Chapter 19

_Mother Hubbard._ What a lovely day you have for your party, Mother Goose! The sun shines so bright and warm, and the flowers are lovely. Is there anything I can do?

_Mother Goose._ No, thank you. I'm glad you came early. Have you seen the tables?

_Mother Hubbard._ They are lovely! Where did you get such pretty flowers?

_Mother Goose._ From Mistress Mary, quite contrary. You know she has a garden

With cockle shells, and silver bells, And pretty maids all in a row.

_Mother Hubbard._ I see some one coming.

_Mother Goose._ Why, how do you do, A-Dillar-a-Dollar! Are you always in such good time?

_A-Dillar-a-Dollar._ I'm afraid not, Mrs. Goose. They call me

A ten o'clock scholar, Why did you come so soon? You used to come at ten o'clock, And now you come at noon!

_Mother Goose._ And here comes Mary with her little lamb. Do you like the lamb better than a Teddy Bear, Mary?

_Mary._ Yes, indeed, I do. Because the lamb loves me, you know.

It followed me to school one day, Which was against the rule; It made the children laugh and play, To see the lamb at school.

_Mother Goose._ Here comes the Old Woman who lives in a shoe, and her two oldest boys. Dear Mrs. Shoe-woman, I am very glad to see you! How did you leave all of your children?

_Mrs. Shoe-woman._ Oh, dear, Mother Goose! I have so many children I don't know what to do: when they are naughty I give them some broth without any bread, and whip them all soundly and put them to bed.

_Mother Goose._ Here are all the children coming to the party! Come, children, let us have a dance. All stand around the Maypole as I call your names:

Little Miss Muffet and Boy Blue;

Little Bo-Peep and Jacky Horner;

Nancy Etticoat and Jack-be-nimble;

Mary and the little Boy who lives in the Lane.

All take ribbons and stand around the Maypole. Are you all ready?

_Children._ Yes, Mother Goose, we are all ready when the music begins.

_Mother Goose._ Old King Cole, will you have your three fiddlers play for the dance?

_King Cole._ With pleasure, dear Mother Goose--and I'll sing:

Hey diddle, diddle! the cat and the fiddle; The cow jumped over the moon; The little dog laughed to see such craft, And the dish ran away with the spoon.

_Children_ (_sing_).

Old King Cole was a merry old soul; And a merry old soul was he; He called for his pipe and he called for his bowl, And he called for his fiddlers three.

_Mother Goose._ These are very good songs, but they will not do for a Maypole dance. Here, Little Tommy Tucker, sing for your supper.

_Tommy Tucker._ All right, Mother Goose.

Handy Spandy, Jack-a-dandy, Loved plum cake and sugar candy; He bought some at a grocer's shop, And out he came, hop, hop, hop.

_Children._

Little Tommy Tucker, sings for his supper; What shall he eat? White bread and butter; How shall he eat it without any knife? How shall he marry without any wife?

[_Dance about the Maypole._]

_Mother Goose._ Why, who can that man be? He is tumbling down in a very queer way! Who are you?

_Man._

I'm the Man in the Moon, Come down too soon To ask the way to Norwich. I went by the south, And burnt my mouth, Eating cold pease-porridge.

Are Jack and Jill here?

_Jack._ Here I am, Mr. Moon-Man.

_Jill._ Oh, dear Mr. Moon-Man, where is your dog and your bundle of sticks?

_Jack._ Tell us what the children play in your country, the Moon!

_Children._ Please do, Mr. Moon-Man!

_Moon-Man._ Well, children, I can tell you how they learn to count. They all say--

One, two; buckle my shoe; Three, four; shut the door; Five, six; pick up sticks;

and then they all pick up sticks and put them on the fire.

_Tom._ I don't think that is much fun!

_Children._ Of course you don't. You don't like sticks.

Tom, Tom, the Piper's Son, Stole a pig and away he run! The pig was eat, And Tom was beat, And Tom ran roaring down the street!

_Mistress Mary._ Now, children, let us sit in a circle and play games and sing songs. Little Bo-Peep, you may sing your little song first.

_Little Bo-Peep._

Little Bo-Peep, she lost her sheep, And doesn't know where to find them;

_Children._

Leave them alone and they will come home Bringing their tails behind them.

_Mistress Mary._ Now Jack and Jill--

_Jack and Jill._ Shall we go up the hill to get a pail of water?

_Children._

Jack and Jill went up the hill To get a pail of water. Jack fell down and broke his crown, And Jill came tumbling after.

_Boys._

Up Jack got and home did trot As fast as he could caper; He went to bed to mend his head, With vinegar and brown paper.

_Girls._

Jill came in and she did grin, To see his paper plaster; Her mother, vexed, did spank her next For laughing at Jack's disaster.

_Mistress Mary._ Now, I'll sing a song and then help Mother Goose with the supper. [_Sings._]

Sing a song a sixpence, Pocket full of rye; Four-and-twenty blackbirds Baked in a pie. When the pie was opened The birds began to sing, Wasn't that a dainty dish To set before the king?

_Mother Goose._ Now I must have some children to help me.

_Jack Goose._ I'll take the bean porridge hot and bean porridge cold, mother, and Tommy Tucker can go with me and pass the white bread and butter.

_Mother Goose._ That's my good Jack. Now Tom the Piper's Son may take the roast pig and Mary may pass the Banbury cross buns.

_Miss Muffet._ Dear Mother Goose, may I pass the curds and whey?

_Mother Goose._ Yes, my dear child, but be careful not to spill any. Then for the last course Jack Horner will pass the Christmas pie and give every child a big fat plum.

_Children_ (_sing_).

Little Jacky Horner Sitting in a corner Eating a Christmas pie He put in his thumb And pulled out a plum And said--What a great boy am I?

_Old King Cole._ Mother Goose, you have given us a beautiful party and we have had a lovely time. We hope you will live to give many more to your friends and the children.

_Children._ Yes, Mother Goose, your party was just lovely!

_Mother Goose._ Thank you, dear children.

_King Cole._ Now, little folks, let us sing a good-by song to Mother Goose.

_The girls_ (_bowing to King Cole_).

The king was in the counting room, Counting out his money.

_The boys_ (_bowing to Mother Goose_).

The queen was in the parlor, Eating bread and honey.

_All._

The maid was in the garden

(_To Mistress Mary_)

Hanging out the clothes, Along came a blackbird And nipped off her nose!

_Mother Goose._ And that story means that night is coming and putting the day to sleep.

_King Cole._ So it does, and you see the sun is fast going down behind the western hills. Say good-by, children, for it is time to go home.

_Children._ Good night, Mother Goose.

_Mother Goose._ Good night, dear children, and don't forget your old Mother Goose.

_Children._ Forget dear Mother Goose? Never! Good-by, good-by!

_Mother Goose._ Good-by.

LITTLE TWO-EYES

PERSONS IN THE PLAY--MOTHER, LITTLE ONE-EYE, LITTLE TWO-EYES, LITTLE THREE-EYES, LITTLE OLD WOMAN, TREE, PRINCE, GOAT