EMPLOYMENT.
Who’ll come and play with me here under the tree,
My sisters have left me alone;
My sweet little sparrow, come hither to me,
And play with me while they are gone.
O no, little lady, I can’t come, indeed,
I’ve no time to idle away,
I’ve got all my dear little children to feed,
And my nest to new cover with hay.
Pretty Bee, do not buzz about over the flower,
But come here and play with me, do:
The sparrow won’t come and stay with me an hour,
But stay, pretty Bee—will not you?
O no, little lady, for do not you see
Those must work who would prosper and thrive,
If I play, they would call me a sad idle bee—
And perhaps turn me out of the hive.
Stop! stop! little Ant—do not run off so fast,
Wait with me a little and play:
I hope I shall find a companion at last,
You are not so busy as they.
O no, little lady, I can’t stay with you,
We’re not made to play, but to labor:
I always have something or other to do,
If not for myself, for my neighbor.
Why then, have they all employment but me,
Who lie lounging here like a dunce?
O then, like the Ant, and the Sparrow, and Bee,
I’ll go to my lesson at once.
—Jane Taylor.
Pat-a-Cake, Pat-a-Cake.
Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, baker’s man!
So I will, master, as fast as I can:
Pat it, and prick it, and mark it with T,
Put it in the oven for Tommy and me.
Three straws on a staff,
Would make a baby cry and laugh.
Great A, Little a.
Great A, little a,
Bouncing B!
The cat’s in the cupboard,
And she can’t see.
Jack Sprat.
Jack Sprat could eat no fat,
His wife could eat no lean;
Betwixt them both, they cleared the plate,
And licked the platter clean.
As I Went to Bonner.
As I went to Bonner,
I met a pig
Without a wig,
Upon my word and honour.
A Riddle, a Riddle.
A riddle, a riddle, as I suppose,
A hundred eyes, and never a nose.
(A cinder-sifter.)
Is John Smith Within?
Is John Smith within?—
Yes, that he is.
Can he set a shoe?—
Ay, marry, two;
Here a nail, and there a nail,
Tick, tack, too.
