Mother Goose's Nursery Rhymes Part 7

Who'll be the Clerk?

I, said the Lark, If it's not in the dark, I'll be the Clerk.

This is the Lark, Saying "Amen" like a clerk.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Who'll carry him to the grave?

I, said the Kite, If it's not in the night, I'll carry him to the grave.

This is the Kite, About to take flight.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Who'll carry the link?

I, said the Linnet, I'll fetch it in a minute, I'll carry the link.

This is the Linnet, And a link with fire in it.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Who'll be chief mourner?

I, said the Dove, For I mourn for my love, I'll be chief mourner.

This is the Dove, Who c.o.c.k Robin did love.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Who'll sing a psalm?

I, said the Thrush, As she sat in a bush, I'll sing a psalm.

This is the Thrush, Singing psalms from a bush.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Who'll toll the bell?

I, said the Bull, Because I can pull; So, c.o.c.k Robin, farewell!

This is the Bull Who the bell-rope did pull.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Poor c.o.c.k Robin]

All the birds of the air Fell a-sighing and sobbing, When they heard the bell toll For Poor c.o.c.k Robin.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

FREDDIE AND THE CHERRY-TREE.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

FREDDIE saw some fine ripe cherries Hanging on a cherry-tree, And he said, "You pretty cherries, Will you not come down to me?"

"Thank you kindly," said a cherry, "We would rather stay up here; If we ventured down this morning, You would eat us up, I fear."

One, the finest of the cherries, Dangled from a slender twig; "You are beautiful," said Freddie, "Red and ripe, and oh, how big!"

"Catch me," said the cherry, "catch me, Little master, if you can."

"I would catch you soon," said Freddie, "If I were a grown-up man."

Freddie jumped, and tried to reach it, Standing high upon his toes; But the cherry bobbed about, And laughed, and tickled Freddie's nose.

SIMPLE SIMON.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Music:

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."]

He went to catch a d.i.c.key-bird, And thought he could not fail, Because he'd got a little salt To put upon his tail.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

He went to take a bird's nest, Was built upon a bough: A branch gave way, and Simon fell Into a dirty slough.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

He went to shoot a wild duck, But wild duck flew away; Says Simon, "I can't hit him, Because he will not stay."

Simple Simon went a-hunting, For to catch a hare, He rode an a.s.s about the streets, But couldn't find one there.

Simple Simon went a-fis.h.i.+ng For to catch a whale; All the water he had got Was in his mother's pail.

He went for to eat honey Out of the mustard-pot, He bit his tongue until he cried, That was all the good he got.

He went to ride a spotted cow, That had a little calf, She threw him down upon the ground, Which made the people laugh.

Once Simon made a great s...o...b..ll, And brought it in to roast; He laid it down before the fire, And soon the ball was lost.

He went to slide upon the ice, Before the ice would bear; Then he plunged in above his knees, Which made poor Simon stare.