Rhymes Old and New Part 11

In April the coo-coo can sing her song by rote; In June of time she cannot sing a note; At first koo-koo! koo-koo! sings still-- At last koo-ke! koo-ke! koo-ke!--six koo-kees to one koo.

NORFOLK

When the weirling shrieks at night, Sow the seed with the morning light; But when the cuckoo swells its throat, Harvest flies from the mooncall's[A] note.

[A] _Mooncall_--the cuckoo (Norfolk).

Parson Peard, Be not afeard, Nor take it much in anger; We've bought your geese At a penny a piece, And left the money with the gander.

A peac.o.c.k picked a peck of pepper; Did he pick a peck of pepper?

Yes, he picked a peck of pepper; Pick, p.e.c.k.e.r, peac.o.c.k!

SOUTHERN INDIA

An old story! an old story!

Clever Brahman, an old story!

What shall I say?

I know none.

Little chickens! little chickens!

Sing me a song!

What can I sing?

Pyong! Pyong!

The c.o.c.k did say: "I use alway To crow both first and last, Like a postle I am, For I preache to man, And tell hym the nyght is past."

THE APE AND THE c.o.c.kATOO

Said an ape in the Zoo To a white c.o.c.katoo: "Your beak is uncommonly strong!"

Said the white c.o.c.katoo To the ape in the Zoo, "And your tail is excessively long!"

Said the ape in the Zoo To the white c.o.c.katoo: "Remarks are exceedingly rude!

And you must look out, And see what you're about, Or I'll seize and run off with your food!"

Then the white c.o.c.katoo Really furious grew, And shouted as loud as he could: "You black-faced Wanderoo![B]

With your white whiskers, too, Do you think to insult me is good?"

'Tween the ape in the Zoo And the white c.o.c.katoo Then furious battle ensued, And the c.o.c.katoo bit The ape into a fit, And the ape s.n.a.t.c.hed the c.o.c.katoo's food.

[B] An ape is a Wanderoo in Ceylon.

Sweet Amaryllis by a spring's Soft and soul-melting murmurings Slept, and thus sleeping thither flew A robin red-breast, who, at view, Not seeing her at all to stir, Brought leaves and moss to cover her.

But while he perking there did pry, About the arch of either eye, The lid began to let out day, At which poor robin flew away, And seeing her not dead, but all disleaved, He chirp'd for joy to find himself deceived.

THE OBSTINATE CHICKEN

_Hen_ "Go not down that distant walk; Yonder flies the savage hawk; His sharp eyes will quickly meet you, If you go I'm sure he'll eat you."

_Chicken_ "Nasty hawk is far away, I may safely go and play; If he comes my legs will bring Me beneath your sheltering wing."

So it skipped off in a trice, Scorning mother's good advice; And when it thought at home to sup, Down came the hawk and gobbled it up.

Lords and knights, I do invite Ladies and gentlemen, To come unto the burial Of my wee brown hen.

My wee brown hen, They might have let her be, Every day she laid an egg, On Sunday she laid three.

SOUTHERN INDIAN SONGS

"Cooing, cooing, cooing dove!

How many little ones have you to love?"

"In my nest--two--three--four--five Little ones I hatch'd alive."

"Tell me then, O dove, I pray, Where are the little ones to-day?"

"On a bough both safe and strong Left I them an hour long, I cannot see them now, and know They have gone to feed the crow."

"Dusky sister of the crow Let us to the wedding go, To-morrow or on Sunday morn; Though the kite doth sit forlorn, Seeing in a painful dream Young ones perish in the stream.

All the young ones of the crow Cheese are seeking to and fro."

ESs.e.x

One, two, three, four, five, I caught a fish alive; Six, seven, eight, nine, ten, I let it go again.

"Why did you let it go?"

"Because it bit my finger so."

"Which finger did it bite?"

"The little finger on the right."

Dragon fly! dragon fly! fly about the brook, Sting all the bad boys who for the fish look; But let the good boys catch all they can, And then take them home to be fried in a pan, With nice bread and b.u.t.ter they shall sup up their fish, While all the little naughty boys shall only lick the dish.

LADY-BIRD

NORFOLK

Bishop, Bishop Barnabee, Tell me when my wedding be; If it be to-morrow day, Take your wings and fly away.

Fly to the East, fly to the West, And fly to them that I love best.