TOM, THE PIPER'S SON
"TOM was a piper's son,
He learned to play when he was young;
But all the tune that he could play
Was 'Over the hills and far away.'"
"Well, it's a pretty fine tune," said Puss, Junior, to himself, as the strains from Tom's pipe came clear and sweet across the meadow. "I wish I could play as well." Again the music came down the breeze, clear and sweet, and pretty soon Tom came capering toward him, followed by a crowd of boys and girls.
"Heigh-ho!" laughed Puss. "Here they come, dancing away, as if they had nothing to do but play all the day long."
"Over the hills and far away!" piped Tom.
"Good morning!" cried Puss.
"Come and dance," said the piper's son, taking the pipe from his mouth; "come and have a merry dance. Make those red-topped booties prance."
"Then play a merry jig," answered Puss, catching up a small pig and waltzing him around at a giddy rate.