Part 4
Mary, Mary, quite contrary, How does your garden grow? Silver bells and cockle-shells, And pretty maids all of a row.
BESSY BELL AND MARY GRAY
Bessy Bell and Mary Gray, They were two bonny lasses; They built their house upon the lea, And covered it with rushes.
Bessy kept the garden gate, And Mary kept the pantry; Bessy always had to wait, While Mary lived in plenty.
NEEDLES AND PINS
Needles and pins, needles and pins, When a man marries his trouble begins.
PUSSY-CAT AND THE DUMPLINGS
Pussy-cat ate the dumplings, the dumplings, Pussy-cat ate the dumplings. Mamma stood by, and cried, "Oh, fie! Why did you eat the dumplings?"
DANCE, THUMBKIN DANCE
Dance, Thumbkin, dance; (_keep the thumb in motion_ Dance, ye merrymen, everyone. (_all the fingers in motion_ For Thumbkin, he can dance alone, (_the thumb alone moving_ Thumbkin, he can dance alone. (_the thumb alone moving_ Dance, Foreman, dance, (_the first finger moving_ Dance, ye merrymen, everyone. (_all moving_ But Foreman, he can dance alone, (_the first finger moving_ Foreman, he can dance alone. (_the first finger moving_ Dance, Longman, dance, (_the second finger moving_ Dance, ye merrymen, everyone. (_all moving_ For Longman, he can dance alone, (_the second finger moving_ Longman, he can dance alone. (_the second finger moving_ Dance, Ringman, dance, (_the third finger moving_ Dance, ye merrymen, dance. (_all moving_ But Ringman cannot dance alone, (_the third finger moving_ Ringman, he cannot dance alone. (_the third finger moving_ Dance, Littleman, dance, (_the fourth finger moving_ Dance, ye merrymen, dance. (_all moving_ But Littleman, he can dance alone, (_the fourth finger moving_ Littleman, he can dance alone. (_the fourth finger moving_
MARY'S CANARY
Mary had a pretty bird, Feathers bright and yellow, Slender legs--upon my word He was a pretty fellow!
The sweetest note he always sung, Which much delighted Mary. She often, where the cage was hung, Sat hearing her canary.
THE LITTLE BIRD
Once I saw a little bird Come hop, hop, hop; So I cried, "Little bird, Will you stop, stop, stop?"
And was going to the window To say, "How do you do?" But he shook his little tail, And far away he flew.
BIRDS OF A FEATHER
Birds of a feather flock together, And so will pigs and swine; Rats and mice will have their choice, And so will I have mine.
THE DUSTY MILLER
Margaret wrote a letter, Sealed it with her finger, Threw it in the dam For the dusty miller. Dusty was his coat, Dusty was the siller, Dusty was the kiss I'd from the dusty miller. If I had my pockets Full of gold and siller, I would give it all To my dusty miller.
A STAR
Higher than a house, higher than a tree. Oh! whatever can that be?
THE GREEDY MAN
The greedy man is he who sits And bites bits out of plates, Or else takes up an almanac And gobbles all the dates.
THE TEN O'CLOCK SCHOLAR
A diller, a dollar, a ten o'clock scholar! What makes you come so soon? You used to come at ten o'clock, But now you come at noon.
COCK-A-DOODLE-DO
Oh, my pretty cock, oh, my handsome cock, I pray you, do not crow before day, And your comb shall be made of the very beaten gold, And your wings of the silver so gray.
AN ICICLE
Lives in winter, Dies in summer, And grows with its roots upward!
A SHIP'S NAIL
Over the water, And under the water, And always with its head down.
THE OLD WOMAN OF LEEDS
There was an old woman of Leeds, Who spent all her time in good deeds; She worked for the poor Till her fingers were sore, This pious old woman of Leeds!
THE BOY IN THE BARN
A little boy went into a barn, And lay down on some hay. An owl came out, and flew about, And the little boy ran away.
SUNSHINE
Hick-a-more, Hack-a-more, On the King's kitchen door, All the King's horses, And all the King's men, Couldn't drive Hick-a-more, Hack-a-more, Off the King's kitchen door.
WILLY, WILLY
Willy, Willy Wilkin Kissed the maids a-milking, Fa, la, la! And with his merry daffing He set them all a-laughing, Ha, ha, ha!
TONGS
Long legs, crooked thighs, Little head, and no eyes.
JACK JINGLE
Little Jack Jingle, He used to live single; But when he got tired of this kind of life, He left off being single and lived with his wife. Now what do you think of little Jack Jingle? Before he was married he used to live single.
THE QUARREL
My little old man and I fell out; I'll tell you what 'twas all about,-- I had money and he had none, And that's the way the noise begun.
THE PUMPKIN-EATER
Peter, Peter, pumpkin-eater, Had a wife and couldn't keep her; He put her in a pumpkin shell, And there he kept her very well.
SHOEING
Shoe the colt, Shoe the colt, Shoe the wild mare; Here a nail, There a nail, Yet she goes bare.
BETTY BLUE
Little Betty Blue Lost her holiday shoe; What shall little Betty do? Give her another To match the other And then she'll walk upon two.
THAT'S ALL
There was an old woman sat spinning, And that's the first beginning;
She had a calf, And that's half;
She took it by the tail, And threw it over the wall, And that's all!
BEDTIME
The Man in the Moon looked out of the moon, Looked out of the moon and said, "'Tis time for all children, on the earth To think about getting to bed!"
DANCE, LITTLE BABY
Dance, little Baby, dance up high! Never mind, Baby, Mother is by. Crow and caper, caper and crow, There, little Baby, there you go! Up to the ceiling, down to the ground, Backwards and forwards, round and round; Dance, little Baby and Mother will sing, With the merry coral, ding, ding, ding!
MY LITTLE MAID
High diddle doubt, my candle's out My little maid is not at home; Saddle my hog and bridle my dog, And fetch my little maid home.
FOR WANT OF A NAIL
For want of a nail, the shoe was lost; For want of the shoe, the horse was lost; For want of the horse, the rider was lost; For want of the rider, the battle was lost; For want of the battle, the kingdom was lost, And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.
PEASE PORRIDGE
Pease porridge hot, Pease porridge cold, Pease porridge in the pot, Nine days old. Some like it hot, Some like it cold, Some like it in the pot, Nine days old.
RING A RING O' ROSES
Ring a ring o' roses, A pocketful of posies. Tisha! Tisha! We all fall down.
THE CROOKED SIXPENCE
There was a crooked man, and he went a crooked mile, He found a crooked sixpence beside a crooked stile; He bought a crooked cat, which caught a crooked mouse, And they all lived together in a little crooked house.
THIS IS THE WAY
This is the way the ladies ride, Tri, tre, tre, tree, Tri, tre, tre, tree! This is the way the ladies ride, Tri, tre, tre, tre, tri-tre-tre-tree!
This is the way the gentlemen ride, Gallop-a-trot, Gallop-a-trot! This is the way the gentlemen ride, Gallop-a-gallop-a-trot!
This is the way the farmers ride, Hobbledy-hoy, Hobbledy-hoy! This is the way the farmers ride, Hobbledy-hobbledy-hoy!
DUCKS AND DRAKES
A duck and a drake, And a halfpenny cake, With a penny to pay the old baker. A hop and a scotch Is another notch, Slitherum, slatherum, take her.
THE DONKEY
Donkey, donkey, old and gray, Ope your mouth and gently bray; Lift your ears and blow your horn, To wake the world this sleepy morn.
IF
If all the world were apple pie, And all the sea were ink, And all the trees were bread and cheese, What should we have for drink?
THE BELLS
"You owe me five shillings," Say the bells of St. Helen's. "When will you pay me?" Say the bells of Old Bailey. "When I grow rich," Say the bells of Shoreditch. "When will that be?" Say the bells of Stepney. "I do not know," Says the great Bell of Bow. "Two sticks in an apple," Ring the bells of Whitechapel. "Halfpence and farthings," Say the bells of St. Martin's. "Kettles and pans," Say the bells of St. Ann's. "Brickbats and tiles," Say the bells of St. Giles. "Old shoes and slippers," Say the bells of St. Peter's. "Pokers and tongs," Say the bells of St. John's.
LITTLE GIRL AND QUEEN
"Little girl, little girl, where have you been?" "Gathering roses to give to the Queen." "Little girl, little girl, what gave she you?" "She gave me a diamond as big as my shoe."
THE KING OF FRANCE
The King of France went up the hill, With twenty thousand men; The King of France came down the hill, And ne'er went up again.
PETER PIPER
Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers; A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked. If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers, Where's the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked?
ONE TO TEN
1, 2, 3, 4, 5! I caught a hare alive; 6, 7, 8, 9, 10! I let her go again.
AN EQUAL
Read my riddle, I pray. What God never sees, What the king seldom sees, What we see every day.
THE TARTS
The Queen of Hearts, She made some tarts, All on a summer's day; The Knave of Hearts, He stole the tarts, And took them clean away.
The King of Hearts Called for the tarts, And beat the Knave full sore; The Knave of Hearts Brought back the tarts, And vowed he'd steal no more.
COME, LET'S TO BED
"To bed! To bed!" Says Sleepy-head; "Tarry awhile," says Slow; "Put on the pan," Says Greedy Nan; "We'll sup before we go."
LITTLE MAID
"Little maid, pretty maid, whither goest thou?" "Down in the forest to milk my cow." "Shall I go with thee?" "No, not now; When I send for thee, then come thou."
WHAT ARE LITTLE BOYS MADE OF?
What are little boys made of, made of? What are little boys made of? "Snaps and snails, and puppy-dogs' tails; And that's what little boys are made of."
What are little girls made of, made of? What are little girls made of? "Sugar and spice, and all that's nice; And that's what little girls are made of."
BANDY LEGS
As I was going to sell my eggs I met a man with bandy legs, Bandy legs and crooked toes; I tripped up his heels, and he fell on his nose.
THE GIRL AND THE BIRDS
When I was a little girl, about seven years old, I hadn't got a petticoat, to cover me from the cold. So I went into Darlington, that pretty little town, And there I bought a petticoat, a cloak, and a gown. I went into the woods and built me a kirk, And all the birds of the air, they helped me to work. The hawk with his long claws pulled down the stone, The dove with her rough bill brought me them home. The parrot was the clergyman, the peacock was the clerk, The bullfinch played the organ,--we made merry work.
A PIG
As I went to Bonner, I met a pig Without a wig Upon my word and honor.
JENNY WREN
As little Jenny Wren Was sitting by her shed. She waggled with her tail, And nodded with her head. She waggled with her tail, And nodded with her head, As little Jenny Wren Was sitting by the shed.
LITTLE TOM TUCKER
Little Tom Tucker Sings for his supper. What shall he eat? White bread and butter. How will he cut it Without e'er a knife? How will he be married Without e'er a wife?
WHERE ARE YOU GOING, MY PRETTY MAID
"Where are you going, my pretty maid?" "I'm going a-milking, sir," she said. "May I go with you, my pretty maid?" "You're kindly welcome, sir," she said. "What is your father, my pretty maid?" "My father's a farmer, sir," she said. "What is your fortune, my pretty maid?" "My face is my fortune, sir," she said. "Then I can't marry you, my pretty maid." "Nobody asked you, sir," she said.
THE OLD WOMAN OF GLOUCESTER
There was an old woman of Gloucester, Whose parrot two guineas it cost her, But its tongue never ceasing, Was vastly displeasing To the talkative woman of Gloucester.
MULTIPLICATION IS VEXATION
Multiplication is vexation, Division is as bad; The Rule of Three doth puzzle me, And Practice drives me mad.
LITTLE KING BOGGEN
Little King Boggen, he built a fine hall, Pie-crust and pastry-crust, that was the wall; The windows were made of black puddings and white, And slated with pan-cakes,--you ne'er saw the like!
WHISTLE
"Whistle, daughter, whistle; Whistle, daughter dear." "I cannot whistle, mammy, I cannot whistle clear." "Whistle, daughter, whistle; Whistle for a pound." "I cannot whistle, mammy, I cannot make a sound."
BELL HORSES
Bell horses, bell horses, what time of day? One o'clock, two o'clock, three and away.
TAFFY
Taffy was a Welshman, Taffy was a thief, Taffy came to my house and stole a piece of beef; I went to Taffy's house, Taffy was not home; Taffy came to my house and stole a marrow-bone.
I went to Taffy's house, Taffy was not in; Taffy came to my house and stole a silver pin; I went to Taffy's house, Taffy was in bed, I took up the marrow-bone and flung it at his head.
THE ROBIN
The north wind doth blow, And we shall have snow, And what will poor robin do then, Poor thing?
He'll sit in a barn, And keep himself warm, And hide his head under his wing, Poor thing!
THE OLD WOMAN OF HARROW
There was an old woman of Harrow, Who visited in a wheelbarrow; And her servant before, Knocked loud at each door, To announce the old woman of Harrow.
YOUNG ROGER AND DOLLY
Young Roger came tapping at Dolly's window, Thumpaty, thumpaty, thump!
He asked for admittance; she answered him "No!" Frumpaty, frumpaty, frump!
"No, no, Roger, no! as you came you may go!" Stumpaty, stumpaty, stump!
THE PIPER AND HIS COW
There was a piper had a cow, And he had naught to give her; He pulled out his pipes and played her a tune, And bade the cow consider.
The cow considered very well, And gave the piper a penny, And bade him play the other tune, "Corn rigs are bonny."
THE MAN OF DERBY
A little old man of Derby, How do you think he served me? He took away my bread and cheese, And that is how he served me.
THE COACHMAN
Up at Piccadilly, oh! The coachman takes his stand, And when he meets a pretty girl He takes her by the hand; Whip away forever, oh! Drive away so clever, oh! All the way to Bristol, oh! He drives her four-in-hand.
THERE WAS AN OLD WOMAN
There was an old woman who lived in a shoe. She had so many children she didn't know what to do. She gave them some broth without any bread. She whipped them all soundly and put them to bed.
A THORN
I went to the wood and got it; I sat me down to look for it And brought it home because I couldn't find it.
THE OLD WOMAN OF SURREY
There was an old woman in Surrey, Who was morn, noon, and night in a hurry; Called her husband a fool, Drove the children to school, The worrying old woman of Surrey.
THE LITTLE MOUSE
I have seen you, little mouse, Running all about the house, Through the hole your little eye In the wainscot peeping sly, Hoping soon some crumbs to steal, To make quite a hearty meal. Look before you venture out, See if pussy is about. If she's gone, you'll quickly run To the larder for some fun; Round about the dishes creep, Taking into each a peep, To choose the daintiest that's there, Spoiling things you do not care.
BOY AND GIRL
There was a little boy and a little girl Lived in an alley; Says the little boy to the little girl, "Shall I, oh, shall I?" Says the little girl to the little boy, "What shall we do?" Says the little boy to the little girl, "I will kiss you."
WHEN
When I was a bachelor I lived by myself; And all the bread and cheese I got I laid up on the shelf.
The rats and the mice They made such a strife, I was forced to go to London To buy me a wife.
The streets were so bad, And the lanes were so narrow, I was forced to bring my wife home In a wheelbarrow.
The wheelbarrow broke, And my wife had a fall; Down came wheelbarrow, Little wife and all.
SING, SING
Sing, sing, what shall I sing? Cat's run away with the pudding-string! Do, do, what shall I do? The cat has bitten it quite in two.
LONDON BRIDGE
London Bridge is broken down, Dance over my Lady Lee; London Bridge is broken down, With a gay lady.
How shall we build it up again? Dance over my Lady Lee; How shall we build it up again? With a gay lady.
Build it up with silver and gold, Dance over my Lady Lee; Build it up with silver and gold, With a gay lady.
Silver and gold will be stole away, Dance over my Lady Lee; Silver and gold will be stole away, With a gay lady.
Build it up with iron and steel, Dance over my Lady Lee; Build it up with iron and steel, With a gay lady.
Iron and steel will bend and bow, Dance over my Lady Lee; Iron and steel will bend and bow, With a gay lady.
Build it up with wood and clay, Dance over my Lady Lee; Build it up with wood and clay, With a gay lady.
Wood and clay will wash away, Dance over my Lady Lee; Wood and clay will wash away, With a gay lady.
Build it up with stone so strong, Dance over my Lady Lee; Huzza! 'twill last for ages long, With a gay lady.
MARCH WINDS
March winds and April showers Bring forth May flowers.
THE BALLOON
"What is the news of the day, Good neighbor, I pray?" "They say the balloon Is gone up to the moon!"
A CHERRY
As I went through the garden gap, Who should I meet but Dick Red-cap! A stick in his hand, a stone in his throat,-- If you'll tell me this riddle, I'll give you a groat.
THE LOST SHOE
Doodle doodle doo, The Princess lost her shoe: Her Highness hopped,-- The fiddler stopped, Not knowing what to do.
HOT CODLINS
There was a little woman, as I've been told, Who was not very young, nor yet very old; Now this little woman her living got By selling codlins, hot, hot, hot!
SWAN
Swan, swan, over the sea; Swim, swan, swim! Swan, swan, back again; Well swum, swan!
THREE STRAWS
Three straws on a staff Would make a baby cry and laugh.
THE MAN OF TOBAGO
There was an old man of Tobago Who lived on rice, gruel, and sago, Till much to his bliss, His physician said this: "To a leg, sir, of mutton, you may go."
DING, DONG, BELL
Ding, dong, bell, Pussy's in the well! Who put her in? Little Tommy Lin.
Who pulled her out? Little Johnny Stout. What a naughty boy was that, To try to drown poor pussy-cat. Who never did him any harm, But killed the mice in his father's barn!
A SUNSHINY SHOWER
A sunshiny shower Won't last half an hour.
THE FARMER AND THE RAVEN
A farmer went trotting upon his gray mare, Bumpety, bumpety, bump! With his daughter behind him so rosy and fair, Lumpety, lumpety, lump!
A raven cried croak! and they all tumbled down, Bumpety, bumpety, bump! The mare broke her knees, and the farmer his crown, Lumpety, lumpety, lump!
The mischievous raven flew laughing away, Bumpety, bumpety, bump! And vowed he would serve them the same the next day, Lumpety, lumpety lump!
CHRISTMAS
Christmas is coming, the geese are getting fat, Please to put a penny in an old man's hat; If you haven't got a penny a ha'penny will do, If you haven't got a ha'penny, God bless you.
WILLY BOY
"Willy boy, Willy boy, where are you going? I will go with you, if that I may." "I'm going to the meadow to see them a-mowing, I'm going to help them to make the hay."
POLLY AND SUKEY
Polly, put the kettle on, Polly, put the kettle on, Polly, put the kettle on, And let's drink tea.
Sukey, take it off again, Sukey, take it off again, Sukey, take it off again, They're all gone away.
THE DEATH AND BURIAL OF POOR COCK ROBIN
Who killed Cock Robin? "I," said the sparrow, "With my little bow and arrow, I killed Cock Robin."
Who saw him die? "I," said the fly, "With my little eye, I saw him die."
Who caught his blood? "I," said the fish, "With my little dish, I caught his blood."
Who'll make his shroud? "I," said the beetle, "With my thread and needle. I'll make his shroud."
Who'll carry the torch? "I," said the linnet, "I'll come in a minute, I'll carry the torch."
Who'll be the clerk? "I," said the lark, "If it's not in the dark, I'll be the clerk."
Who'll dig his grave? "I," said the owl, "With my spade and trowel I'll dig his grave."
Who'll be the parson? "I," said the rook, "With my little book, I'll be the parson."
Who'll be chief mourner? "I," said the dove, "I mourn for my love, I'll be chief mourner."
Who'll sing a psalm? "I," said the thrush, "As I sit in a bush. I'll sing a psalm."
Who'll carry the coffin? "I," said the kite, "If it's not in the night, I'll carry the coffin."
Who'll toll the bell? "I," said the bull, "Because I can pull, I'll toll the bell."
All the birds of the air Fell sighing and sobbing, When they heard the bell toll For poor Cock Robin.
THE MOUSE AND THE CLOCK
Hickory, dickory, dock! The mouse ran up the clock; The clock struck one, And down he run, Hickory, dickory, dock!
HOT-CROSS BUNS
Hot-cross Buns! Hot-cross Buns! One a penny, two a penny, Hot-cross Buns!
Hot-cross Buns! Hot-cross Buns! If ye have no daughters, Give them to your sons.
BOBBY SHAFTOE
Bobby Shaftoe's gone to sea, With silver buckles on his knee: He'll come back and marry me, Pretty Bobby Shaftoe! Bobby Shaftoe's fat and fair, Combing down his yellow hair; He's my love for evermore, Pretty Bobby Shaftoe.
THE BUNCH OF BLUE RIBBONS
Oh, dear, what can the matter be? Oh, dear, what can the matter be? Oh, dear, what can the matter be? Johnny's so long at the fair.
He promised he'd buy me a bunch of blue ribbons, He promised he'd buy me a bunch of blue ribbons, He promised he'd buy me a bunch of blue ribbons, To tie up my bonny brown hair.
THE WOMAN OF EXETER
There dwelt an old woman at Exeter; When visitors came it sore vexed her, So for fear they should eat, She locked up all her meat, This stingy old woman of Exeter.
SNEEZING