Traditional Nursery Songs of England Part 2

Lady-Bird, Lady-Bird, Fly away home, Your house is on fire, Your children will burn.

1. Let us go to the wood, says this pig; 2. What to do there? says that pig; 3. To look for my mother, says this pig; 4. What to do with her? says that pig; 5. To kiss her to death, says this pig.

_Note._ This is said to each finger.

Little Bo-peep has lost her sheep, And cannot tell where to find 'em; Let them alone, and they'll come home, And bring their tails behind 'em.

Little Bo-peep fell fast asleep, And dreamt she heard them bleating, When she awoke she found it a joke, For they were still all fleeting.

Then up she took her little crook, Determined for to find them, She found them indeed, but it made her heart bleed, For they'd left their tails behind them.

It happened one day as Bo-peep did stray Unto a meadow hard by; There she espied their tails side by side, All hung on a tree to dry.

Little boy blue, come blow me your horn, The sheep's in the meadow, the cow's in the corn.

Where is the little boy tending the sheep?

Under the hayc.o.c.k fast asleep!

Little Jack Horner Sat in a corner Eating a Christmas pie; He put in his thumb, And pull'd out a plum, And said "What a good boy am I!"

Little Jack Jingle, He used to live single: But when he got tired of this kind of life, He left off being single and lived with his wife.

Little Jenny Wren fell sick upon a time, When in came Robin Redbreast and brought her sops and wine, "Eat, Jenny, drink, Jenny, all shall be thine!"

"Thank you, Robin, kindly, you shall be mine."

Then Jenny Wren got better, and stood upon her feet, And said to Robin Redbreast, "I love thee not a bit."

Then Robin he was angry, and flew upon a pole, "Hoot upon thee! fie upon thee! ungrateful soul."

Little Miss m.u.f.fet She sat on a tuffet, Eating of curds and whey; There came a little spider, Who sat down beside her, And frightened Miss m.u.f.fet away.

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

Little Robin Red-breast 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 Red-breast, "Catch me if you can."

Little Robin Red-breast jumped upon a wall, p.u.s.s.y-cat jumped after him, and almost got a fall.

Little Robin chirped and sang, and what did p.u.s.s.y say?

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

Little Robin Red-breast Sat upon a rail, Niddle noddle went his head, Wiggle waggle went his tail.

Little Tom Tucker, Sings for his supper: What shall he eat?

White bread and b.u.t.ter.

How shall he cut it, Without e'er a knife?

How will he be married Without e'er a wife?

Mary, Mary, Quite contrary, How does your garden grow!

Silver bells, And c.o.c.kle-sh.e.l.ls, And pretty maids all of a row.

Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, Guard the bed that I lay on!

Four corners to my bed, Four angels round my head!

One to watch, one to pray, And two to bear my soul away!

[Ill.u.s.tration: AND WHEN SHE CAME BACK HE WAS READING THE NEWS.]

Old mother Hubbard Went to the cupboard, To give her poor dog a bone, But 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, And when she came back The poor dog was dead.

She went to the joiner's To buy him a coffin, And when she came back The poor dog was laughing.

She took a clean dish To get him some tripe, And when she came back He was smoking his pipe.

She went to the alehouse To get him some beer, And when she came back The dog sat in a chair.

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

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

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

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

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

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

She went to the sempstress To buy him some linen, And when she came back The dog was spinning.

She went to the hosier's To buy some hose, And when she came back He was dressed in his clothes.

The dame made a curtsey, The dog made a bow, The dame said, "Your servant,"

The dog said, "Bow, wow."

One, two, buckle my shoe; Three, four, shut the door; Five, six, pick up sticks; Seven, eight, lay them straight; Nine, ten, a good fat hen; Eleven, twelve, who will delve?

Thirteen, fourteen, maids a courting; Fifteen, sixteen, maids in the kitchen; Seventeen, eighteen, maids a waiting; Nineteen, twenty, I'm very empty; Please, Mamma, give me some dinner.