Chinese Mother Goose Rhymes Part 12

My sister, whom you saw; Who will light the fire?

Her own mother-in-law.

ROAST PORK

Roast, roast, Roast pig meat, The second pot smells bad, The big pot is sweet; Come, Mrs. w.a.n.g, please, And eat pig meat.

GOING TO TOWN

 

Up you go, down you see, Here's a turnip for you and me, Here's a pitcher, we'll go to town, Oh, what a pity we've fallen down; What do you see in the heavens bright?

I see the moon and the stars at night; What do you see in the earth, pray tell?

I see in the earth a deep, deep well; What do you see in the well, my dear?

I see a frog, and his voice I hear; What is he saying there on the rock?

Get up, get up; ke'rh kua, ke'rh kua.

THE MISCHIEVOUS SISTER-IN-LAW

Oh the pumpkin red, oh the gourd decayed, I am my father's mischievous maid; I am my brother's dear little sister; I am my sister-in-law's fly-blister.

Father, when I marry, what will you give?

A box and a ward-robe you shall receive.

Mother, when I marry, what will you bring?

A little work-basket full of everything.

Brother, when I marry, what will come from you?

A fancy cloth towel; think that will do?

My happiness, sister, you will not mar?

I'll give a broken bottle and a little smashed jar, And send you, you nuisance, away very far.

BUYING A LOCK

Oh, here we all go to buy us a lock, What kind of a lock shall it be?

We'll buy one of silver or buy one of gold, But what shall we use as a key?

We'll use a broom handle; if that will not do, With a poker we'll try it alone; But if neither the broom nor the poker will do, We will open it then with a stone.

FORCING THE CITY GATES

He stuck a feather in his hat, And hurried to the town, And children met him with a horse, For the gates were broken down.

HOME ON THE MOUNTAIN

On a very high mountain A family dwell, Of ten of their rooms, Nine of them fell.

The old man comes out With a great deal of trouble; His wife hobbles after, Her body bent double.

Their three-legged dog Is as thin as a rail, And their rat-fearing cat Is minus a tail.

FAMILY NEEDS

You'll find whene'er the new year come, The kitchen G.o.d will want a plum; The girls will want some flowers new, The boys will want some crackers, too; A new felt cap will please papa, And sugar-cake will please mama.

MY BOAT

My boat is turned up at both ends, All storms it encounters it weathers On its body you'll find not a board, But covered all over with feathers.

We daily re-load it with rice, 'Tis admired by all whom we meet, You will find not a crack in my boat, But you'll find underneath it two feet: _A duck_.

OLD GRANNY CHANG

Knocking, knocking, who's at the door?

Old Granny Chang, and nothing more.

Why don't you enter, granny, dear?

The dog will bite me, child, I fear.