National Rhymes of the Nursery Part 20

_Diddle-y-diddle-y-dumpty_

Diddle-y-diddle-y-dumpty, The cat run up the plum-tree, Half-a-crown To fetch her down, Diddle-y-diddle-y-dumpty.

_See, Saw, Margery Daw_

See, Saw, Margery Daw, Sold her bed and lay upon straw; Was not she a dirty s.l.u.t, To sell her bed and lie in the dirt!

Great A, little a, Bouncing B, The cat's in the cupboard, and she can't see.

_There was a jovial beggar_

There was a jovial beggar, He had a wooden leg, Lame from his cradle, And forced for to beg.

And a-begging we will go, we'll go, we'll go; And a-begging we will go!

A bag for his oatmeal, Another for his salt; And a pair of crutches, To show that he can halt.

And a-begging we will go, we'll go, we'll go; And a-begging we will go!

A bag for his wheat, Another for his rye; A little bottle by his side To drink when he's a-dry.

And a-begging we will go, we'll go, we'll go; And a-begging we will go!

Seven years I begged For my old Master Wild, He taught me to beg When I was but a child.

And a-begging we will go, we'll go, we'll go; And a-begging we will go!

I begged for my master, And got him store of pelf; And now, Jove be praised!

I'm begging for myself.

And a-begging we will go, we'll go, we'll go; And a-begging we will go!

In a hollow tree I live, and pay no rent; Providence provides for me, And I am well content.

And a-begging we will go, we'll go, we'll go; And a-begging we will go!

Of all the occupations, A beggar's life's the best; For whene'er he's weary, He'll lay him down and rest.

And a-begging we will go, we'll go, we'll go, And a-begging we will go!

I fear no plots against me, I live in open cell; Then who would be a king, When beggars live so well?

And a-begging we will go, we'll go, we'll go; And a-begging we will go!

_Now what do you think_

Now what do you think Of little Jack Jingle?

Before he was married He used to live single.

_Bobby Shaftoe_

Bobby Shaftoe's gone to sea, Silver buckles on his knee; He'll come back and marry me, Bonny Bobby Shaftoe!

Bobby Shaftoe's young and fair, Combing down his yellow hair, He's my love for evermore, Bonny Bobby Shaftoe.

_For want of a nail_

For want of a nail, the shoe was lost, For want of the shoe, the horse was lost, For want of the horse, the rider was lost, For want of the rider, the battle was lost, For want of the battle, the kingdom was lost, And all from the want of a horseshoe nail!

_Rub-a-dub-dub_

Rub-a-dub-dub Three men in a tub, And who do you think they be?

The butcher, the baker, The candlestick-maker; Turn 'em out, knaves all three!

_There was an old woman called Nothing-at-all_

There was an old woman called Nothing-at-all, Who rejoiced in a dwelling exceedingly small; A man stretched his mouth to its utmost extent, And down at one gulp house and old woman went.

_Jacky, come give me thy fiddle_

Jacky, come give me thy fiddle, If ever thou mean to thrive.

Nay; I'll not give my fiddle To any man alive.

If I should give my fiddle, They'll think that I'm gone mad; For many a joyful day My fiddle and I have had.

_Young Lambs to sell_

Young Lambs to sell!

Young Lambs to sell!

If I'd as much money as I can tell, I never would cry--Young Lambs to sell!

[Ill.u.s.tration: "YOUNG LAMBS TO SELL"]

_Johnny Pringle had a little pig_

Johnny Pringle had a little pig, It was very little, so not very big: As it was playing on a dunghill, In a moment poor piggy was killed.

So Johnny Pringle, he sat down and cried, Betsy Pringle, she lay down and died.

There is the history of one, two, and three, Johnny Pringle, Betsy Pringle, and little Piggy.

_Yet didn't you see_

Yet didn't you see, yet didn't you see, What naughty tricks they put upon me: They broke my pitcher, And spilt my water, And huffed my mother, And chid her daughter, And kissed my sister instead of me.