Part 5

The fox jumped up on a moonlight night; The stars they were shining, and all things bright; "Oh, ho!" said the fox, "it's a very fine night For me to go through the town, e-ho!"

The fox when he came to yonder stile, He lifted his lugs and he listened a while; "Oh, ho!" said the fox, "it's but a short mile From this into yonder wee town, e-ho!"

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

The gray 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!"

The farmer's wife she jumped out of bed, And out of the window she popped her head; "Oh, husband! oh, husband! the geese are all dead, For the fox has been through the town, e-ho!"

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, e-ho!

When he got to the top of the hill, He blew his trumpet both loud and shrill, For joy that he was in safety still, And had got away through the town, e-ho!

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 fine meat from the town, e-ho!"

WHERE ARE YOU GOING?

"Where are you going to, 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 father, my pretty maid?" "My father's a farmer, sir," she said.

"What is your fortune, my pretty maid?" "My face is my fortune, sir," she said.

"Then I can't marry you, my pretty maid!" "Nobody asked you, sir," she said.

THE DIVISION OF LABOUR

The cock's on the housetop, blowing his horn; The bull's in the barn, a-threshing of corn; The maids in the meadows are making of hay; The ducks in the river are swimming away.

KING PIPPIN'S HALL

King Pippin built a fine new hall, Pastry and pie-crust were the wall; Windows made of black pudding and white, Slates were pancakes, you ne'er saw the like.

IF

If all the world were apple-pie, And all the water ink, What should we do for bread and cheese? What should we do for drink?

COFFEE AND TEA

Molly, my sister, and I fell out, And what do you think it was about? She loved coffee and I loved tea, And that was the reason we couldn't agree.

A WONDERFUL THING

As I went to Bonner, I met a pig Without a wig, Upon my word and honour.

MY BOY TAMMIE

"Where have you been all day, My boy Tammie?"

"I've been all the day Courting of a lady gay; But oh, she's too young To be taken from her mammy!"

"What work can she do, My boy Tammie? Can she bake and can she brew, My boy Tammie?"

"She can brew and she can bake, And she can make our wedding cake; But oh, she's too young To be taken from her mammy!"

"What age may she be? What age may she be, My boy Tammie?"

"Twice two, twice seven, Twice ten, twice eleven; But oh, she's too young To be taken from her mammy!"

THE LITTLE MAN WITH A GUN

There was a little man, and he had a little gun, And his bullets were made of lead, lead, lead; He went to the brook, and saw a little duck, And shot it right through the head, head, head.

He carried it home to his old wife Joan, And bade her a fire to make, make, make, To roast the little duck he had shot in the brook, And he'd go and fetch the drake, drake, drake.

The drake was a-swimming, with his curly tail; The little man made it his mark, mark, mark. He let off his gun, but he fired too soon, And the drake flew away with a quack, quack, quack.

IF WISHES WERE HORSES

If wishes were horses, beggars would ride; If turnips were watches, I would wear one by my side.

CLAP HANDIES

Clap, clap handies, Mammie's wee, wee ain; Clap, clap handies, Daddie's comin' hame; Hame till his bonny wee bit laddie; Clap, clap handies, My wee, wee ain.

TAFFY WAS A WELSHMAN

Taffy was a Welshman, Taffy was a thief; Taffy came to my house and stole a piece of beef; I went to Taffy's house, Taff was not at home; Taffy came to my house and stole a marrow bone.

I went to Taffy's house, Taffy was not in; Taffy came to my house and stole a silver pin; I went to Taffy's house, Taffy was in bed, I took up the beef bone and flung it at his head.

THERE WAS A MAN

There was a man, and he had naught, And robbers came to rob him; He crept up to the chimney pot, And then they thought they had him.

But he got down on t' other side, And then they could not find him; He ran fourteen miles in fifteen days, And never looked behind him.

JACK'S FIDDLE

Jacky, come give me thy fiddle, If ever thou mean to thrive. Nay, I'll not give my fiddle To any man alive.

If I should give my fiddle They'll think that I'm gone mad; For many a joyful day My fiddle and I have had.

A WAS AN ARCHER

A was an Archer, and shot at a Frog

B was a Butcher, and kept a Bull-dog

C was a Captain, all covered with Lace

D was a Drunkard, and had a Red Face

E was an Esquire, with insolent Brow

F was a Farmer, and followed the Plough

G was a Gamester, who had but Ill Luck

H was a Hunter, and hunted a Buck

I was an Innkeeper, who loved to Bouse

J was a Joiner, and built up a House

K was King William, once governed this Land

L was a Lady, who had a White Hand

M was a Miser, and hoarded up Gold

N was a Nobleman, Gallant and Bold

O was an Oyster Wench, and went about Town

P was a Parson, and wore a Black Gown

Q was a Queen, who was fond of good Flip

R was a Robber, and wanted a Whip

S was a Sailor, and spent all he got

T was a Tinker, and mended a Pot

U was a Usurer, a miserable Elf

V was a Vintner, who drank all Himself

W was a Watchman, and guarded the Door

X was Expensive, and so became Poor

Y was a Youth, that did not love School

Z was a Zany, a silly old Fool

THREE SHIPS

I saw three ships come sailing by, Sailing by, sailing by, I saw three ships come sailing by, On New-Year's day in the morning.

And what do you think was in them then, In them then, in them then? And what do you think was in them then, On New-Year's day in the morning?

Three pretty girls were in them then, In them then, in them then, Three pretty girls were in them then, On New-Year's day in the morning.

And one could whistle, and one could sing, And one could play on the violin, Such joy there was at my wedding, On New-Year's day in the morning.

THE CROOKED SONG

There was a crooked man, and he went a crooked mile, He found a crooked sixpence beside a crooked stile; He bought a crooked cat, which caught a crooked mouse, And they all lived together in a little crooked house.

A, B, C

A, B, C, tumble down D, The cat's in the cupboard And can't see me.

COMICAL FOLK

In a cottage in Fife Lived a man and his wife, Who, believe me, were comical folk; For, to people's surprise, They both saw with their eyes, And their tongues moved whenever they spoke. When they were asleep, I'm told--that to keep Their eyes open they could not contrive; They both walked on their feet, And 't was thought what they eat Helped, with drinking, to keep them alive.

DING, DONG, BELL.

Ding, dong, bell, the cat is in the well! Who put her in? Little Johnny Green. Who pulled her out? Little Tommy Stout. What a naughty boy was that, To try to drown poor pussy cat, Who never did him any harm, But killed the mice in his father's barn!

BOBBY SNOOKS

Little Bobby Snooks was fond of his books, And loved by his usher and master;

But naughty Jack Spry, he got a black eye, And carries his nose in a plaster.

SIX LITTLE MICE

Six little mice sat down to spin, Pussy passed by, and she peeped in. "What are you at, my little men?" "Making coats for gentlemen." "Shall I come in and bite off your threads?" "No, no, Miss Pussy, you'll bite off our heads." "Oh, no, I'll not, I'll help you spin." "That may be so, but you don't come in."

WING, WANG, WADDLE, OH

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

I sold my cow, and I bought me a calf; I'd fain have made a fortune but lost the best half; With my wing, wang, waddle, oh, Jack sing saddle, oh, Blowsey boys buble, oh, Under the broom.

I sold my calf, and I bought me a cat; A pretty thing she was, in my chimney corner sat; With my wing, wang, waddle, oh, Jack sing saddle oh, Blowsey boys buble, oh, Under the broom.

I sold my cat and bought me a mouse; He carried fire in his tail, and burnt down my house; With my wing, wang, waddle, oh, Jack sing saddle, oh, Blowsey boys buble, oh, Under the broom.

THE HART

The hart he loves the high wood, The hare she loves the hill; The Knight he loves his bright sword, The Lady--loves her will.

OLD CHAIRS TO MEND

If I'd as much money as I could spend, I never would cry old chairs to mend; Old chairs to mend, old chairs to mend; I never would cry old chairs to mend.

If I'd as much money as I could tell, I never would cry old clothes to sell; Old clothes to sell, old clothes to sell; I never would cry old clothes to sell.

SEE, SEE!

See, see! what shall I see? A horse's head where his tail should be!

OLD MOTHER HUBBARD

Mother Hubbard's old dog Tray, If this account be true, Had not an equal, I dare say, Come tell me, what think you?

Old Mother Hubbard Went to her cupboard, To give her poor dog a bone;

When she came there The cupboard was bare, And so the poor dog had none.

She went to the baker's To buy him some bread, When she came back The dog was dead!

She went to the undertaker's To buy him a coffin; When she came back The dog was laughing.

She took a clean dish To get him some tripe; When she came back He was smoking his pipe.

She went to the ale-house To get him some beer; When she came back The dog sat in a chair.

She went to the tavern For white wine and red; When she came back The dog stood on his head.

She went to the hatter's To buy him a hat; When she came back He was feeding the cat.

She went to the barber's To buy him a wig; When she came back He was dancing a jig.

She went to the fruiterer's To buy him some fruit; When she came back He was playing the flute.

She went to the tailor's To buy him a coat; When she came back He was riding a goat.

She went to the cobbler's To buy him some shoes; When she came back He was reading the news.

She went to the sempster's To buy him some linen; When she came back The dog was spinning.

She went to the hosier's To buy him some hose; When she came back He was dressed in his clothes.

The dame made a curtsy, The dog made a bow; The dame said, "Your servant," The dog said, "Bow-wow!"

TO BABYLON

How many miles is it to Babylon? Threescore miles and ten. Can I get there by candle-light? Yes, and back again! If your heels are nimble and light, You may get there by candle-light.

MY BLACK HEN

Hickety, pickety, my black hen, She lays eggs for gentlemen; Gentlemen come every day To see what my black hen doth lay.

I'LL TELL YOU A STORY

I'll tell you a story About Jack a Nory-- And now my story's begun:

I'll tell you another, About Jack his brother-- And now my story's done.

End of Project Gutenberg's The Big Book of Nursery Rhymes, by Various