Popular Rhymes and Nursery Tales Part 44

And so the pig-grunted, The horse-neigh'd, The donkey-bray'd, The sheep-bleated, The cow-low'd, The dog-bark'd, The cat-mew'd, The drake-quackled, The duck-cackled, The goose-gobbled, The hen-chuckled, The c.o.c.k-crow'd- And my c.o.c.k cried-c.o.c.k-c.o.c.k-coo!- Every body loves their c.o.c.k, and I love my c.o.c.k too!

JACK SPRAT.

Fragments of this tale are common in the nursery, but I have only met with one copy of the following poem, which appears to be of some antiquity, although it is here printed from a modern chap-book:

Jack Sprat could eat no fat, His wife could eat no lean, And so between them both, They licked the platter clean.

Jack eat all the lean, Joan eat all the fat, The bone they picked clean, Then gave it to the cat.

When Jack Sprat was young, He dressed very smart, He courted Joan Cole, And he gained her heart.

In his fine leather doublet, And old greasy hat, Oh, what a smart fellow Was little Jack Sprat!

Joan Cole had a hole In her petticoat, Jack Sprat, to get a patch, Gave her a groat; The groat bought a patch, Which stopped the hole, "I thank you, Jack Sprat,"

Says little Joan Cole.

Jack Sprat was the bridegroom, Joan Cole was the bride, Jack said, from the church, His Joan home should ride.

But no coach could take her, The lane was so narrow, Said Jack, then I'll take her Home in a wheelbarrow.

Jack Sprat was wheeling His wife by the ditch, The barrow turned over, And in she did pitch; Says Jack, she'll be drown'd, But Joan did reply, I don't think I shall, For the ditch is quite dry.

Jack brought home his Joan, And she sat in a chair, When in came his cat, That had got but one ear.

Says Joan, I'm come home, Puss, Pray, how do you do?

The cat wagg'd her tail, And said nothing but "mew."

Jack Sprat took his gun, And went to the brook, He shot at the drake, But he killed the duck.

He brought it to Joan, Who a fire did make To roast the fat duck, While Jack went for the drake.

The drake was swimming With his curly tail, Jack Sprat came to shoot him, But happened to fail; He let off his gun, But missing his mark, The drake flew away, Crying, "Quack, quack, quack."

Jack Sprat to live pretty, Now bought him a pig, It was not very little, It was not very big; It was not very lean, It was not very fat, It will serve for a grunter For little Jack Sprat.

Then Joan went to market To buy her some fowls, She bought a jackdaw And a couple of owls.

The owls they were white, The jackdaw was black, They'll make a rare breed, Says little Joan Sprat.

Jack Sprat bought a cow, His Joan for to please, For Joan she could make Both b.u.t.ter and cheese; Or pancakes or puddings, Without any fat: A notable housewife Was little Joan Sprat.

Joan Sprat went to brewing A barrel of ale, She put in some hops That it might not turn stale; But as for the malt, She forgot to put that, This is brave sober liquor, Said little Jack Sprat.

Jack Sprat went to market, And bought him a mare, She was lame of three legs, And as blind as she could stare; Her ribs they were bare, For the mare had no fat, She looks like a racer, Says little Jack Sprat.

Jack and Joan went abroad, Puss took care of the house, She caught a large rat And a very small mouse: She caught a small mouse, And a very large rat; You're an excellent hunter, Says little Jack Sprat.

Now I have told you the story Of little Jack Sprat, And little Joan Cole, And the poor one-ear'd cat.

Now Jack loved Joan, And good things he taught her, Then she gave him a son, Then after a daughter.

Now Jack has got rich And has plenty of pelf; If you know any more, You may tell it yourself.

DABBLING IN THE DEW.

The following pretty ballad appears to be a humorous imitation of an Elizabethan eclogue-song. Its style guarantees its antiquity:

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.

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

Then you must pick me up again, Kind sir, says she, &c.

If I should chance to run away, My pretty maiden fair, &c.

The De'el may then run away wi' you, 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.

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

William the carpenter, Kind sir, says she, &c.

There was an old couple, and they were poor, Fa la, fa la la lee!

They lived in a house that had but one door; Oh! what a poor couple were they.

The old man once he went far from his home, Fa la, fa la la lee!

The old woman afraid was to stay alone, Oh! what a weak woman was she.

The old man he came home at last, Fa la, fa la la lee!

And found the windows and door all fast.

Oh! what is the matter? quoth he.

Oh! I have been sick since you have been gone; Fa la, fa la la lee!

If you'd been in the garden you'd heard me groan; Oh! I'm sorry for that, quoth he.

I have a request to make unto thee; Fa la, fa la la lee!

To pluck me an apple from yonder tree.

Ay, that will I, marry, quoth he.

The old man tried to get up in the tree, Fa la, fa la la lee!

But the ladder it fell, and down tumbled he.