Chapter 2

Burnie bee, burnie bee, Tell me when your wedding be? If it be to-morrow day, Take your wings and fly away.

THREE WISE MEN OF GOTHAM

Three wise men of Gotham Went to sea in a bowl; If the bowl had been stronger My song had been longer.

THE HUNTER OF REIGATE

A man went a-hunting at Reigate, And wished to leap over a high gate. Says the owner, "Go round, With your gun and your hound, For you never shall leap over my gate."

LITTLE POLLY FLINDERS

Little Polly Flinders Sat among the cinders Warming her pretty little toes; Her mother came and caught her, Whipped her little daughter For spoiling her nice new clothes.

RIDE AWAY, RIDE AWAY

Ride away, ride away, Johnny shall ride, And he shall have pussy-cat Tied to one side; And he shall have little dog Tied to the other, And Johnny shall ride To see his grandmother.

PIPPEN HILL

As I was going up Pippen Hill, Pippen Hill was dirty; There I met a pretty Miss, And she dropped me a curtsy.

Little Miss, pretty Miss, Blessings light upon you; If I had half-a-crown a day, I'd spend it all upon you.

PUSSY-CAT AND QUEEN

"Pussy-cat, pussy-cat, Where have you been?" "I've been to London To look at the Queen."

"Pussy-cat, pussy-cat, What did you there?" "I frightened a little mouse Under the chair."

THE WINDS

Mister East gave a feast; Mister North laid the cloth; Mister West did his best; Mister South burnt his mouth Eating cold potato.

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.

CHRISTMAS

Christmas comes but once a year, And when it comes it brings good cheer.

ELIZABETH

Elizabeth, Elspeth, Betsy, and Bess, They all went together to seek a bird's nest; They found a bird's nest with five eggs in, They all took one, and left four in.

JUST LIKE ME

"I went up one pair of stairs." "Just like me."

"I went up two pairs of stairs." "Just like me."

"I went into a room." "Just like me."

"I looked out of a window." "Just like me."

"And there I saw a monkey." "Just like me."

PLAY DAYS

How many days has my baby to play? Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday.

HEIGH-HO, THE CARRION CROW

A carrion crow sat on an oak, Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding do, Watching a tailor shape his cloak; Sing heigh-ho, the carrion crow, Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding do!

Wife, bring me my old bent bow, Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding do, That I may shoot yon carrion crow; Sing heigh-ho, the carrion crow, Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding do!

The tailor he shot, and missed his mark, Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding do! And shot his own sow quite through the heart; Sing heigh-ho, the carrion crow, Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding do!

Wife! bring brandy in a spoon, Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding do! For our old sow is in a swoon; Sing heigh-ho, the carrion crow, Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding do!

ABC

Great A, little a, Bouncing B! The cat's in the cupboard, And can't see me.

A NEEDLE AND THREAD

Old Mother Twitchett had but one eye, And a long tail which she let fly; And every time she went through a gap, A bit of her tail she left in a trap.

BANBURY CROSS

Ride a cock-horse to Banbury Cross, To see an old lady upon a white horse. Rings on her fingers, and bells on her toes, She shall have music wherever she goes.

THE MAN IN OUR TOWN

There was a man in our town, And he was wondrous wise, He jumped into a bramble bush, And scratched out both his eyes; But when he saw his eyes were out, With all his might and main, He jumped into another bush, And scratched 'em in again.

GEORGY PORGY

Georgy Porgy, pudding and pie, Kissed the girls and made them cry. When the boys came out to play, Georgy Porgy ran away.

FOR EVERY EVIL

For every evil under the sun There is a remedy or there is none. If there be one, seek till you find it; If there be none, never mind it.

CUSHY COW

Cushy cow, bonny, let down thy milk, And I will give thee a gown of silk; A gown of silk and a silver tee, If thou wilt let down thy milk to me.

WEE WILLIE WINKIE

Wee Willie Winkie runs through the town, Upstairs and downstairs, in his nightgown; Rapping at the window, crying through the lock, "Are the children in their beds? Now it's eight o'clock."

ABOUT THE BUSH

About the bush, Willie, About the beehive, About the bush, Willie, I'll meet thee alive.

SEE-SAW

See-saw, Margery Daw, Sold her bed and lay upon straw.

ROBIN-A-BOBBIN

Robin-a-Bobbin Bent his bow, Shot at a pigeon, And killed a crow.

JOHN SMITH

Is John Smith within? Yes, that he is. Can he set a shoe? Ay, marry, two. Here a nail, there a nail, Tick, tack, too.

SIMPLE SIMON

Simple Simon met a pieman, Going to the fair; Says Simple Simon to the pieman, "Let me taste your ware."

Says the pieman to Simple Simon, "Show me first your penny," Says Simple Simon to the pieman, "Indeed, I have not any."

Simple Simon went a-fishing For to catch a whale; All the water he could find Was in his mother's pail!

Simple Simon went to look If plums grew on a thistle; He pricked his fingers very much, Which made poor Simon whistle.

He went to catch a dicky bird, And thought he could not fail, Because he had a little salt, To put upon its tail.

He went for water with a sieve, But soon it ran all through; And now poor Simple Simon Bids you all adieu.

THREE BLIND MICE

Three blind mice! See how they run! They all ran after the farmer's wife, Who cut off their tails with a carving knife. Did you ever see such a thing in your life As three blind mice?

FIVE TOES

This little pig went to market; This little pig stayed at home; This little pig had roast beef; This little pig had none; This little pig said, "Wee, wee! I can't find my way home."

A LITTLE MAN

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.

DOCTOR FOSTER

Doctor Foster went to Glo'ster, In a shower of rain; He stepped in a puddle, up to his middle, And never went there again.

DIDDLE DIDDLE DUMPLING

Diddle diddle dumpling, my son John Went to bed with his breeches on, One stocking off, and one stocking on; Diddle diddle dumpling, my son John.

JERRY HALL

Jerry Hall, he was so small, A rat could eat him, hat and all.

LENGTHENING DAYS

As the days grow longer The storms grow stronger.

THE BLACK HEN

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

THE MIST

A hill full, a hole full, Yet you cannot catch a bowl full.

A CANDLE

Little Nanny Etticoat In a white petticoat, And a red nose; The longer she stands The shorter she grows.

MISS MUFFET

Little Miss Muffet Sat on a tuffet, Eating of curds and whey; There came a big spider, And sat down beside her, And frightened Miss Muffet away.

CURLY-LOCKS

Curly-locks, Curly-locks, wilt thou be mine? Thou shalt not wash the dishes, nor yet feed the swine; But sit on a cushion, and sew a fine seam And feed upon strawberries, sugar, and cream.

HUMPTY DUMPTY

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall; All the King's horses, and all the King's men Cannot put Humpty Dumpty together again.

ONE, TWO, THREE

One, two, three, four, five, Once I caught a fish alive. Six, seven, eight, nine, ten, But I let it go again. Why did you let it go? Because it bit my finger so. Which finger did it bite? The little one upon the right.

THE DOVE AND THE WREN

The dove says coo, coo, what shall I do? I can scarce maintain two. Pooh, pooh! says the wren, I've got ten, And keep them all like gentlemen.

MASTER I HAVE

Master I have, and I am his man, Gallop a dreary dun; Master I have, and I am his man, And I'll get a wife as fast as I can; With a heighty gaily gamberally, Higgledy piggledy, niggledy, niggledy, Gallop a dreary dun.

PINS

See a pin and pick it up, All the day you'll have good luck. See a pin and let it lay, Bad luck you'll have all the day.

SHALL WE GO A-SHEARING?

"Old woman, old woman, shall we go a-shearing?" "Speak a little louder, sir, I am very thick of hearing." "Old woman, old woman, shall I kiss you dearly?" "Thank you, kind sir, I hear you very clearly."

GOOSEY, GOOSEY, GANDER

Goosey, goosey, gander, Whither dost thou wander? Upstairs and downstairs And in my lady's chamber.

There I met an old man Who wouldn't say his prayers; I took him by the left leg, And threw him down the stairs.

OLD MOTHER HUBBARD

Old Mother Hubbard Went to the cupboard, To give her poor dog a bone; But when she got 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 got back The dog was laughing.

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

She went to the alehouse 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 a-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."

THE COCK AND THE HEN

"Cock, cock, cock, cock, I've laid an egg, Am I to gang ba--are-foot?"

"Hen, hen, hen, hen, I've been up and down To every shop in town, And cannot find a shoe To fit your foot, If I'd crow my hea--art out."

BLUE BELL BOY

I had a little boy, And called him Blue Bell; Gave him a little work,-- He did it very well.

I bade him go upstairs To bring me a gold pin; In coal scuttle fell he, Up to his little chin.

He went to the garden To pick a little sage; He tumbled on his nose, And fell into a rage.

He went to the cellar To draw a little beer; And quickly did return To say there was none there.

WHY MAY NOT I LOVE JOHNNY?

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's a foot 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?

JACK JELF

Little Jack Jelf Was put on the shelf Because he could not spell "pie"; When his aunt, Mrs. Grace, Saw his sorrowful face, She could not help saying, "Oh, fie!"

And since Master Jelf Was put on the shelf Because he could not spell "pie," Let him stand there so grim, And no more about him, For I wish him a very good-bye!

JACK SPRAT

Jack Sprat Could eat no fat, His wife could eat no lean; And so, Betwixt them both, They licked the platter clean.

HUSH-A-BYE

Hush-a-bye, baby, Daddy is near; Mamma is a lady, And that's very clear.

DAFFODILS

Daffy-down-dilly has come to town In a yellow petticoat and a green gown.

THE GIRL IN THE LANE

The girl in the lane, that couldn't speak plain, Cried, "Gobble, gobble, gobble": The man on the hill that couldn't stand still, Went hobble hobble, hobble.

HUSH-A-BYE

Hush-a-bye, baby, lie still with thy daddy, Thy mammy has gone to the mill, To get some meal to bake a cake, So pray, my dear baby, lie still.

NANCY DAWSON

Nancy Dawson was so fine She wouldn't get up to serve the swine; She lies in bed till eight or nine, So it's Oh, poor Nancy Dawson.

And do ye ken Nancy Dawson, honey? The wife who sells the barley, honey? She won't get up to feed her swine, And do ye ken Nancy Dawson, honey?

HANDY PANDY

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

JACK AND JILL

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

Then up Jack got and off did trot, As fast as he could caper, To old Dame Dob, who patched his nob With vinegar and brown paper.

THE ALPHABET

A, B, C, and D, Pray, playmates, agree. E, F, and G, Well, so it shall be. J, K, and L, In peace we will dwell. M, N, and O, To play let us go. P, Q, R, and S, Love may we possess. W, X, and Y, Will not quarrel or die. Z, and ampersand, Go to school at command.

DANCE TO YOUR DADDIE

Dance to your daddie, My bonnie laddie; Dance to your daddie, my bonnie lamb; You shall get a fishy, On a little dishy; You shall get a fishy, when the boat comes home.

ONE MISTY MOISTY MORNING

One misty moisty morning, When cloudy was the weather, I chanced to meet an old man, Clothed all in leather. He began to compliment And I began to grin. How do you do? And how do you do? And how do you do again?

ROBIN HOOD AND LITTLE JOHN

Robin Hood, Robin Hood, Is in the mickle wood! Little John, Little John, He to the town is gone.

Robin Hood, Robin Hood, Telling his beads, All in the greenwood Among the green weeds.

Little John, Little John, If he comes no more, Robin Hood, Robin Hood, We shall fret full sore!

RAIN

Rain, rain, go to Spain, And never come back again.

THE OLD WOMAN FROM FRANCE

There came an old woman from France Who taught grown-up children to dance; But they were so stiff, She sent them home in a sniff, This sprightly old woman from France.

TEETH AND GUMS

Thirty white horses upon a red hill, Now they tramp, now they champ, now they stand still.

THE ROBINS

A robin and a robin's son Once went to town to buy a bun. They couldn't decide on plum or plain, And so they went back home again.

THE OLD MAN

There was an old man In a velvet coat, He kissed a maid And gave her a groat. The groat it was crack'd And would not go,-- Ah, old man, do you serve me so?

T'OTHER LITTLE TUNE

I won't be my father's Jack, I won't be my father's Jill; I will be the fiddler's wife, And have music when I will. T'other little tune, T'other little tune, Prithee, Love, play me T'other little tune.

MY KITTEN

Hey, my kitten, my kitten, And hey, my kitten, my deary! Such a sweet pet as this Was neither far nor neary.

IF ALL THE SEAS WERE ONE SEA

If all the seas were one sea, What a _great_ sea that would be! And if all the trees were one tree, What a _great_ tree that would be! And if all the axes were one axe, What a _great_ axe that would be! And if all the men were one man, What a _great_ man he would be! And if the _great_ man took the _great_ axe, And cut down the _great_ tree, And let it fall into the _great_ sea, What a splish splash _that_ would be!

PANCAKE DAY

Great A, little a, This is pancake day; Toss the ball high, Throw the ball low, Those that come after May sing heigh-ho!

A PLUM PUDDING

Flour of England, fruit of Spain, Met together in a shower of rain; Put in a bag tied round with a string; If you'll tell me this riddle, I'll give you a ring.

FOREHEAD, EYES, CHEEKS, NOSE, MOUTH, AND CHIN

Here sits the Lord Mayor, Here sit his two men, Here sits the cock, Here sits the hen, Here sit the little chickens, Here they run in. Chin-chopper, chin-chopper, chin chopper, chin!

TWO PIGEONS

I had two pigeons bright and gay, They flew from me the other day. What was the reason they did go? I cannot tell, for I do not know.

A SURE TEST

If you are to be a gentleman, As I suppose you'll be, You'll neither laugh nor smile, For a tickling of the knee.

LOCK AND KEY

"I am a gold lock." "I am a gold key." "I am a silver lock." "I am a silver key." "I am a brass lock." "I am a brass key." "I am a lead lock." "I am a lead key." "I am a don lock." "I am a don key!"

THE LION AND THE UNICORN

The Lion and the Unicorn were fighting for the crown, The Lion beat the Unicorn all around the town. Some gave them white bread, and some gave them brown, Some gave them plum-cake, and sent them out of town.

THE MERCHANTS OF LONDON

Hey diddle dinkety poppety pet, The merchants of London they wear scarlet, Silk in the collar and gold in the hem, So merrily march the merchant men.

I HAD A LITTLE HUSBAND

I had a little husband no bigger than my thumb, I put him in a pint pot, and there I bid him drum, I bought a little handkerchief to wipe his little nose, And a pair of little garters to tie his little hose.

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.

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 his brother: And now my story is done.

A STRANGE OLD WOMAN

There was an old woman, and what do you think? She lived upon nothing but victuals and drink; Victuals and drink were the chief of her diet, And yet this old woman could never be quiet.

SLEEP, BABY, SLEEP

Sleep, baby, sleep, Our cottage vale is deep: The little lamb is on the green, With woolly fleece so soft and clean-- Sleep, baby, sleep. Sleep, baby, sleep, Down where the woodbines creep; Be always like the lamb so mild, A kind, and sweet, and gentle child. Sleep, baby, sleep.

CRY, BABY

Cry, baby, cry, Put your finger in your eye, And tell your mother it wasn't I.

BAA, BAA, BLACK SHEEP

Baa, baa, black sheep, Have you any wool? Yes, marry, have I, Three bags full;

One for my master, One for my dame, But none for the little boy Who cries in the lane.

LITTLE FRED

When little Fred went to bed, He always said his prayers;

He kissed mamma, and then papa, And straightway went upstairs.

THE CAT AND THE FIDDLE

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

DOCTOR FELL

I do not like thee, Doctor Fell; The reason why I cannot tell; But this I know, and know full well, I do not like thee, Doctor Fell!

A COUNTING-OUT RHYME

Hickery, dickery, 6 and 7, Alabone, Crackabone, 10 and 11, Spin, spun, muskidun, Twiddle 'em, twaddle 'em, 21.

JACK AND HIS FIDDLE

"Jacky, come and 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've gone mad; For many a joyous day My fiddle and I have had."

BUTTONS

Buttons, a farthing a pair! Come, who will buy them of me? They're round and sound and pretty, And fit for girls of the city. Come, who will buy them of me? Buttons, a farthing a pair!

HOT BOILED BEANS

Ladies and gentlemen come to supper-- Hot boiled beans and very good butter.

LITTLE PUSSY

I like little Pussy, Her coat is so warm,

And if I don't hurt her She'll do me no harm;

So I'll not pull her tail, Nor drive her away,

But Pussy and I Very gently will play.

SING A SONG OF SIXPENCE

Sing a song of sixpence, A pocket full of rye; Four-and-twenty blackbirds Baked in a pie!

When the pie was opened 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 parlor, Eating bread and honey.

The maid was in the garden, Hanging out the clothes; When down came a blackbird And snapped off her nose.

TOMMY TITTLEMOUSE

Little Tommy Tittlemouse Lived in a little house; He caught fishes In other men's ditches.

THE DERBY RAM

As I was going to Derby all on a market-day, I met the finest ram, sir, that ever was fed upon hay; Upon hay, upon hay, upon hay; I met the finest ram, sir, that ever was fed upon hay. This ram was fat behind, sir; this ram was fat before; This ram was ten yards round, sir; indeed, he was no more; No more, no more, no more; This ram was ten yards round, sir; indeed, he was no more. The horns that grew on his head, sir, they were so wondrous high, As I've been plainly told, sir, they reached up to the sky. The sky, the sky, the sky; As I've been plainly told, sir, they reached up to the sky. The tail that grew from his back, sir, was six yards and an ell; And it was sent to Derby to toll the market bell; The bell, the bell, the bell; And it was sent to Derby to toll the market bell.

THE HOBBY-HORSE

I had a little hobby-horse, And it was dapple gray; Its head was made of pea-straw, Its tail was made of hay.

I sold it to an old woman For a copper groat; And I'll not sing my song again Without another coat.

THE MULBERRY BUSH

Here we go round the mulberry bush, The mulberry bush, the mulberry bush, Here we go round the mulberry bush. On a cold and frosty morning.

This is the way we wash our hands, Wash our hands, wash our hands, This is the way we wash our hands, On a cold and frosty morning.

This is the way we wash our clothes. Wash our clothes, wash our clothes, This is the way we wash our clothes, On a cold and frosty morning.

This is the way we go to school, Go to school, go to school, This is the way we go to school, On a cold and frosty morning.

This is the way we come out of school, Come out of school, come out of school, This is the way we come out of school, On a cold and frosty morning.

YOUNG LAMBS TO SELL

If I'd as much money as I could tell, I never would cry young lambs to sell; Young lambs to sell, young lambs to sell; I never would cry young lambs to sell.

BOY AND THE SPARROW

A little cock-sparrow sat on a green tree, And he chirruped, he chirruped, so merry was he; A naughty boy came with his wee bow and arrow, Determined to shoot this little cock-sparrow.

"This little cock-sparrow shall make me a stew, And his giblets shall make me a little pie, too." "Oh, no," says the sparrow "I won't make a stew." So he flapped his wings and away he flew.

OLD WOMAN, OLD WOMAN

There was an old woman tossed in a basket, Seventeen times as high as the moon; But where she was going no mortal could tell, For under her arm she carried a broom.

"Old woman, old woman, old woman," said I, "Whither, oh whither, oh whither so high?" "To sweep the cobwebs from the sky; And I'll be with you by-and-by."

THE FIRST OF MAY

The fair maid who, the first of May, Goes to the fields at break of day, And washes in dew from the hawthorn-tree, Will ever after handsome be.

SULKY SUE

Here's Sulky Sue, What shall we do? Turn her face to the wall Till she comes to.

THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT

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