_Mother Hubbard._ That"s May Day and a very good day for a party out-of-doors. Well I must go home now. Good-by! If I can help you, please call upon me.
_Mother Goose._ Thank you, Mother Hubbard! Good-by, and thank you again for coming over.
SCENE IV.--_At the Party_
_Mother Hubbard._ What a lovely day you have for your party, Mother Goose! The sun shines so bright and warm, and the flowers are lovely. Is there anything I can do?
_Mother Goose._ No, thank you. I"m glad you came early. Have you seen the tables?
_Mother Hubbard._ They are lovely! Where did you get such pretty flowers?
_Mother Goose._ From Mistress Mary, quite contrary. You know she has a garden
With c.o.c.kle sh.e.l.ls, and silver bells, And pretty maids all in a row.
_Mother Hubbard._ I see some one coming.
_Mother Goose._ Why, how do you do, A-Dillar-a-Dollar! Are you always in such good time?
_A-Dillar-a-Dollar._ I"m afraid not, Mrs. Goose. They call me
A ten o"clock scholar, Why did you come so soon?
You used to come at ten o"clock, And now you come at noon!
_Mother Goose._ And here comes Mary with her little lamb. Do you like the lamb better than a Teddy Bear, Mary?
_Mary._ Yes, indeed, I do. Because the lamb loves me, you know.
It followed me to school one day, Which was against the rule; It made the children laugh and play, To see the lamb at school.
_Mother Goose._ Here comes the Old Woman who lives in a shoe, and her two oldest boys. Dear Mrs. Shoe-woman, I am very glad to see you! How did you leave all of your children?
_Mrs. Shoe-woman._ Oh, dear, Mother Goose! I have so many children I don"t know what to do: when they are naughty I give them some broth without any bread, and whip them all soundly and put them to bed.
_Mother Goose._ Here are all the children coming to the party! Come, children, let us have a dance. All stand around the Maypole as I call your names:
Little Miss m.u.f.fet and Boy Blue;
Little Bo-Peep and Jacky Horner;
Nancy Etticoat and Jack-be-nimble;
Mary and the little Boy who lives in the Lane.
All take ribbons and stand around the Maypole. Are you all ready?
_Children._ Yes, Mother Goose, we are all ready when the music begins.
_Mother Goose._ Old King Cole, will you have your three fiddlers play for the dance?
_King Cole._ With pleasure, dear Mother Goose--and I"ll sing:
Hey diddle, diddle! the cat and the fiddle; The cow jumped over the moon; The little dog laughed to see such craft, And the dish ran away with the spoon.
_Children_ (_sing_).
Old King Cole was a merry old soul; And a merry old soul was he; He called for his pipe and he called for his bowl, And he called for his fiddlers three.
[Ill.u.s.tration: MOTHER GOOSE"S PARTY]
_Mother Goose._ These are very good songs, but they will not do for a Maypole dance. Here, Little Tommy Tucker, sing for your supper.
_Tommy Tucker._ All right, Mother Goose.
Handy Spandy, Jack-a-dandy, Loved plum cake and sugar candy; He bought some at a grocer"s shop, And out he came, hop, hop, hop.
_Children._
Little Tommy Tucker, sings for his supper; What shall he eat? White bread and b.u.t.ter; How shall he eat it without any knife?
How shall he marry without any wife?
[_Dance about the Maypole._]
_Mother Goose._ Why, who can that man be? He is tumbling down in a very queer way! Who are you?
_Man._
I"m the Man in the Moon, Come down too soon To ask the way to Norwich.
I went by the south, And burnt my mouth, Eating cold pease-porridge.
Are Jack and Jill here?
_Jack._ Here I am, Mr. Moon-Man.
_Jill._ Oh, dear Mr. Moon-Man, where is your dog and your bundle of sticks?
_Jack._ Tell us what the children play in your country, the Moon!
_Children._ Please do, Mr. Moon-Man!
_Moon-Man._ Well, children, I can tell you how they learn to count. They all say--
One, two; buckle my shoe; Three, four; shut the door; Five, six; pick up sticks;
and then they all pick up sticks and put them on the fire.
_Tom._ I don"t think that is much fun!