DOCTOR FOSTER
DOCTOR FOSTER went to Glo'ster
In a shower of rain;
He stepped in a puddle up to his middle,
And never went there again.
Which was a mighty lucky thing, for, goodness knows, perhaps the poor maid never would have had her nose mended if Puss hadn't found the good doctor at home.
Well, as soon as he learned what was the matter, he jumped up behind Puss, and the Good Gray Horse kicked out his heels and galloped away, and the four and twenty blackbirds trailed after them, and pretty soon, not so very long, they came to the Blackbird-pie Castle. There sat the poor maid in the garden, still holding her nose in her hand.
"Let's see it," said the doctor, opening his little black bag and taking out medicine and bandages.
"I'm afraid it's half gone," sobbed the maid, "I don't want to look at it."
"But I do," said the doctor. "Otherwise, how can I mend it?" And I guess he was right, for he was the most famous doctor in all Mother Goose Land. Well, as soon as she took away her hand he said:
"It's not as bad as it might be. It still looks like a nose!"
"Does it?" she sobbed.
"Oh yes," said the doctor, turning to Puss and the old retainer. "You'll hardly know the blackbird touched it after I get through."
"Maybe he only pinched it," said Puss.
"Or only tweaked it," said the old retainer.
"Perhaps he thought it was a cherry," laughed the doctor, putting on some powder.
And then the maid began to smile. "It feels much better already," she said.
"Well it's always a good thing to call in the doctor," said the learned man. "You never can tell what may happen," and, picking up his little black bag, he held out his hand. "Two shillings, please!"
"Mercy me!" she cried. "I haven't had my wages for this month."
"What did you do with last month's?" asked the doctor, but before she could reply one of the four and twenty blackbirds dropped a gold piece in his hand. I guess he felt dreadfully ashamed to think that one of his brothers had pinched a pretty girl's nose.