In My Nursery Part 3

Little old baby, pretty old baby, Curls himself over and goes to sleep.

Ah! such is life, my little old baby, Sleep and forget it, or wake and weep!

BABY'S JOURNEY.

Hoppety hoppety ho!

Where shall the baby go?

Over dale and down, To Limerick town, And there shall the baby go.

Hoppety hoppety ho!

_How_ shall the baby go?

In a coach-and-seven, With grooms eleven, And so shall the baby go.

Hoppety hoppety ho!

_When_ shall the baby go?

In the afternoon, By the light of the moon, And then shall the baby go.

Hoppety hoppety ho!

_Why_ shall the baby go?

To dance a new jig, And to buy a new wig, And _that's_ why the baby shall go.

THE b.u.mBLEBEE.

The b.u.mblebee, the b.u.mblebee, He flew to the top of the tulip-tree.

He flew to the top, but he could not stop, For he had to get home to his early tea.

The b.u.mblebee, the b.u.mblebee, He flew away from the tulip-tree; But he made a mistake, and flew into the lake, And he never got home to his early tea.

THE OWL AND THE EEL AND THE WARMING-PAN.

The owl and the eel and the warming-pan, They went to call on the soap-fat man.

The soap-fat man he was not within: He'd gone for a ride on his rolling-pin.

So they all came back by the way of the town, And turned the meeting-house upside down.

YOUNG (ONE)'S NIGHT THOUGHTS.

"Hi!" said the baby.

"Ho!" said the baby.

"Ha!" said the baby, "I won't go to sleep!

Naughty old mother, You make such a pother, Just for to bother You, awake I will keep.

"Dance!" said the baby.

"Prance!" said the baby.

"Perchance," said the baby, "You think I'm a goose.

Vainly you're dreaming Of rest, and your scheming To silence my screaming Is all of no use.

"Sing!" said the baby.

"Ring!" said the baby.

"Bring," said the baby, "My rattles and toys.

Still I will weep, oh!

Awake I will keep, oh!

_Won't_ go to sleep, oh!

_Will_ make a noise!

"Walk!" said the baby.

"Talk!" said the baby.

"I'll balk," said the baby, "Your efforts, one and all.

Still I'll be scorning, When, towards the morning, Without any warning Asleep I will fall."

LITTLE SUNBEAM.

Little yellow Sunbeam, Waking up one day, Down into the garden Took her s.h.i.+ning way; Merrily went dancing Down the morning air, Shaking out the sparkles From her golden hair.

Little yellow Sunbeam Twinkled all about, Down among the green leaves Flitting in and out.

Waking up the daisies From their morning doze, Ringing up the lily-bells, Knocking up the rose.

Little yellow Sunbeam, Climbing up the wall, On the baby's window Happened for to fall.

In the little chamber As she took a peep, There she saw the Lovely One Lying fast asleep.

Little yellow Sunbeam Tripped into the room, Sweeping out the darkness With her golden broom.

All the little shadows, Glimmering and gray, Gathered up their dusky skirts, Softly slid away.

Little yellow Sunbeam, Flitting to the bed, Merrily went dancing Round the baby's head.

Suddenly there flashed out, To her great surprise, Other little sunbeams From the baby's eyes.

Little yellow Sunbeam Said, "How can this be?

Whence these little sparklers So unlike to me?

Scarce I think they can be Sunbeams real and true, For we all are yellow; These are lovely blue."