Mother Goose's Nursery Rhymes Part 14

[Ill.u.s.tration: Music:

Baa, baa, black sheep, have you any wool?

Yes, sir, yes, sir, three bags full: One for my master, one for my dame, And one for the little boy that lives in our lane.

Baa, baa, black sheep, have you any wool?

Yes, sir, yes, sir, three bags full.]

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Barber, barber, shave a pig.

How many hairs will make a wig?

Four and twenty; that's enough.

Give the poor barber a pinch of snuff.

The Lion and the Unicorn were fighting for the crown, The Lion beat the Unicorn all round about the town.

Some gave them white bread, some gave them brown, Some gave them plum-cake, and sent them out of town.

Thomas a Tattamus took two T's To tie two tups to two tall trees, To frighten the terrible Thomas a Tattamus.

Tell me how many T's there are in all THAT.

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Bessy Bell and Mary Gray, They were two bonny la.s.ses, They built a house upon the lea, And covered it o'er with rashes.

Bessy kept the garden gate, And Mary kept the pantry; Bessy always had to wait, While Mary lived in plenty.

LITTLE boy, pretty boy, where were you born?

In Lincolns.h.i.+re, master; come, blow the cow's horn.

[Ill.u.s.tration: HEY, DIDDLE, DIDDLE.]

Hey, diddle, diddle, the cat and the fiddle The cow jumped over the moon; The little dog laughed to see such sport, And the dish ran after the spoon.

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THE YOUNG LINNETS.

DID you ever see the nest Of Chaffinch or of Linnet, When the little downy birds Are lying snugly in it,

Gaping wide their yellow mouths For something nice to eat?

Caterpillar, worm, and grub, They reckon dainty meat.

When the mother-bird returns, And finds them still and good, She will give them each, by turns, A proper share of food.

She has hopped from spray to spray, And peeped with knowing eye Into all the folded leaves Where caterpillars lie.

She has searched among the gra.s.s, And flown from tree to tree, Catching gnats and flies, to feed Her little family.

I have seen the Linnets chirp, And shake their downy wings: They are pleased to see her come, And pleased with what she brings.

But I never saw them look Impatient for their food: _Somebody_, at dinner-time, Is seldom quite so good.

[Ill.u.s.tration: SEE-SAW, MARGERY DAW.]

See-saw, Margery Daw, Jenny shall have a new master; She shall have but a penny a day, Because she can't work any faster.

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DANCE to your daddy, My little babby; Dance to your daddy, My little lamb.

You shall have a fishy, In a little dishy; You shall have a fishy, When the boat comes in.