The Big Book of Nursery Rhymes Part 17

Who caught his blood?

'I' said the fish "With my little dish, I caught his blood."

Who'll make his shroud?

'I' said the beetle "With my thread and needle, I'll make his shroud."

Who'll bear the torch?

'I' said the linnet "Will come in a minute, I'll bear the torch."

Who'll be the clerk?

'I' said the lark "I'll say Amen in the dark; I'll be the clerk."

Who'll dig his grave?

'I' said the owl "With my spade and trowel, I'll dig his grave."

Who'll be the parson?

'I' said the rook "With my little book I'll be the parson."

Who'll be chief mourner?

'I' said the dove "I mourn for my love; I'll be chief mourner."

Who'll sing his dirge?

'I' said the thrush "As I sing in a bush, I'll sing his dirge."

Who'll carry his coffin?

'I' said the kite "If it be in the night, I'll carry his coffin."

Who'll toll the bell?

'I' said the bull "Because I can pull, I'll toll the bell."

The birds of the air Fell sighing and sobbing When they heard the bell toll For poor c.o.c.k Robin.

LADY-BIRD, LADY-BIRD

Lady-Bird, Lady-Bird, fly away home, Your house is on fire, your children have gone, All but one, that lies under a stone; Fly thee home, Lady-Bird, ere it be gone.

THE LOVING BROTHERS

I love you well, my little brother, And you are fond of me; Let us be kind to one another, As brothers ought to be.

You shall learn to play with me, And learn to use my toys; And then I think that we shall be Two happy little boys.

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.

FORTUNE-TELLING BY CHERRY-STONES

One, I love; two, I love; Three, I love, I say; Four, I love with all my heart; Five, I cast away; Six, he loves; seven, she loves; Eight, both love; Nine, he comes; ten, he tarries; Eleven, he courts; and twelve, he marries.

LITTLE BO-PEEP

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

Little Bo-Peep fell fast asleep, And dreamt she heard them bleating; And when she awoke, she found it a joke, For still they were all fleeting.

Then up she took her little crook, Determined for to find them; She found them indeed, but it made her heart bleed, For they'd left all their tails behind them.

It happened one day as Bo-Peep did stray Into a meadow hard by, There she espied their tails side by side, All hung on a tree to dry.

She heaved a sigh, and wiped her eye, And went over hill and dale, oh; And tried what she could, as a shepherdess should, To tack to each sheep its tail, oh!

TO BED!

Come let's to bed, Says Sleepy-head; Sit up a while, says Slow; Put on the pan, says Greedy Nan, Let's sup before we go.

OF GOING TO BED

Go to bed first, A golden purse;

Go to bed second, A golden pheasant;