The Home Book of Verse
Chapter 8 : Goosey, goosey, gander, Whither shall I wander, Up stairs, down stairs, And in my lady&#

Goosey, goosey, gander, Whither shall I wander, Up stairs, down stairs, And in my lady's chamber.

There I met an old man Who would not say his prayers; I took him by his left leg And threw him down the stairs.

Baa, baa, black sheep, have you any wool?

Yes, sir; yes, sir, three, bags full.

One for my master, one for my dame, And one for the little boy that lives in the lane.

Bye, baby bunting, Daddy's gone a-hunting To get a little rabbit-skin To wrap the baby bunting in.

Old King Cole was a merry old soul, And a merry old soul was he; He called for his pipe, and he called for his bowl, And he called for his fiddlers three.

Every fiddler, he had a fiddle, and a very fine fiddle had he; Twee tweedle dee, tweedle dee, went the fiddlers.

Oh, there's none so rare, as can compare With King Cole and his fiddlers three!

Ride a c.o.c.k-horse to Banbury Cross, To see a fine lady ride on a white horse, Rings on her fingers, and bells on her toes, She shall have music wherever she goes.

Hector Protector was dressed all in green; Hector Protector was sent to the Queen.

The Queen did not like him, no more did the King; So Hector Protector was sent back again.

Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers; A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked; If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers, Where's the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked?

Jack Sprat could eat no fat, His wife could eat no lean, And so, betwixt them both, you see, They licked the platter clean.

The lion and the unicorn Were fighting for the crown; The lion beat the unicorn All round about the town.

Some gave them white bread, And some gave them brown; Some gave them plum cake, And sent them out of town.

As Tommy Snooks and Bessy Brooks Were walking out one Sunday, Says Tommy Snooks to Bessy Brooks, "To-morrow will be Monday."

Curly locks! Curly locks!

Wilt thou be mine?

Thou shalt not wash dishes Nor yet feed the swine; But sit on a cus.h.i.+on And sew a fine seam, And feed upon strawberries, Sugar and cream.

Blow, wind, blow! and go, mill, go!

That the miller may grind his corn; That the baker may take it and into rolls make it, And send us some hot in the morn.

Six little mice sat down to spin, p.u.s.s.y pa.s.sed by, and she peeped in.

"What are you at, my little men?"

"Making coats for gentlemen."

"Shall I come in and bite off your threads?"

"No, no, Miss p.u.s.s.y, you'll snip off our heads."

"Oh, no, I'll not, I'll help you to spin."

"That may be so, but you don't come in!"

Bobby Shaftoe's gone to sea, Silver buckles at his knee; When he comes back, he'll marry me, Bonny Bobby Shaftoe.

Bobby Shaftoe's fat and fair, Combing down his yellow hair; He's my love for evermair, Bonny Bobby Shaftoe.

Rock-a-bye, baby, thy cradle is green; Father's a n.o.bleman, mother's a queen; And Betty's a lady, and wears a gold ring; And Johnny's a drummer, and drums for the King.

Hush-a-bye, baby, on the tree-top, When the wind blows the cradle will rock; When the bough breaks, the cradle will fall, Down will come baby, bough, cradle, and all.

To market, to market, to buy a fat pig, Home again, home again, jiggety-jig; To market, to market, to buy a fat hog, Home again, home again, jiggety-jog; To market, to market, to buy a plum bun, Home again, home again, market is done.

JACK AND JILL

Jack and Jill went up the hill, To fetch a pail of water; Jack fell down and broke his crown And Jill came tumbling after.

Up Jack got and home did trot As fast as he could caper, And went to bed to mend his head With vinegar and brown paper.

THE QUEEN OF HEARTS

The Queen of Hearts She made some tarts, All on a summer's day; The Knave of Hearts He stole those tarts, And with them ran away.

The King of Hearts Called for the tarts, And beat the Knave full sore; The Knave of Hearts Brought back the tarts, And vowed he'd steal no more!