National Rhymes of the Nursery Part 25

p.u.s.s.y sits beside the fire, How can she be fair?

In comes the little dog, p.u.s.s.y, are you there?

So, so, Mistress p.u.s.s.y, Pray how do you do?

Thank you, thank you, little dog, I'm very well just now.

[Ill.u.s.tration: BRYAN O'LIN]

Bryan O'Lin and his wife and wife's mother, They all went over a bridge together: The bridge was broken, and they all fell in, "Mischief take all!" quoth Bryan O'Lin.

_Cold and raw_

Cold and raw the north wind doth blow, Bleak in a morning early; All the hills are covered with snow, And winter's now come fairly.

_January brings the snow_

January brings the snow, Makes our feet and fingers glow.

February brings the rain, Thaws the frozen lake again.

March brings breezes loud and shrill, Stirs the dancing daffodil.

April brings the primrose sweet, Scatters daisies at our feet.

May brings flocks of pretty lambs, Skipping by their fleecy dams.

June brings tulips, lilies, roses, Fills the children's hands with posies.

Hot July brings cooling showers, Apricots and gillyflowers.

August brings the sheaves of corn, Then the hardest home is borne.

Warm September brings the fruit, Sportsmen then begin to shoot.

Fresh October brings the pheasant, Then to gather nuts is pleasant.

Dull November brings the blast, Then the leaves are whirling fast.

Chill December brings the sleet, Blazing fire and Christmas treat.

_Bye, baby bunting_

Bye, baby bunting, Father's gone a-hunting, Mother's gone a-milking, Sister's gone a-silking, Brother's gone to buy a skin To wrap the baby bunting in.

_Ding, dong bell_

Ding, dong bell, p.u.s.s.y's in the well!

Who put her in?-- Little Tommy Green.

Who pulled her out?-- Little Johnny Stout.

What a naughty boy was that To drown poor p.u.s.s.y-cat, Who never did any harm, But killed the mice in his father's barn.

_Four and twenty tailors_

Four and twenty tailors went to kill a snail, The best man among them durst not touch her tail; She put out her horns like a little Kyloe cow, Run, tailors, run, or she'll kill you all e'en now.

_What is the news of the day?_

What is the news of the day, Good neighbour, I pray?

They say the balloon Is gone up to the moon!

_Two little kittens_

Two little kittens, one stormy night, Began to quarrel and then to fight; One had a mouse, and the other had none, And that's the way the quarrel begun.

"I'll have that mouse," said the biggest cat.

"_You'll_ have that mouse? We'll see about that!"

"I _will_ have that mouse," said the eldest son.

"You _shan't_ have the mouse," said the little one.

I told you before 'twas a stormy night When these two little kittens began to fight;

The old woman seized her sweeping broom, And swept the two kittens right out of the room.

The ground was covered with frost and snow, And the two little kittens had nowhere to go; So they laid them down on the mat at the door, While the old woman finished sweeping the floor.

Then they crept in, as quiet as mice, All wet with the snow, and as cold as ice, For they found it was better, that stormy night, To lie down and sleep than to quarrel and fight.

[Ill.u.s.tration: WHAT ARE LITTLE BOYS MADE OF?]

What are little boys made of, made of, What are little boys made of?

Snaps and snails, and puppy-dog's tails; And that's what little boys are made of, made of.

What are little girls made of, made of, made of, What are little girls made of?

Sugar and spice, and all that's nice; And that's what little girls are made of, made of.

_As I was a-going by a little pig-sty_

As I was a-going by a little pig-sty, I saw a child's petticoat hanging to dry, I took off my jacket and hung it hard by, To bear the petticoat company.

The wind blew high, and down they fell; Jacket and petticoat into the well.

Into the well, into the well, Jacket and petticoat into the well.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THREE WISE MEN OF GOTHAM]