Jack to buy goose"SHE SENT HIM TO MARKET, A LIVE GOOSE HE BOUGHT."
Jack found one fine morningAs I have been told,His goose had laid himAn egg of pure gold.Jack rode to his mother,The news for to tell,She called him a good boyAnd said it was well.Jack sold his gold eggTo a rogue of a Jew,Who cheated him out ofThe half of his due.Then Jack went a-courtingA lady so gay,As fair as the lily,And sweet as the May.The Jew and the SquireCame behind his back,And began to belabourThe sides of poor Jack.And then the gold eggWas thrown into the sea,
Jack Vowing
When Jack he jumped in,And got it back presently.The Jew got the goose,Which he vowed he would kill,Resolving at onceHis pockets to fill.
Mother Goose riding a goose
Jack's mother came in,And caught the goose soon,And mounting its back,Flew up to the moon.
Mother and children
Boysand girls, come out to play,The moon does shine as bright as day,Leave your supper, and leave your sleep,And meet your playfellows in the street;Come with a whoop, and come with a call,And come with a good will, or not at all.Up the ladder and down the wall,A halfpenny loaf will serve us all.You find milk and I'll find flour,And we'll have a pudding in half an hour.
Tom Thumb's Alphabet title
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
A was an Archer,who shot at a frog.B was a Butcher,who had a great dog.C was a Captain,all covered with lace.D was a Drummer,who played with a grace.E was an Esquire with pride on his brow.F was a Farmer,who followed the plough.G was a Gamester,who had but ill-luck.H was a Hunter,who hunted a buck.I was an Italian,who had a white mouse.J was a Joiner,who built up a house.K was a King,so mighty and grand.L was a Lady,who had a white hand.M was a Miser,who hoarded up gold.N was a Nobleman,gallant and bold.O was an Organ-Boy,who played for his bread.P a Policeman,of bad boys the dread.Q was a Quaker,who would not bow down.R was a Robber,who prowled about town.S was a Sailor,who spent all he got.T was a Tinker,who mended a pot.U was an Usher,with dunces severe.V was a Veteran,who never knew fear.W was a Waiter,with dinners in store.X was Expensive,and so became poor.Y was a Youth,who did not like school.Z was a Zany,who looked a great fool.
THE WALRUS AND THE CARPENTER.[A]
Thesun was shining on the sea,Shining with all his might:He did his very best to makeThe billows smooth and bright—And this was odd, because it wasThe middle of the night.The moon was shining sulkily,Because she thought the sunHad got no business to be thereAfter the day was done—"It's very rude of him," she said,"To come and spoil the fun!"The sea was wet as wet could be,The sands were dry as dry.You could not see a cloud, becauseNo cloud was in the sky:No birds were flying overhead—There were no birds to fly.The Walrus and the CarpenterWere walking close at hand;They wept like anything to seeSuch quantities of sand:"If this were only cleared away,"They said, "itwouldbe grand!""If seven maids with seven mopsSwept it for half a year,Do you suppose," the Walrus said,"That they could get it clear?""I doubt it," said the Carpenter,And shed a bitter tear.
Walrus
"O Oysters, come and walk with us!"The Walrus did beseech."A pleasant walk, a pleasant talk,Along the briny beach:We cannot do with more than four,To give a hand to each."The eldest Oyster looked at him,But never a word he said:The eldest Oyster winked his eye,And shook his heavy head—Meaning to say he did not chooseTo leave the oyster-bed.But four young Oysters hurried up,All eager for the treat:Their coats were brushed, their faces washed,Their shoes were clean and neat—And this was odd, because, you know,They hadn't any feet.Four other Oysters followed them,And yet another four;And thick and fast they came at last,And more, and more, and more—All hopping through the frothy waves,And scrambling to the shore.The Walrus and the CarpenterWalked on a mile or so,And then they rested on a rockConveniently low:And all the little Oysters stoodAnd waited in a row."The time has come," the Walrus said,"To talk of many things:Of shoes—and ships—and sealing-wax—Of cabbages—and kings—And why the sea is boiling hot—And whether pigs have wings.""But wait a bit," the Oysters cried,"Before we have our chat;For some of us are out of breath,And all of us are fat!""No hurry!" said the Carpenter.They thanked him much for that.
Walrus & carpenter
"A loaf of bread," the Walrus said,"Is what we chiefly need:Pepper and vinegar besidesAre very good indeed—Now if you're ready, Oysters dear,We can begin to feed.""But not on us!" the Oysters cried,Turning a little blue."After such kindness, that would beA dismal thing to do!""The night is fine," the Walrus said."Do you admire the view?"It was so kind of you to come!And you are very nice!"The Carpenter said nothing but"Cut us another slice:I wish you were not quite so deaf—I've had to ask you twice!""It seems a shame," the Walrus said,"To play them such a trick,After we've brought them out so far,And made them trot so quick!"The Carpenter said nothing but"The butter's spread too thick!"
Walrus and carpenter again
"I weep for you," the Walrus said:"I deeply sympathize."With sobs and tears he sorted outThose of the largest size,Holding his pocket-handkerchiefBefore his streaming eyes."O Oysters," said the Carpenter,"You've had a pleasant run!Shall we be trotting home again?"But answer there came none—And this was scarcely odd, becauseThey'd eaten every one.
—Lewis Carroll.
[A]By permission of the Author.
[A]By permission of the Author.
manA MAN WENT HUNTING AT REIGATE.
A man went hunting at Reigate,And wished to jump over a high gate;Says the owner, "Go round,With your horse and your hound,For you never shall leap over my gate."
Man falling off wallHUMPTY-DUMPTY.
Music: Humpty Dumpty
[Transcriber's Note: You can play this music (MIDI file) by clickinghere.]
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,Humpty Dumpty had a great fall;All the king's horses,and all the king's men,Couldn't set Humpty Dumpty up again.
Owl in oak"THERE WAS AN OWL LIVED IN AN OAK."
There was an Owl lived in an oak,Whiskey, Whaskey, Weedle;And all the words he ever spokeWere Fiddle, Faddle, Feedle.A sportsman chanced to come that way,Whiskey, Whaskey, Weedle;Says he, "I'll shoot you, silly bird,So Fiddle, Faddle, Feedle!"
Owl in tree
GOOD KING ARTHUR.
Whengood King Arthur ruled this land,He was a goodly King;He bought three pecks of barley-meal,To make a bag-pudding.A bag-pudding the King did make,And stuffed it well with plums,And in it put great lumps of fat,As big as my two thumbs.The King and Queen did eat thereof,And noblemen beside;And what they could not eat that night,The Queen next morning fried.
Riding a pig
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.
Bun seller
Hot cross buns, hot cross buns,One a penny, two a penny,Hot cross buns.If your daughters don't like them,Give them to your sons,One a penny, two a penny,Hot cross buns.
Bird on branch
WHO STOLE THE BIRD'S-NEST?
To-whit!to-whit! to-whee!Will you listen to me?Who stole four eggs I laid,And the nice nest I made?
A nest, a cow, a tree
Not I, said the cow, moo-oo!Such a thing I'd never do.I gave you a wisp of hay,But did not take your nest away;Not I, said the cow, moo-oo!Such a thing I'd never do.
dog, bird, sheep bird
Bob-o-link! Bob-o-link!Now, what do you think?Who stole a nest awayFrom the plum-tree to-day?
Not I, said the dog, bow-wow!I wouldn't be so mean, I vow.I gave some hairs the nest to make,But the nest I did not take;Not I, said the dog, bow-wow!I would not be so mean, I vow.Coo-coo! coo-coo! coo-coo!Let me speak a word or two:Who stole that pretty nestFrom little Robin Redbreast?Not I, said the sheep; oh, no,I would not treat a poor bird so;I gave the wool the nest to line,But the nest was none of mine.Baa! baa! said the sheep; oh, no!I wouldn't treat a poor bird so.Caw! caw! cried the crow,I should like to knowWhat thief took awayA bird's-nest to-day.
hen
Chuck! chuck! said the hen,Don't ask me again;Why, I haven't a chickWould do such a trick.We all gave her a feather,And she wove them together.I'd scorn to intrudeOn her and her brood.Chuck! chuck! said the hen,Don't ask me again.Chirr-a-whirr! chirr-a-whirr!We will make a great stir.Let us find out his name,And all cry—For shame!A little boy hung down his head,And went and hid behind the bed;For he stole that pretty nestFrom little Robin Redbreast;And he felt so full of shameHe did not like to tell his name.
Miller in front of waterwheel"THERE WAS A JOLLY MILLER."
There was a jolly millerLived on the river Dee:He worked and sang from morn till night,No lark so blithe as he.And this the burden of his songFor ever used to be—I care for nobody—no! not I,Since nobody cares for me.
Miller smoking pipe
Man holding floating pig by rope"DICKERY, DICKERY, DARE."
Dickery, dickery, dare,The pig flew up in the air;The man in brown soon brought him down,Dickery, dickery, dare.
Molly, my sister, and I fell out,And what do you think it was about?She loved coffee, and I loved tea,And that was the reason we couldn't agree.
Solomon Grundy,Born on a Monday,Christened on Tuesday,Married on Wednesday,Very ill on Thursday,Worse on Friday,Died on Saturday,Buried on Sunday.This is the endOf Solomon Grundy.
Jack and Mrs. Spratt
Jack Sprat could eat no fat,His wife could eat no lean;And so betwixt them both, you see,They licked the platter clean.
Woman talking to man
As I went to Bonner,I met a pigWithout a wig,Upon my word and honour.
Girl with dolly
Hush, baby, my doll, I pray you don't cry,And I'll give you some bread, and some milk by-and-by;Or perhaps you like custard, or, maybe, a tart,Then to either you are welcome, with all my heart.
Pitty Patty Polt,Shoe the wild colt;Here a nail,And there a nail,Pitty Patty Polt.
Brow, brow, brinkie,Eye, eye, winkie,Mouth, mouth, merry,Cheek, cheek, cherry,Chin chopper, chin chopper,&c.
If you are to be a gentleman, as I suppose you'll be,You'll neither laugh nor smile for a tickling of the knee.
Man and milkmaid
"Where are you going to, my pretty maid?""I am going a-milking, sir," she said."May I go with you, my pretty maid?""You're kindly welcome, sir," she said."What is your father, my pretty maid?""My father's a farmer, sir," she said."What is your fortune, my pretty maid?""My face is my fortune, sir," she said."Then I won't marry you, my pretty maid.""Nobody asked you, sir," she said.
Barber and mason
The barber shaved the mason,And as I supposeCut off his nose,And popped it in the basin.
Mother Hubbard and dog looking into bare cupboard"OLD MOTHER HUBBARD WENT TO THE CUPBOARD."
Hubbard and dog before fire
OLD MOTHER HUBBARDAND HER DOG.
OldMother HubbardWent to the cupboard,To get her poor Dog a bone;But when she came thereThe cupboard was bare,And so the poor Dog had none.
Dog dead
She went to the baker'sTo buy him some bread,But when she came backThe poor Dog was dead.
Dog up
She went to the joiner'sTo buy him a coffin,But when she came backThe poor Dog was laughing,
Dog smoking pipe
She took a clean dishTo get him some tripe,But when she came backHe was smoking a pipe.
Dog in chair
She went to the alehouseTo get him some beer,But when she came backThe Dog sat in a chair.
Dog on his head
She went to the tavernFor white wine and red,But when she came backThe Dog stood on his head.
Dog feeding cat
She went to the hatter'sTo buy him a hat,But when she came backHe was feeding the cat.
Dog dancing a jig
She went to the barber'sTo buy him a wig,But when she came backHe was dancing a jig.
Dog playing a flute
She went to the fruiterer'sTo buy him some fruit,But when she came backHe was playing the flute.
Dog riding goat
She went to the tailor'sTo buy him a coat,But when she came backHe was riding a goat.
Dog reading paper
She went to the cobbler'sTo buy him some shoes,But when she came backHe was reading the news.
Dog spinning
She went to the sempstressTo buy him some linen,But when she came backThe Dog was a-spinning.
Dog dressed
She went to the hosier'sTo buy him some hose,But when she came backHe was dressed in his clothes.
Dog bowing, Hubbard cursteying"THE DAME MADE A CURTSEY, THE DOG MADE A BOW."
The Dame made a curtsey,The Dog made a bow;The Dame said, "Your servant,"The Dog said, "Bow wow."This wonderful DogWas Dame Hubbard's delight;He could sing, he could dance,He could read, he could write.She gave him rich daintiesWhenever he fed,And erected a monumentWhen he was dead.
dog monument
Jack HornerLITTLE JACK HORNER.
Jack Horner song
[Transcriber's Note: You can play this music (MIDI file) by clickinghere.]
Little Jack Horner sat in a corner,Eating a Christmas pie;He put in his thumb, and he took out a plum,And said, "What a good boy am I!"
monkey drawings
There was a monkey climbed up a tree;When he fell down, then down fell he.There was a crow sat on a stone;When he was gone, then there was none.There was an old wife did eat an apple;When she ate two, she had ate a couple.There was a horse going to the mill;When he went on, he didn't stand still.There was a butcher cut his thumb.When it did bleed, then blood it did run.There wasajockey ran a race;When he ran fast, he ran apace.There was a cobbler, clouting shoon;When they were mended, then they were done.There was a navy went into Spain;When it returned, it came back again.
THE WAVES ON THE SEA-SHORE.
Rollon, roll on, you restless waves,That toss about and roar;Why do you all run back againWhen you have reached the shore?Roll on, roll on, you noisy waves,Roll higher up the strand;How is it that you cannot passThat line of yellow sand?"We may not dare," the waves reply:"That line of yellow sandIs laid along the shore to boundThe waters and the land."And all should keep to time and place,And all should keep to rule,Both waves upon the sandy shore,And little boys at school."
Brid behind a fan"JENNY BLUSHED BEHIND HER FAN."
bird on branch
THE MARRIAGE OF COCK ROBIN ANDJENNY WREN.
Itwas on a merry time,When Jenny Wren was young,So neatly as she danced,And so sweetly as she sung,—Robin Redbreast lost his heart:He was a gallant bird;He doffed his hat to Jenny,And thus to her he said:
Robin calling
"My dearest Jenny Wren,If you will but be mine,You shall dine on cherry-pie,And drink nice currant-wine."I'll dress you like a goldfinch,Or like a peacock gay;So if you'll have me, Jenny,Let us appoint the day."