Children's Rhymes, Children's Games, Children's Songs, Children's Stories Part 18

SIMPLE SIMON.

Simple Simon met a pie-man, Going to the fair; Said Simple Simon to the pie-man, "Let me taste your ware."

Says the pie-man, "Simple Simon, Show me first your penny;"

Said Simple Simon to the pie-man, "Indeed, I have not any."

Simple Simon went a-fis.h.i.+ng, For to catch a whale; All the water he had got Was in his mother's pail!

Some may follow without comment.

OLD MOTHER HUBBARD.

Old Mother Hubbard, she went to the cupboard, To get her poor doggie a bone; When she got there, the cupboard was bare, And so the poor doggie had none.

She went to the baker's to buy him some bread, But when she came back the poor doggie was dead.

She went to the undertaker's to buy him a coffin, And when she came back the doggie was laughing.

She went to the butcher's to get him some tripe, And when she came back he was smoking a pipe.

She went to the fish-shop to buy him some fish, And when she came back he was was.h.i.+ng the dish.

She went to the tavern for white wine and red, And when she came back doggie stood on his head.

She went to the hatter's to buy him a hat, And when she came back he was feeding the cat.

She went to the tailor's to buy him a coat, And when she came back he was riding the goat.

She went to the barber's to buy him a wig, And when she came back he was dancing a jig.

She went to the draper's to buy him some linen, And when she came back the good dog was spinning.

She went to the hosier's to buy him some hose, And when she came back he was dressed in his clothes.

The dame made a curtsey, the dog made a bow, The dame said, "Your servant," the dog said, "Bow-wow."

OLD MOTHER GOOSE.

Old Mother Goose, when She wanted to wander, Would ride through the air On a very fine gander.

Mother Goose had a house, 'Twas built in a wood, Where an owl at the door For a sentinel stood.

She had a son Jack, A plain-looking lad, Not very good, Nor yet very bad.

She sent him to market, A live goose he bought, "Here, mother," says he, "It won't go for nought."

Jack's goose and the gander Grew very fond, They'd both eat together, Or swim in one pond.

Jack found, one fine morning, As I have been told, His goose had laid him An egg of pure gold.

Jack rode to his mother The news for to tell; She called him a good boy, And said it was well.

Jack sold his gold egg To a rascally Jew, Who cheated him out of The half of his due.

Then Jack went a-courting A lady so gay, As fair as the lily, And sweet as the May.

The Jew and the Squire Came behind his back And began to belabour The sides of poor Jack.

And then the gold egg Was thrown in the sea, When Jack he jumped in And got it presently.

The Jew got the goose, Which he vowed he would kill, Resolving at once His pockets to fill.

Jack's mother came in And caught the goose soon, And mounting its back, Flew up to the moon.

THE OLD WOMAN AND HER PIG.

An old woman was sweeping her house, and she found a little crooked sixpence. "What," she said, "shall I do with this little sixpence? I will go to market and buy a little pig." As she was coming home she came to a stile. The piggy would not go over the stile. She went a little farther, and she met a dog, so she said to the dog:--

"Dog, dog, bite pig; Piggy won't get over the stile, And I shan't get home to-night!"

But the dog would not.

She went a little farther, and she met a stick. So she said:--

"Stick, stick, beat dog; Dog won't bite pig; Piggy won't get over the stile, And I shan't get home to-night!"

But the stick would not.

She went a little farther, and she met a fire. So she said:--

"Fire, fire, burn stick; Stick won't beat dog; Dog won't bite pig; Piggy won't get over the stile; And I shan't get home to-night!"

But the fire would not.