Old Mother Widdle Waddle jumpt out of bed, And out at the cas.e.m.e.nt she popt out her head: Crying the house is on fire, the grey goose is dead, And the fox he is come to the town, oh!

THE MAD FOLKS OF THE MAD TOWN.

There was a mad man and he had a mad wife, And they lived in a mad town: And they had children three at a birth, And mad they were every one.

The father was mad, the mother was mad, And the children mad beside; And they all got on a mad horse, And madly they did ride.

They rode by night and they rode by day, Yet never a one of them fell; They rode so madly all the way, Till they came to the gates of h.e.l.l.

Old Nick was glad to see them so mad, And gladly let them in: But he soon grew sorry to see them so merry, And let them out again.

THE TAYLOR'S COURTSHIP.

In love be I, fifth b.u.t.ton high, On velvet runs my courting, Sheer buckram twist, best broadcloth list, I leave for others sporting.

From needle, thread, my fingers fled, My heart is set a-throbbing; And no one by, I cross-legg'd sigh, For charming Betsey Bobbin: Betsey Bobbin, Betsey Bobbin, For charming Betsey Bobbin.

Her lips so sweet, are velveret, Her eyes do well their duty; Her skin's to me like dimity, The pattern gay of beauty.

Her hand squeez'd oft is satin soft, And sets my heart a-throbbing, Her cheeks, O dear, red ca.s.simere, Lord! what a Betsey Bobbin! etc.

Her roguish smile can well beguile, Her every look bewitches; Yet never stir, when tacked to her, For Tim will wear the breeches; I've face and mien, am spruce and keen, And though my heart keeps throbbing, There's not, in fine, one man in nine, So fit for Betsey Bobbin, etc.

OLD CHAIRS AND OLD CLOTHES.

If I'd as much money as I could spend, I never would cry old chairs to mend: Old chairs to mend, old chairs to mend, I never would cry old chairs to mend.

If I'd as much money as I could tell, I never would cry old clothes to sell, Old clothes to sell, old clothes to sell, I never would cry old clothes to sell.

THE LITTLE LOVERS.

There was a little boy and a little girl Liv'd in an alley; Says the little boy to the little girl, Shall I, oh, shall I?

Says the little girl to the little boy, What shall we do?

Says the little boy to the little girl, I will kiss you.

NEW BROOMS, BROOMS, O!

There was an old man, and he lived in a wood; And his lazy son Jack would snooze till noon: Nor followed his trade although it was good, With a bill and a stump for making of brooms, green brooms; With a bill and a stump for making of brooms.

One morn in a pa.s.sion, and sore with vexation, He swore he would fire the room, If he did not get up and go to his work, And fall to the cutting of brooms, green brooms, etc.

Then Jack he arose and slipt on his clothes, And away to the woods very soon, Where he made up his pack, and put it on his back, Crying, Maids, do you want any brooms? green brooms, etc.

THE PARLIAMENT SOLDIERS.

High ding a ding, and ho ding a ding, The parliament soldiers are gone to the King; Some with new beavers, some with new bands, The parliament soldiers are all to be hanged.

JACK DANDY-PRAT.

Little Jack Dandy-prat was my first suitor; He had a dish and a spoon, and he'd some pewter; He'd linen and woollen, and woollen and linen, A little pig in a string cost him five shilling.

TWO BLACKBIRDS.

There were two blackbirds set upon a hill, The one named Jack, the other named Gill: Fly away, Jack; fly away, Gill; Come again, Jack; come again, Gill.

THE DUCK AND THE DRAKE.

There was a little man And he had a little gun, And his bullets were made of lead, lead, lead: He went to the brook, And he saw a little duck, And he shot it through the head, head, head.

He carried it home, To his old wife Joan, And bid her a fire for to make, make, make, To roast the little duck, He'd shot in the brook, And he'd go and fetch her the drake, drake, drake.

THE MILK PAILS.

Betty's gone a-milking, mother, mother; Betty's gone a-milking, dainty fine mother of mine: Then you may go after, daughter, daughter; Then you may go after, dainty fine daughter of mine.

Buy me a pair of milk pails, mother, etc.

Where's the money to come from, daughter? etc.

p.a.w.n my father's feather-bed, mother, etc.

Where's your father to lay, daughter? etc