Rhymes Old and New Part 5

SOUTHERN INDIA

Juwa, juwa, baby, dear!

When the baby's mother comes She will give her darling milk.

Juwa, juwa, baby dear!

When the baby's father comes He will bring a cocoanut.

Juwa, juwa, baby, dear!

When the baby's brother comes He will bring a little bird.

Juwa, juwa, baby, dear!

When the baby's sister comes She will bring a dish of rice.

LULLABY

Sleep, baby, sleep, Our cottage vale is deep; The little lamb is on the green With woolly fleece, so soft and clean.

Sleep, baby, sleep!

Sleep, baby, sleep, Down where the woodbines creep; Be always like the lamb so mild, A kind, and sweet, and gentle child.

Sleep, baby, sleep!

THE ANGEL'S WHISPER

A superst.i.tion prevails in Ireland, that when a child smiles in its sleep, it is "talking with the angels."

A baby was sleeping, Its mother was weeping, For her husband was far o'er the wild raging sea, And the tempest was swelling Round the fisherman's dwelling, And she cried: "Dermot, darling, oh! come back to me."

Her beads while she numbered, The baby still slumbered, And smiled in her face, as she bended her knee, Oh! blessed be that warning, My child, thy sleep adorning, For I know that the angels are whisp'ring with thee.

And while they are keeping Bright watch o'er thy sleeping, Oh! pray to them softly, my baby, with me, And say thou would'st rather They'd watch o'er thy father!

For I know that the angels are whisp'ring with thee.

The dawn of the morning Saw Dermot returning, And the wife wept with joy her babe's father to see, And closely caressing Her child with a blessing, Said: "I knew that the angels were whisp'ring with thee."

LULLABY

Sleep, baby, sleep!

Thy father watches the sheep, Thy mother is shaking the dreamland tree, And down falls a little dream on thee.

Sleep, baby sleep!

Sleep, baby, sleep!

The large stars are the sheep, The little stars are the lambs, I guess, The fair moon is the shepherdess.

Sleep baby, sleep!

Sleep, baby, sleep!

And cry not like a sheep, Else will the sheep dog bark and whine, And bite this naughty child of mine.

Sleep, baby, sleep!

Sleep, baby, sleep!

Away! and tend the sheep, Away, thou black dog, fierce and wild, And do not wake my little child!

Sleep, baby, sleep!

Hark! the night-winds whispering nigh, "Hush," they murmur, "hush-a-bye!"

Dobbin by the d.y.k.e doth drowse, Dreamy kine forget to browse, Winking stars are in the sky; "Hush-a-bye! hush-a-bye!"

See, the silver moon is high; How the great trees rock and sigh.

"Hush-a-bye, hush-a-bye!"

Low the little brooklet's cry; "Hush," it lispeth, "hush-a-bye!"

All the peeping lights are gone, Baby, we are left alone!

"Hush-a-bye, hush-a-bye."

MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN

1790.

When Adam he first was created Lord of the Universe round, His happiness was not completed Till for him a helpmate was found.

When Adam was laid in soft slumber, 'Twas then he lost part of his side, And when he awakened, with wonder He beheld his most beautiful bride.

She was not made out of his head, sir, To rule and to govern the man; Nor was she made out of his feet, sir, By man to be trampled upon.

He had oxen and foxes for hunting, And all that was pleasant in life; Yet still his Almighty Creator Thought that he wanted a wife.

But she did come forth from his side, sir, His equal and partner to be; And now they are coupled together, She oft proves the top of the tree.

Adam lay i-bowndyn, Bowndyn in a bond, Fower thousand winter Thowt he not to long; And al was for an appil, An appil that he tok, As clerkes fyndyn wretyn In here book.

Ne hadde the appil taken ben, The appil taken ben, Ne hadde never our lady A ben hevene quen.

Blyssid be the tyme That appil taken was!

Therefore we mown syngyn Deo gracias.

FIFTEENTH CENTURY CAROL

Adam was supposed to have lain in bonds in the _limbus patrum_ from the time of his death to the Crucifixion.

CHEs.h.i.+RE CHEESE

A Ches.h.i.+re man sailed into Spain To trade for merchandise; When he arrived from the main A Spaniard him espies,