Boys and Girls Bookshelf; a Practical Plan of Character Building Part 8

THE WIND

Arthur O'Bower has broken his band, He comes roaring up the land-- A King of Scots, with all his power, Cannot turn Arthur of the Bower.

ONCE I SAW A LITTLE BIRD

Once I saw a little bird Come hop, hop, hop, So I said, "Little bird, Will you stop, stop, stop?"

I was going to the window To say, "How do you do?"

But he shook his little tail And far away he flew.

RING-A-RING-A-ROSES

Ring-a-ring-a-roses, A pocket full of posies; Hus.h.!.+ hus.h.!.+ hus.h.!.+ hus.h.!.+

We're all tumbled down.

CROSS PATCH

Cross patch, Draw the latch, Sit by the fire and spin;

Take a cup, And drink it up, And call your neighbors in.

HAPPY LET US BE

Merry are the bells, and merry would they ring; Merry was myself, and merry could I sing; With a merry ding-dong, happy, gay, and free, And a merry sing-song, happy let us be!

Merry have we met, and merry have we been; Merry let us part, and merry meet again; With our merry sing-song, happy, gay, and free, And a merry ding-dong, happy let us be!

THE OLD WOMAN IN THE BASKET

There was an old woman tossed up in a basket, Nineteen times as high as the moon; Where she was going I couldn't but ask it For in her hand she carried a broom.

"Old woman, old woman, old woman, quoth I, O whither, O whither, O whither so high?"

"To brush the cobwebs off the sky!"

"Shall I go with thee?" "Aye, by-and-by."

[Ill.u.s.tration: _From a Drawing by Arthur Rackham_ "Where she was going I couldn't but ask it, For in her hand she carried a broom."]

THE FOX AND THE OLD GRAY GOOSE

The fox and his wife they had a great strife, They never ate mustard in all their whole life; They ate their meat without fork or knife, And loved to be picking a bone, e-ho!

The fox jumped up on a moonlight night, The stars they were s.h.i.+ning, 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 awhile; Oh, ho, said the fox, it's but a short mile From this unto yonder wee town, e-ho!

The fox when he came to the farmer's gate, Who should he see but the farmer's drake; I love you well for your master's sake, And long to be picking your bone, 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 unto yonder wee town e-ho!

Old Gammer Hipple-hopple hopped out of bed, She opened the cas.e.m.e.nt, and popped out her head.

Oh! husband, oh! husband, the gray goose is dead, And the fox is gone through the town, oh!

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-oh!

When he got to the top of the hill, He blew his trumpet both loud and shrill, For joy that he was safe Through the town, e-oh!

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 nice meat from the town, e-oh!"

[Ill.u.s.tration: JACK FELL DOWN ...]

JACK AND JILL

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

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

Jill came in, and she did grin To see his paper plaster; Mother, vexed, did whip her next For causing Jack's disaster.

w.i.l.l.y BOY

w.i.l.l.y boy, w.i.l.l.y boy, where are you going?

I will go with you if I may "I'm going to the meadow to see them a-mowing, I'm going to help them make the hay."

BONNY La.s.s

Bonny la.s.s, bonny la.s.s, wilt thou be mine?

Thou shalt not wash dishes, nor yet serve the swine: Thou shalt sit on a cus.h.i.+on, and sew a fine seam, And thou shalt eat strawberries, sugar, and cream!

OH, WHERE ARE YOU GOING?

Oh, where are you going, My pretty maiden fair, With your red rosy cheeks, And your coal-black hair?

I'm going a-milking, Kind sir, says she, And it's dabbling in the dew Where you'll find me.