Chinese Mother Goose Rhymes Part 4

The wily Emperor, Ch'in s.h.i.+h Huang, He built a wall both great and strong; The steps were narrow, but the wall was stout, So it kept the troublesome Tartars out.

A DILEMMA

Hard worm beans Without any bother, A wife he has married And doesn't want his mother.

He must leave his mother, Or quarrel with his wife, And thus they are separated All their life.

CRUEL LITTLE GLUTTON

He ate too much, That second brother, And when he had eaten He beat his mother.

UNFORTUNATE

He pulled up the wick With the candlestick knife, And found he had married A bald-headed wife.

Her eyes were askew, And her mouth was awry, And the silly old fellow Was so mad he could cry.

THE BRIDE

A newly made kettle is bright, A newly bought pig is a bother, A new married wife will not eat, But cries and thinks of her mother.

A BAD BOY

There was a little fellow, Who was mischievous, they say, They sent him to the melon-patch To watch it all the day.

They told him he must stay there Till the melons all were white, And not come home to mama, Not even in the night.

THE CROWS

Look at the white-breasted crows overhead!

My father shot once, and ten crows tumbled dead.

When boiled or when fried, they taste very good, But skin them, I tell you, there's no better food.

FRIENDS OF THE HOUSE

The thieving old magpie has taken our food, The chicken eats millet as if it were good, The faithful old watch-dog looks after the house, And the cat has come over to catch us a mouse.

MY TEACHER AND I

As the sun came up, a ball of red, My teacher rode on his horse ahead, While I followed close on my dragon steed, He by the street and I by the mead.

b.u.mP

b.u.mp, b.u.mp go away, Do not let our mama see; If she sees you on baby's head, She'll give no money for nurse's bread.

A RIDDLE

A plum blossom foot, And a pudding face sweet, He's taller when he's sitting Than when standing on his feet.

THE CAKE SELLER

My pretty little son, I love him best of all, Three years I have not seen him, And he's grown so very tall.

My horse he can ride, My knife he can take, Can shoulder up my kneading board And help me sell my cake.