All the company laughed; and Sir William Dove, who was on the bench, asked her accusers how they could be such fools as to think there was any such thing as a witch. And then he gave such an accountof Mrs. Margery and her virtue, good sense, and prudent behaviour, that the gentlemen present returned her public thanks for the great service she had done the country. One gentleman in particular, Sir Charles Jones, had conceived such a high opinion of her, that he offered her a considerable sum to take the care of his family, and the education of his daughter, which, however, she refused but this gentleman sending forher afterwards, when he had a dangerous fit of illness, she went, and behaved so prudently in the family and so tenderly to him and his daughter, that he would not permit her to leave his house, but soon after made her proposals of marriage. She was truly sensible of the honour he intended her, but would not consent to be made a lady till he had provided for his daughter. All things being settled, and the day fixed, the neighbours came in crowds to see the wedding; for they were all glad that one who had been such a good little girl, and was become such a virtuous and good woman, was going to be made a lady. But just as the clergyman had opened his book, a gentleman richly dressed ran into the church, and cried: “Stop! stop!” This greatly alarmed the congregation, and particularly the intended bride and bridegroom, whom he first accosted, desiring to speak with them apart. After they had been talking a few moments, the people were greatly surprised to see Sir Charles stand motionless, and his bride cry and faint away in the stranger's arms. This seeming grief, however, was only a prelude to a flood of joy, which immediately succeeded; for you must know that this gentleman so richly dressed was little TommyMeanwell, Mrs. Margery's brother, who was just come from sea, where he had made a large fortune, and hearing, as soon as he landed, of his sister's intended wedding, had ridden post to see that a proper settlement was made on her, which he thought she was now entitled to, as he himself was able to give her an ample fortune. They soon returned to the communion-table, and were married in tears, but they were tears of joy.
Sir Charles and Lady Jones lived happily for many years. Her ladyship continued to visit the school in which she had passed so many happy days, and always gave the prizes to the best scholars with her own hands. She also gave to the parish several acres of land to be planted yearly with potatoes, for all the poor who would come and fetch them for the use of their families; but if any took them to sell, they were deprived of that privilege ever after. And these roots were planted and raised from the rent arising from a farm which she had assigned over for that purpose. In short, she was a mother to the poor, a physician to the sick, and a friend to those in distress. Her life was the greatest blessing, and her death the greatest calamity that ever was felt in the neighbourhood.
This is the house that Jack built.Thisis the house that Jack built.
This is the malt,That lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the malt,That lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the rat,That ate the malt,That lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the rat,That ate the malt,That lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the cat,That kill'd the rat,That ate the malt,That lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the cat,That kill'd the rat,That ate the malt,That lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the dog,That worried the cat,That kill'd the rat,That ate the malt,That lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the dog,That worried the cat,That kill'd the rat,That ate the malt,That lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the cow with the crumpled horn,That toss'd the dog,That worried the cat,That kill'd the rat,That ate the malt,That lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the cow with the crumpled horn,That toss'd the dog,That worried the cat,That kill'd the rat,That ate the malt,That lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the maiden all forlorn,That milk'd the cow with the crumpled horn,That toss'd the dog,That worried the cat,That kill'd the rat,That ate the malt,That lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the maiden all forlorn,That milk'd the cow with the crumpled horn,That toss'd the dog,That worried the cat,That kill'd the rat,That ate the malt,That lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the man all tatter'd and torn,That kiss'd the maiden all forlorn,That milk'd the cow with the crumpled horn,That toss'd the dog,That worried the cat,That kill'd the rat,That ate the malt,That lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the man all tatter'd and torn,That kiss'd the maiden all forlorn,That milk'd the cow with the crumpled horn,That toss'd the dog,That worried the cat,That kill'd the rat,That ate the malt,That lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the priest all shaven and shorn,That married the man all tatter'd and torn,That kiss'd the maiden all forlorn,That milk'd the cow with the crumpled horn,That toss'd the dog,That worried the cat,That kill'd the rat,That ate the malt,That lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the priest all shaven and shorn,That married the man all tatter'd and torn,That kiss'd the maiden all forlorn,That milk'd the cow with the crumpled horn,That toss'd the dog,That worried the cat,That kill'd the rat,That ate the malt,That lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the cock that crow'd in the morn,That waked the priest all shaven and shorn,That married the man all tatter'd and torn,That kiss'd the maiden all forlorn,That milk'd the cow with the crumpled horn,That toss'd the dog,That worried the cat,That kill'd the rat,That ate the malt,That lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the cock that crow'd in the morn,That waked the priest all shaven and shorn,That married the man all tatter'd and torn,That kiss'd the maiden all forlorn,That milk'd the cow with the crumpled horn,That toss'd the dog,That worried the cat,That kill'd the rat,That ate the malt,That lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the farmer who sow'd the corn,That kept the cock that crow'd in the morn,That waked the priest all shaven and shorn,That married the man all tatter'd and torn,That kiss'd the maiden all forlorn,That milk'd the cow with the crumpled horn,That toss'd the dog,That worried the cat,That kill'd the rat,That ate the malt,That lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the farmer who sow'd the corn,That kept the cock that crow'd in the morn,That waked the priest all shaven and shorn,That married the man all tatter'd and torn,That kiss'd the maiden all forlorn,That milk'd the cow with the crumpled horn,That toss'd the dog,That worried the cat,That kill'd the rat,That ate the malt,That lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the horse, and the hound, and the horn,That belong'd to the farmer who sow'd the corn,That kept the cock that crow'd in the morn,That waked the priest all shaven and shorn,That married the man all tatter'd and torn,That kiss'd the maiden all forlorn,That milk'd the cow with the crumpled horn,That toss'd the dog,That worried the cat,That kill'd the rat,That ate the malt,That lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the horse, and the hound, and the horn,That belong'd to the farmer who sow'd the corn,That kept the cock that crow'd in the morn,That waked the priest all shaven and shorn,That married the man all tatter'd and torn,That kiss'd the maiden all forlorn,That milk'd the cow with the crumpled horn,That toss'd the dog,That worried the cat,That kill'd the rat,That ate the malt,That lay in the house that Jack built.
Who kill'd Cock robin?I, said the Sparrow,With my bow and arrow,I kill'd Cock Robin.
Who kill'd Cock robin?I, said the Sparrow,With my bow and arrow,I kill'd Cock Robin.
Who saw him die?I, said the Fly,With my little eye,I saw him die.
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 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 little needle,I'll make his shroud.
Who'll make his shroud?I, said the Beetle,With my little needle,I'll make his shroud.
Who'll dig his grave?I, said the Owl,With my spade and showl,I'll dig his grave.
Who'll dig his grave?I, said the Owl,With my spade and showl,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 the parson?I, said the Rook,With my little book,I'll be the parson.
Who'll be the clerk?I, said the Lark,If it's not in the dark,I'll be the clerk.
Who'll be the clerk?I, said the Lark,If it's not in the dark,I'll be the clerk.
Who'll carry him to the grave?I, said the Kite,If it's not in the night,I'll carry him to the grave.
Who'll carry him to the grave?I, said the Kite,If it's not in the night,I'll carry him to the grave.
Who'll carry the link?I, said the Linnet,I'll fetch it in a minute,I'll carry the link.
Who'll carry the link?I, said the Linnet,I'll fetch it in a minute,I'll carry the link.
Who'll be chief mourner?I, said the Dove,For I mourn for my love,I'll be chief mourner.
Who'll be chief mourner?I, said the Dove,For 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 sing a psalm?I, said the Thrush,As I sit in a bush,I'll sing a psalm.
Who'll toll the bell?I, said the Bull,Because I can pull,So, Cock Robin, farewell.
Who'll toll the bell?I, said the Bull,Because I can pull,So, Cock Robin, farewell.
All the birds of the airFell a sighing and sobbing,When they heard the bell tollFor poor Cock Robin.
All the birds of the airFell a sighing and sobbing,When they heard the bell tollFor poor Cock Robin.
Transcriber's note:There was no Table of Contents in the original, one has been added in this etext.
Transcriber's note:
There was no Table of Contents in the original, one has been added in this etext.