Rhymes Old and New Part 8

As I was going to Derby, sir, All on a market day, I met the finest ram, sir, That ever was fed upon hay.

Daddle-i-day, daddle-i-day, Fal-de-ral, fal-de-ral, daddle-i-day.

This ram was fat behind, sir, This ram was fat before, This ram was ten yards high, sir, Indeed he was no more.

Daddle-i-day, etc.

The wool upon his back, sir, Reached up unto the sky, The eagles made their nests there, sir, I heard the young ones cry.

Daddle-i-day, etc.

The wool upon his belly, sir, It dragged upon the ground, It was sold in Derby town, sir, For forty thousand pound.

Daddle-i-day, etc.

The s.p.a.ce between his horns, sir, Was as far as a man could reach, And there they built a pulpit, sir, For the parson there to preach.

Daddle-i-day, etc.

The teeth that were in his mouth, sir, Were like a regiment of men, And the tongue that hung between them, sir, Would have dined them twice and again.

Daddle-i-day, etc.

This ram jumped o'er a wall, sir, His tail caught on a briar, It reached from Derby town, sir, All into Leicesters.h.i.+re.

Daddle-i-day, etc.

And of this tail so long, sir, 'Twas ten miles and an ell, They made a goodly rope, sir, To toll the market bell.

Daddle-i-day, etc.

This ram had four legs to walk, sir, This ram had four legs to stand, And every leg he had, sir, Stood on an acre of land.

Daddle-i-day, etc.

The butcher that killed this ram, sir, Was drowned in the blood, And all the good people of Derby, sir, Were carried away in the flood.

Daddle-i-day, etc.

All the maids in Derby, sir, Came begging for his horns, To take them to the cooper's, sir, To make them milking gawns.

Daddle-i-day, etc.

The little boys of Derby, sir, They came to beg his eyes, To kick about the streets, sir, For they were football size.

Daddle-i-day, etc.

The tanner that tanned his hide, sir, Would never be poor any more, For when he had tanned and stretched it, sir, It covered all Sinfin Moor.

Daddle-i-day, etc.

Indeed, sir, this is true, sir, I never was taught to lie, And had you been to Derby, sir, You'd have seen it, as well as I.

Daddle-i-day, daddle-i-day, Fal-de-ral, fal-de-ral, daddle-i-day.

p.u.s.s.y

Jack Sprat had a cat, It had but one ear; That he cut off, And made small beer.

p.u.s.s.y

_Child_ "Wherefore wash you, p.u.s.s.y, say, Every half-hour through the day?"

_p.u.s.s.y_ "Why? Because 'twould look so bad If a dirty coat I had; Little face and little feet, They too must be always neat."

So says p.u.s.s.y, and I've heard All give her a handsome word, In the parlour she may be, People take her on the knee, Why all love her I can tell,-- It is for was.h.i.+ng herself so well.

p.u.s.s.y sat upon a wall, Taking a little fresh air, A neighbour's little dog came by-- "O p.u.s.s.y! are you there?"

"Good morning, Mistress p.u.s.s.y-cat, Pray tell me how you do,"

"Quite well, I thank you," Puss replied, "And, Doggy, how are you?"

p.u.s.s.y-cat Mole Jumped over a coal, And in her best petticoat Burnt a great hole.

Poor p.u.s.s.y's weeping, She'll get no more milk, Until her best petticoat's Mended with silk.

"Leedle! leedle! leedle! our cat's dead."

"How did she die?" "Wi' a sair head."

All ye who ken'd her When she was alive, Come to her burying At half-past five.

"Good day, Miss Cat, so brisk and gay, How is it that alone you stay?

And what is it you cook to day?"

"Bread so white, and milk so sweet, Will it please you sit and eat?"

p.u.s.s.y-cat high, p.u.s.s.y-cat low, p.u.s.s.y-cat was a fine teazer of tow.

p.u.s.s.y-cat she came into a barn, With her bagpipes under her arm.

And then she told a tale to me, How mousie had married a humble bee.

Then was I indeed ever so glad, That mousie had married so clever a lad.

DERBY

"p.u.s.s.y-cat, p.u.s.s.y-cat, where have you been?"

"I've been to see grandmother over the green."

"What did she give you?" "Milk in a can."

"What did you say for it?" "Thank you, Grandam."

KITTENS

Now we must name you little creatures, After your several gifts and natures; Velvet-skin, thou shalt be; Softly-Sneaking, call I thee; This I surname Catch-the-Mouse, But that one is Thief-o'-th'-House.

They grew up handsome as could be; Velvet-skin lay on the knee, Catch-the-Mouse for mice went seeking; In the barn went Softly-Sneaking; Thief-o'-th'-House indulged his wishes 'Mid the kitchen plates and dishes.

"What is she doing, Miss Cat?