Children's Literature Part 13

W was a watchman, and guarded the door; X was expensive, and so became poor.

Y was a youth, that did not love school; Z was a zany, a poor harmless fool.

121

WHERE ARE YOU GOING

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.

"n.o.body asked you, sir," she said.

122

MOLLY AND I

Molly, my sister, and I fell out, And what do you think it was about?

She loved coffee, and I loved tea, And that was the reason we couldn't agree.

But Molly, my sister, and I made up, And now together we can sup, For Molly drinks coffee, and I drink tea, And we both are happy as happy can be.

123

LONDON BRIDGE

London bridge is broken down, Dance o'er my lady Lee; London bridge is broken down, With a gay lady.

How shall we build it up again?

Dance o'er my lady Lee; How shall we build it up again?

With a gay lady.

Build it up with silver and gold, Dance o'er my lady Lee; Build it up with silver and gold, With a gay lady.

Silver and gold will be stole away, Dance o'er my lady Lee; Silver and gold will be stole away, With a gay lady.

Build it again with iron and steel, Dance o'er my lady Lee; Build it up with iron and steel, With a gay lady.

Iron and steel will bend and bow, Dance o'er my lady Lee; Iron and steel will bend and bow, With a gay lady.

Build it up with wood and clay, Dance o'er my lady Lee; Build it up with wood and clay, With a gay lady.

Wood and clay will wash away, Dance o'er my lady Lee; Wood and clay will wash away, With a gay lady.

Build it up with stone so strong, Dance o'er my lady Lee; Huzza! 'twill last for ages long, With a gay lady.

124

I SAW A s.h.i.+P

I saw a s.h.i.+p a-sailing, A-sailing on the sea; And oh, it was all laden With pretty things for thee!

There were comfits in the cabin, And apples in the hold; The sails were made of silk, And the masts were made of gold!

The four and twenty sailors, That stood between the decks, Were four and twenty white mice, With chains about their necks.

The captain was a duck, With a packet on his back; And when the s.h.i.+p began to move, The captain said, "Quack! Quack!"

125

THERE WAS AN OLD WOMAN

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.

By came a pedlar whose name was Stout, He cut her petticoats all round about; He cut her petticoats up to her knees, Which made the old woman to s.h.i.+ver and freeze.

When this little woman first did wake, She began to s.h.i.+ver and she began to shake, She began to wonder, and she began to cry, "Lauk a mercy on me, this is none of I!

"But if it be I, as I do 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!"

126

LITTLE BO-PEEP

Little Bo-peep has lost her sheep, And can't tell where to find them; Leave them alone, and they'll come home, And bring their tails behind them.