shot, But John Ball shot them all.

John Wyming made the priming, And John Brammer made the rammer, And John Scott made the shot, But John Ball shot them all.

John Block made the stock, And John Brammer made the rammer, And John Wyming made the priming, And John Scott made the shot, But John Ball shot them all.

John Crowder made the powder, And John Block made the stock, And John Wyming made the priming, And John Brammer made the rammer, And John Scott made the shot, But John Ball shot them all.

John Puzzle made the muzzle, And John Crowder made the powder, And John Block made the stock, And John Wyming made the priming, And John Brammer made the rammer, And John Scott made the shot, But John Ball shot them all.

John Clint made the flint, And John Puzzle made the muzzle, And John Crowder made the powder, And John Block made the stock, And John Wyming made the priming, And John Brammer made the rammer, And John Scott made the shot, But John Ball shot them all.

John Patch made the match, John Clint made the flint, John Puzzle made the muzzle, John Crowder made the powder, John Block made the stock, John Wyming made the priming, John Brammer made the rammer, John Scott made the shot, But John Ball shot them all.

DXCIV.

1. This is the house that Jack built.

2. This is the malt That lay in the house that Jack built.

3. This is the rat, That ate the malt That lay in the house that Jack built.

4. This is the cat, That kill'd the rat, That ate the malt That lay in the house that Jack built.

5. This is the dog, That worried the cat, That kill'd the rat, That ate the malt That lay in the house that Jack built.

6. This is the cow with the crumpled horn, That toss'd the dog, That worried the cat, That kill'd the rat, That ate the malt That lay in the house that Jack built.

7. This is the maiden all forlorn, That milk'd the cow with the crumpled horn, That tossed the dog, That worried the cat, That kill'd the rat, That ate the malt That lay in the house that Jack built.

8. This is the man all tatter'd and torn, That kissed the maiden all forlorn, That milk'd the cow with the crumpled horn, That tossed the dog, That worried the cat, That kill'd the rat, That ate the malt That lay in the house that Jack built.

9. This is the priest all shaven and shorn, That married the man all tatter'd and torn, That kissed the maiden all forlorn, That milked the cow with the crumpled horn, That tossed the dog, That worried the cat, That kill'd the rat, That ate the malt That lay in the house that Jack built.

10. This is the c.o.c.k that crow'd in the morn, That waked the priest all shaven and shorn, That married the man all tatter'd and torn, That kissed the maiden all forlorn, That milk'd the cow with the crumpled horn, That tossed the dog, That worried the cat, That kill'd the rat, That ate the malt That lay in the house that Jack built.

11. This is the farmer sowing his corn, That kept the c.o.c.k that crow'd in the morn, That waked the priest all shaven and shorn, That married the man all tatter'd and torn, That kissed the maiden all forlorn, That milk'd the cow with the crumpled horn, That tossed the dog, That worried the cat, That killed the rat, That ate the malt That lay in the house that Jack built.

DXCV.

[The original of 'The house that Jack built' is presumed to be a hymn in _Sepher Haggadah_, fol. 23, a translation of which is here given. The historical interpretation was first given by P. N. Leberecht, at Leipsic, in 1731, and is printed in the 'Christian Reformer,' vol. xvii, p. 28. The original is in the Chaldee language, and it may be mentioned that a very fine Hebrew ma.n.u.script of the fable, with illuminations, is in the possession of George Offer, Esq. of Hackney.]

1. A _kid_, _a kid_, my father bought, For two pieces of money: A kid, a kid.

2. Then came _the cat_, and ate the kid, That my father bought For two pieces of money: A kid, a kid.

3. Then came _the dog_, and bit the cat, That ate the kid, That my father bought For two pieces of money: A kid, a kid.

4. Then came _the staff_, and beat the dog, That bit the cat, That ate the kid, That my father bought For two pieces of money: A kid, a kid.

5. Then came _the fire_, and burned the staff, That beat the dog, That bit the cat, That ate the kid, That my father bought For two pieces of money: A kid, a kid.

6. Then came _the water_, and quenched the fire, That burned the staff, That beat the dog, That bit the cat, That ate the kid, That my father bought For two pieces of money: A kid, a kid.

7. Then came _the ox_, and drank the water, That quenched the fire, That burned the staff, That beat the dog, That bit the cat, That ate the kid, That my father bought For two pieces of money: A kid, a kid.

8. Then came _the butcher_, and slew the ox, That drank the water, That quenched the fire, That burned the staff, That beat the dog, That bit the cat, That ate the kid, That my father bought For two pieces of money: A kid, a kid.

9. Then came _the angel of death_, and killed the butcher, That slew the ox, That drank the water, That quenched the fire, That burned the staff, That beat the dog, That bit the cat, That ate the kid, That my father bought For two pieces of money: A kid, a kid.

10. Then came _the Holy One_, blessed be He!

And killed the angel of death, That killed the butcher, That slew the ox, That drank the water, That quenched the fire, That burned the staff, That beat the dog, That bit the cat, That ate the kid, That my father bought For two pieces of money: A kid, a kid.

The following is the interpretation:

1. The kid, which was one of the pure animals, denotes the Hebrews.