| THE FARMER AND THE RAVEN A farmer went trotting upon his gray mare, Bumpety, bumpety, bump! With his daughter behind him so rosy and fair, Lumpety, lumpety, lump! A raven cried croak! and they all tumbled down, Bumpety, bumpety, bump! The mare broke her knees, and the farmer his crown, Lumpety, lumpety, lump! The mischievous raven flew laughing away, Bumpety, bumpety, bump! And vowed he would serve them the same the next day, Lumpety, lumpety lump! |
CHRISTMAS Christmas is coming, the geese are getting fat, Please to put a penny in an old man's hat; If you haven't got a penny a ha'penny will do, If you haven't got a ha'penny, God bless you. |
| WILLY BOY "Willy boy, Willy boy, where are you going? I will go with you, if that I may." "I'm going to the meadow to see them a-mowing, I'm going to help them to make the hay." POLLY AND SUKEY Polly, put the kettle on, Polly, put the kettle on, Polly, put the kettle on, And let's drink tea. Sukey, take it off again, Sukey, take it off again, Sukey, take it off again, They're all gone away. THE MOUSE AND THE CLOCK Hickory, dickory, dock! The mouse ran up the clock; The clock struck one, And down he run, Hickory, dickory, dock! |
THE DEATH AND BURIAL OF POOR COCK ROBIN Who killed Cock Robin? "I," said the sparrow, "With my little bow and arrow, I killed Cock Robin." Who saw him die? "I," said the fly, "With my little eye, I saw him die." Who caught his blood? "I," said the fish, "With my little dish, I caught his blood." Who'll make his shroud? "I," said the beetle, "With my thread and needle. I'll make his shroud." Who'll carry the torch? "I," said the linnet, "I'll come in a minute, I'll carry the torch." Who'll be the clerk? "I," said the lark, "If it's not in the dark, I'll be the clerk." Who'll dig his grave? "I," said the owl, "With my spade and trowel I'll dig his grave." Who'll be the parson? "I," said the rook, "With my little book, I'll be the parson." Who'll be chief mourner? "I," said the dove, "I mourn for my love, I'll be chief mourner." Who'll sing a psalm? "I," said the thrush, "As I sit in a bush. I'll sing a psalm." Who'll carry the coffin? "I," said the kite, "If it's not in the night, I'll carry the coffin." Who'll toll the bell? "I," said the bull, "Because I can pull, I'll toll the bell." All the birds of the air Fell sighing and sobbing, When they heard the bell toll For poor Cock Robin. |
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BOBBY SHAFTOE Bobby Shaftoe's gone to sea, With silver buckles on his knee: He'll come back and marry me, Pretty Bobby Shaftoe! Bobby Shaftoe's fat and fair, Combing down his yellow hair; He's my love for evermore, Pretty Bobby Shaftoe. |
THE BUNCH OF BLUE RIBBONS Oh, dear, what can the matter be? Oh, dear, what can the matter be? Oh, dear, what can the matter be? Johnny's so long at the fair. He promised he'd buy me a bunch of blue ribbons, He promised he'd buy me a bunch of blue ribbons, He promised he'd buy me a bunch of blue ribbons, To tie up my bonny brown hair. |
| THE WOMAN OF EXETER There dwelt an old woman at Exeter; When visitors came it sore vexed her, So for fear they should eat, She locked up all her meat, This stingy old woman of Exeter. SNEEZING If you sneeze on Monday, you sneeze for danger; Sneeze on a Tuesday, kiss a stranger; Sneeze on a Wednesday, sneeze for a letter; Sneeze on a Thursday, something better. Sneeze on a Friday, sneeze for sorrow; Sneeze on a Saturday, joy to-morrow. |
PUSSY-CAT BY THE FIRE Pussy-cat sits by the fire; How can she be fair? In walks the little dog; Says: "Pussy, are you there? How do you do, Mistress Pussy? Mistress Pussy, how d'ye do?" "I thank you kindly, little dog, I fare as well as you!" WHEN THE SNOW IS ON THE GROUND The little robin grieves When the snow is on the ground, For the trees have no leaves, And no berries can be found. The air is cold, the worms are hid; For robin here what can be done? Let's strow around some crumbs of bread, And then he'll live till snow is gone. |