National Rhymes of the Nursery Part 11

They prate and prattle pleasantly, While riding on the way, To those their wicked uncle hired, These lovely babes to slay:

So that the pretty speech they had, Made the ruffians' heart relent; And they that took the deed to do, Full sorely did repent.

Yet one of them, more hard of heart, Did vow to do his charge, Because the wretch that hired him Had paid him very large.

The other would not agree thereto, So here they fell at strife; With one another they did fight, About the children's life.

[Ill.u.s.tration: "WENT WANDERING UP AND DOWN."]

And he that was of milder mood Did slay the other there, Within an unfrequented wood, The babes did quake for fear!

He took the children by the hand, While they for bread complain: "Stay here," quoth he, "I'll bring ye bread, When I do come again."

These pretty babes, with hand in hand, Went wandering up and down; But never more they saw the man Approaching from the town.

Thus wandered these two pretty dears, Till death did end their grief; In one another's arms they died, Poor babes! past all relief.

No burial these innocents Of any man receives, But Robin Redbreast lovingly Did cover them with leaves.

The fellow that did take in hand These children for to kill, Was for a robbery judged to die, As was G.o.d's blessed will:

And did confess the very truth, The which is here expressed; Their uncle died while he for debt Did long in prison rest.

_Little Jack Horner_

Little Jack Horner Sat in the corner Eating a Christmas pie; He put in his thumb, And pulled out a plum, And said, "What a good boy am I!"

_Bow, wow, says the dog_

Bow, wow, says the dog; Mew, mew, says the cat; Grunt, grunt, goes the hog; And squeak goes the rat.

Chirp, chirp, says the sparrow; Caw, caw, says the crow; Quack, quack, says the duck; And what cuckoos say, you know

So, with sparrows and cuckoos; With rats and with dogs; With ducks and with crows; With cats and with hogs;

A fine song I have made, To please you, my dear; And if it's well sung, 'Twill be charming to hear.

_Tell-Tale-t.i.t_

Tell-Tale-t.i.t, Your tongue shall be slit, And all the little puppy dogs Shall have a little bit.

_The Queen of Hearts_

The Queen of Hearts, She made some tarts, All on a summer's day; The Knave of Hearts, He stole those tarts, And took them clean away.

[Ill.u.s.tration: "SHE MADE SOME TARTS."]

The King of Hearts Called for the tarts, And beat the Knave full sore;

The Knave of Hearts Brought back the tarts, And vowed he'd steal no more.

_The Champions of Christendom_

In Egypt was a dragon dire With scales of steel, and breath of fire: And Egypt's Princess fair and good Was doomed to be the monster's food: St. George this fearful dragon slew, And for his wife gained Sebra true.

St. Andrew, Scotland's famous knight In deeds of valour took delight; Maidens in grief and matrons grave From insult he was wont to save.

For n.o.ble deeds he was renowned: His fame did through the world resound.

St. Andrew fought, as we are told, Against a host of warriors bold; They viewed his strength with wonderment, And yielding, in submission bent.

Defeated by his powerful rod, They owned the greatness of his G.o.d.

St. David, Welshman's Champion bold, Preferred rude war to ease and gold: He, fighting for his faith divine, Unhorsed and slew Prince Palestine.

His Pagan followers stood in awe, And wors.h.i.+pped heathen G.o.ds no more.

St. Patrick, Ireland's valiant knight, Did thirty robbers put to flight; Rescued from them six ladies fair, And then protected them with care.

Great fame and glory he acquired, And as a holy priest expired.

St. Dennis was the knight of France, As brave as ever carried lance: Fair fame he won: for he did free A princess prisoned in a tree.

Fair Eglantine, once Thessaly's pride, He saved and took to be his bride.

St. James the Champion was of Spain, His country's glory to maintain: An angry boar, inflamed with rage, This hero did in fight engage.

And since he slew the boar in strife, He Celestine did gain as wife.

St. Anthony, Italian knight, His country's fame upheld in fight: The giant Blanderon did place In prison dark the Queen of Thrace; St. Anthony the giant slew And took as wife the princess true.

_There was a little man, and he had a little gun_

There was a little man, and he had a little gun, And his bullets were made of lead, lead, lead.

He shot John Sprig through the middle of his wig, And knocked it off his head, head, head.