The Nursery Rhymes of England Part 12

CXXI.

Cross patch, Draw the latch, Sit by the fire and spin; Take a cup, And drink it up, Then call your neighbours in.

CXXII.

Come when you're called, Do what you're bid, Shut the door after you, Never be chid.

CXXIII.

Speak when you're spoken to, Come when one call; Shut the door after you, And turn to the wall!

CXXIV.

I love my love with an A, because he's Agreeable.

I hate him because he's Avaricious.

He took me to the Sign of the Acorn, And treated me with Apples.

His name's Andrew, And he lives at Arlington.

CXXV.

[A laconic reply to a person who indulges much in supposition.]

If ifs and ands, Were pots and pans, There would be no need for tinkers!

CXXVI.

Mistress Mary, quite contrary, How does your garden grow?

With c.o.c.kle-sh.e.l.ls, and silver bells, And mussels all a row.

CXXVII.

Doctor Faustus was a good man, He whipt his scholars now and then; When he whipp'd them he made them dance, Out of Scotland into France, Out of France into Spain, And then he whipp'd them back again!

CXXVIII.

[A Greek bill of fare.]

LEGOMOTON, Acapon, Alf.a.gheuse, Pasti venison.

CXXIX.

When I was a little boy, I had but little wit It is some time ago, and I've no more yet; Nor ever ever shall, until that I die, For the longer I live, the more fool am I.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

SIXTH CLa.s.s--SONGS.

Cx.x.x.

Oh, where are you going, My pretty maiden fair, With your red rosy cheeks, And your coal-black hair?

I'm going a-milking, Kind sir, says she; And it's dabbling in the dew, Where you'll find me.

May I go with you, My pretty maiden fair, &c.

Oh, you may go with me, Kind sir, says she, &c.

If I should chance to kiss you, My pretty maiden fair, &c.

The wind may take it off again, Kind sir, says she, &c.

And what is your father, My pretty maiden fair, &c.

My father is a farmer, Kind sir, says she, &c.

And what is your mother, My pretty maiden fair, &c.

My mother is a dairy-maid, Kind sir, says she, &c.

Cx.x.xI.

Polly put the kettle on, Polly put the kettle on, Polly put the kettle on, And let's drink tea.

Sukey take it off again, Sukey take it off again, Sukey take it off again, They're all gone away.

Cx.x.xII.

[This is the version generally given in nursery collections, but is somewhat different in the 'Pills to Purge Melancholy,'

1719, vol. iv, p. 148.]

One misty moisty morning When cloudy was the weather, There I met an old man Clothed all in leather; Clothed all in leather, With cap under his chin,-- How do you do, and how do you do, And how do you do again!

Cx.x.xIII.

The fox and his wife they had a great strife, They never eat mustard in all their whole life; They eat their meat without fork or knife, And loved to be picking a bone, e-ho!

The fox jumped up on a moonlight night; The stars they were s.h.i.+ning, and all things bright; Oh, ho! said the fox, it's a very fine night For me to go through the town, e-ho!