Skip, skip,
Never trip;
Round and round!
“Does it touch the ground?
Don’t I skip well?” said sulky Kate;
But, oh, at last
Her feet stuck fast—
Her pretty feet,
So small and neat,
Were glued by magic to the skipping-cord,
Which turned into a Swing! And then my lord
Johnny said, “This is fine, upon my word!”
Backwards and forwards Katy swung;—
To the magic rope, which by nothing hung,
Frightened out of her breath she clung—
An apple for the Queen, and a pear for the King!
Wasn’t that a wonderful swing?
It kept on going like anything!
“John!” said Katy, turning faint,
And the colour of white paint,
“Save me from this dreadful swing!”
Then our Johnny made a spring
Up to Kate, and held her tight,
And kissed her twice, with all his might,
Which stopped the magic swing; and Katy then
Said, “Thank you, Jack!” and kissed him back again.
VI
Then the Children all said, “She spoils our play:
We must really get Queen Mab away;
She mustn’t bewitch our Toys too much.
Who will speak to her? Does she talk Dutch?
John knows Magic, and Greek, and such;
No one than John can be cleverer—
Perhaps he knows how to get rid of her!”
VII
Six White Mice, with harness on,
What do you think of Cousin John,
Who taught them so,
And made them go?—
Six white mice, with harness on!
A wee coach, gilt like the Lord Mayor’s own!
Made by Cousin John alone,
Bright and gay,—
On a Lord Mayor’s Day
Just such a coach is the Lord Mayor’s own!
Marian’s Doll come out for a ride,
Dressed like a queen in pomp and pride:
The six wee mice,
That trot so nice,
Draw Marian’s Doll come out for a ride!