Old Mother Goose, when She wanted to wander, Would ride through the air On a very fine gander. Mother Goose had a house, 'Twas built in a wood, Where an owl at the door For a sentinel stood. She had a son Jack, A plain-looking lad, Not very good, Nor yet very bad. She sent him to market, A live goose he bought, "Here, mother," says he, "It won't go for nought." Jack's goose and the gander Grew very fond, They'd both eat together, Or swim in one pond. Jack found, one fine morning, As I have been told, His goose had laid him An egg of pure gold. Jack rode to his mother The news for to tell; She called him a good boy, And said it was well. Jack sold his gold egg To a rascally Jew, Who cheated him out of The half of his due. Then Jack went a-courting A lady so gay, As fair as the lily, And sweet as the May. The Jew and the Squire Came behind his back And began to belabour The sides of poor Jack. And then the gold egg Was thrown in the sea, When Jack he jumped in And got it presently. The Jew got the goose, Which he vowed he would kill, Resolving at once His pockets to fill. Jack's mother came in And caught the goose soon, And mounting its back, Flew up to the moon.

THE OLD WOMAN AND HER PIG.

An old woman was sweeping her house, and she found a little crooked sixpence. "What," she said, "shall I do with this little sixpence? I will go to market and buy a little pig." As she was coming home she came to a stile. The piggy would not go over the stile. She went a little farther, and she met a dog, so she said to the dog:—

"Dog, dog, bite pig; Piggy won't get over the stile, And I shan't get home to-night!"

But the dog would not.

She went a little farther, and she met a stick. So she said:—

"Stick, stick, beat dog; Dog won't bite pig; Piggy won't get over the stile, And I shan't get home to-night!"

But the stick would not.

She went a little farther, and she met a fire. So she said:—