Tom took out his pipe and began for to play; So Doll and the cow they danc"d a lilt, Till the pail fell down and the milk was all spilt.

Tom saw a cross fellow was beating an a.s.s, Heavy laden with pots, pans, dishes, and gla.s.s; He took out his pipe and he play"d them a tune, And the poor donkey"s load was lighten"d full soon.]

[Ill.u.s.tration]

THERE was an old woman, as I"ve heard tell, She went to market her eggs for to sell; She went to market all on a market day, And she fell asleep on the King"s highway.

There came by a pedlar, whose name was Stout, He cut her petticoats all round about; He cut her petticoats up to the knees, Which made the old woman to shiver and freeze.



When the little old woman first did wake, She began to shiver and she began to shake; She began to wonder, and she began to cry, "Lauk a mercy on me, this can"t be I!

But if it be I, as I hope it be, I"ve a little dog at home, and he"ll know me; If it be I, he"ll wag his little tail, And if it be not I, he"ll loudly bark and wail."

Home went the little woman all in the dark, Up got the little dog, and he began to bark; He began to bark, so she began to cry, "Lauk a mercy on me, this is none of I!"

_High_ diddle ding, Did you hear the bells ring?

The Parliament soldiers are gone to the King!

Some they did laugh, some they did cry, To see the Parliament soldiers pa.s.s by.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Three wise men of Gotham Went to sea in a bowl; If the bowl had been stronger My story had been longer.

[Ill.u.s.tration: LITTLE BOY BLUE.]

Little Boy Blue, come, blow me your horn; The sheep"s in the meadow, the cow"s in the corn.

Where"s the little boy that looks after the sheep?

He"s under the hayc.o.c.k, fast asleep.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

[Ill.u.s.tration]

THE ROBIN REDb.r.e.a.s.t.s.

Two Robin Redb.r.e.a.s.t.s built their nests Within a hollow tree; The hen sat quietly at home, The c.o.c.k sang merrily; And all the little young ones said, "Wee, wee, wee, wee, wee, wee."

One day (the sun was warm and bright, And shining in the sky), c.o.c.k Robin said, "My little dears, "T is time you learn to fly;"

And all the little young ones said, "I"ll try, I"ll try, I"ll try."

I know a child, and _who she is_ I"ll tell you by-and-by, When Mamma says, "Do this," or "that,"

She says, "What for?" and "Why?"

She"d be a better child by far If she would say "I"ll try."

THERE was an old woman Lived under a hill, And if she"s not gone, She lives there still.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

We are all in the dumps, For diamonds are trumps, The kittens are gone to St. Paul"s, The babies are bit, The moon"s in a fit, And the houses are built without walls.

AS I was going along, long, long, A-singing a comical song, song, song, The lane that I went was so long, long, long, And the song that I sung was so long, long, long, And so I went singing along.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

A-milking, a-milking, my maid, "Cow, take care of your heels," she said; "And you shall have some nice new hay, If you"ll quietly let me milk away."

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Old father Grey Beard, Without tooth or tongue, If you"ll give me your finger, I"ll give you my thumb.

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