The Peter Patter Book of Nursery Rhymes Part 15

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PETER, POPPER

Peter, popper, dopper, Dan, Catch a moonbeam if you can; Climb a cedar ten feet high And pick the planets from the sky.

You're a wonder, little man-- Peter, popper, dopper, Dan.

OLD FATHER ANNUM

Old Father Annum on New Year's Day Picked up his bag of months and years, Thrust in his hand in a careless way, And pulled a wee fellow out by the ears.

"There you are," said he to the waiting crowd, "He's as good as any I have in my pack.

I never can tell, but I hope to be proud Of the little rascal when I come back."

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THE TIPPANY FLOWER

O what will you take for a tippany flower, And what will you take for a pansy?

I'll take a smile for the tippany flower, And a kiss for the pretty pansy.

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HERE COMES A CABBAGE

Here comes a cabbage with a bonnet on its head, A pretty purple bonnet with a bow of blue and red; And here comes a bottle with a collar 'round its neck, A handsome linen collar, too, without a spot or speck; Next comes a meat-saw, his job is biting beef, And according to the cleaver he has gold in all his teeth; And last of all there comes along, amid the ringing cheers, A princely Indian corn-stalk with rings in both his ears.

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PLENTY

There are plenty feathers on a hen And p.r.i.c.kers on a rose, There is plenty roaring in a den Of lions, goodness knows;

There are plenty fishes in the lake And islands in the sea; There are plenty raisins in this cake For even you and me.

THE RUNAWAYS

A pipe and a spoon and a tenpenny nail Stole a tin dishpan and went for a sail.

But the cook he grew curious, Fussy, and furious; Gathered his trappings, and went on their trail.

He found them that night in a pitiful plight, And sent them all home on the ten o'clock mail.

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[Ill.u.s.tration: HI! HI! WHO WILL BUY A WEE LITTLE CLOUD]

THE SALESMAN

Hi! Hi! Who will buy A wee little cloud for the pretty blue sky?

Some are purple, some are red, And all are soft as a feather bed.

Hi! Little children, won't any one buy One little cloud for the pretty blue sky?

A RACE, A RACE TO MOSCOW

A race, a race to Moscow, Before the close of day!

A race, a race to Moscow, A long, long way!

First comes a b.u.t.terfly a-riding on a frog, Next comes a water rat a-floating on a log; A caterpillar on the fence, a hopper in the hay-- Who'll get to Moscow before the close of day?

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A PRINCE FROM PEPPERVILLE

A prince came down from Pepperville In satin and in lace, He wore a bonnet on his head And whiskers on his face.

And when he came to Battleburg This is what befell: He gave the king and cabinet A half a peanut sh.e.l.l.