Old Mother Hubbard, she went to the cupboard, To fetch her poor dog a bone: When she came there, the cupboard was bare, And so the poor dog had none.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

[Ill.u.s.tration]

PART IV.

GILES COLLINS AND PROUD LADY ANNA.

Giles Collins he said to his old mother, Mother, come bind up my head; And send to the parson of our parish, For to-morrow I shall be dead, dead, For to-morrow I shall be dead.

His mother she made him some water-gruel, And stirr'd it round with a spoon; Giles Collins he ate up his water-gruel, And died before 'twas noon, noon, And died before 'twas noon.

Lady Anna was sitting at her window, Mending her night-robe and coif; She saw the very prettiest corpse, She'd seen in all her life, life, She'd seen in all her life.

What bear ye there, ye six strong men, Upon your shoulders so high?

We bear the body of Giles Collins, Who for love of you did die, die, Who for love of you did die.

Set him down! set him down! Lady Anna she cry'd, On the gra.s.s that grows so green; To-morrow before the clock strikes ten, My body shall lye by his'n, his'n, My body shall lye by his'n.

Lady Anna was buried in the East, Giles Collins was buried in the West; There grew a lily from Giles Collins, That touch'd Lady Anna's breast, breast, That touch'd Lady Anna's breast.

There blew a cold north-easterly wind, And cut this lily in twain, Which never there was seen before; And it never will again, again, And it never will again.

LITTLE BO-PEEP.

Little Bo-peep has lost her sheep, And can't tell where to find them: Let them alone, and they'll come home, And bring their tails behind them.

Little Bo-peep fell fast asleep, And dreamt she heard them bleating: But when she awoke, she found it a joke, For they still were all fleeting.

Then up she took her little crook, Determin'd for to find them; She found them indeed, but it made her heart bleed, For they'd left all their tails behind 'em.

It happen'd one day, as Bo-peep did stray, Unto a meadow hard by; There she espy'd their tails side by side, All hung on a tree to dry.

She heav'd a sigh, and wip'd her eye, And over the hillocks went stump-o, And tried what she could, as a shepherdess should, To tack each again to its rump-o.

WATER SKIMMING.

A duck and a drake, A nice barley cake, With a penny to pay the old baker, A hop and a scotch, Is another notch, Slitherum, slatherum, take her.

THE JOLLY TESTER.

I love sixpence, a jolly, jolly sixpence, I love sixpence as my life; I spent a penny of it, I spent a penny of it, I took a penny home to my wife.

I love fourpence, a jolly, jolly fourpence, I love fourpence as my life; I spent twopence of it, I spent twopence of it, I took twopence home to my wife.

I love nothing, a jolly, jolly nothing, I love nothing as my life, I spent nothing of it, I spent nothing of it.

I took nothing home to my wife.

THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF THE GREY MARE.

John Cook had a little grey mare; he, haw, hum: Her back stood up and her bones they were bare; he, haw, hum.

John Cook was riding up Shuter's bank; he, haw, hum: And there his nag did kick and prank; he, haw, hum.

John Cook was riding up Shuter's hill; he, haw, hum: His mare fell down and she made her will; he, haw, hum.

The bridle and saddle were laid on the shelf; he, haw, hum: If you want any more, you may sing it yourself: he, haw, hum.

THE SEARCH AFTER FORTUNE.

My father he died, but I can't tell you how, He left me six horses to drive in my plough: With my wing w.a.n.g waddle oh, Jack sing saddle oh, Blowsey boys bubble oh, Under the broom.

I sold my six horses and I bought me a cow, I'd fain have made a fortune, but did not know how: With my wing w.a.n.g, etc.

I sold my cow, and I bought me a calf; I'd fain have made a fortune, but lost the best half: With my wing w.a.n.g, etc.

I sold my calf, and I bought me a cat; A pretty thing she was, in my chimney-corner sat: With my wing w.a.n.g, etc.

I sold my cat, and I bought me a mouse; He carried fire in his tail, and burnt down my house: With my wing w.a.n.g, etc.

DAME WIDDLE WADDLE.