The Big Book of Nursery Rhymes Part 21

So she said:

"Rat, rat, gnaw rope!

Rope won't hang butcher; Butcher won't kill ox; Ox won't drink water; Water won't quench fire; Fire won't burn stick; Stick won't beat dog; Dog won't bite pig; Pig won't get over the stile; And I sha'n't get home to-night."

But the rat would not.

She went a little farther and she met a cat.

So she said:

"Cat, cat, kill rat!

Rat won't gnaw rope; Rope won't hang butcher; Butcher won't kill ox; Ox won't drink water; Water won't quench fire; Fire won't burn stick; Stick won't beat dog; Dog won't bite pig; Pig won't get over the stile; And I sha'n't get home to-night."

The cat said: "If you will get me a saucer of milk from the cow in yonder field I will kill the rat."

So the old woman went to the cow and said: "Cow, cow, will you give me a saucer of milk?" And the cow said: "If you will get me a bucket full of water from yonder brook I will give you the milk." And the old woman took the bucket to the brook; but the water all rushed out through the holes in the bottom. So she filled the holes up with stones, got the water, and took it to the cow, who at once gave her the saucer of milk. Then the old woman gave the cat the milk, and when she had lapped up the milk--

The cat began to kill the rat; The rat began to gnaw the rope; The rope began to hang the butcher; The butcher began to kill the ox; The ox began to drink the water; The water began to quench the fire; The fire began to burn the stick; The stick began to beat the dog; The dog began to bite the pig; The pig jumped over the stile; And so the old woman got home that night.

BOW-WOW, SAYS THE DOG

Bow-wow, says the dog; Mew-mew, says the cat; Grunt, grunt, goes the hog; And squeak, goes the rat.

Chirp, chirp, says the sparrow; Caw, caw, says the crow; Quack, quack, says the duck; And what cuckoos say, you know.

So, with sparrows and cuckoos, With rats and with dogs, With ducks and with crows, With cats and with hogs,

A fine song I have made, To please you, my dear; And if it's well sung, 'T will be charming to hear.

THE BURNY BEE

Bless you, bless you, burny bee; Say, when will your wedding be?

If it be to-morrow day, Take your wings and fly away.

DANTY BABY

Danty baby diddy, What can mammy do wid 'e, But sit in a lap, And give 'un a pap?

Sing danty baby diddy.

THE DOVE AND THE WREN

The Dove says, coo, coo, what shall I do?

I can scarce maintain two.

Pooh, pooh! says the wren, I have got ten, And keep them all like gentlemen.

TOMMY'S CAKE

Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, Baker's man!

That I will master, As fast as I can.

Pat it, and p.r.i.c.k it, And mark it with T, And there will be enough For Jacky and me.

THE MAN OF THESSALY

There was a man of Thessaly, And he was wond'rous wise, He jump'd into a quickset hedge, And scratched out both his eyes:

But when he saw his eyes were out, With all his might and main He jump'd into another hedge, And scratch'd them back again.

CUSHY COW

Cushy cow, bonny, let down thy milk, And I will give thee a gown of silk; A gown of silk and a silver tee, If thou wilt let down thy milk to me.

THERE WAS AN OLD WOMAN

There was an old woman, and what do you think?

She lived upon nothing but victuals and drink; And tho' victuals and drink were the chief of her diet, This plaguy old woman could never keep quiet.