K was King William, once governed this land, L was a lady, who had a white hand.

M was a miser, and h.o.a.rded up gold, N was a n.o.bleman, gallant and bold.

O was an oyster wench, and went about town, P was a parson, and wore a black gown.

Q was a queen, who was fond of good flip, R was a robber, and wanted a whip.

S was a sailor, and spent all he got, T was a tinker, and mended a pot.

U was an usurer, a miserable elf, V was a vintner, who drank all himself.

W was a watchman, and guarded the door, X was expensive, and so became poor.

Y was a youth, that did not love school, Z was a zany, a poor harmless fool.

[Ill.u.s.tration: A TO Z.]

_Pease-porridge hot_

Pease-porridge hot, pease-porridge cold, Pease-porridge in the pot, nine days old.

Some like it hot, some like it cold, Some like it in the pot, nine days old.

_Merry are the bells_

Merry are the bells, and merry would they ring, Merry was myself, and merry could I sing; With a merry ding-dong, happy, gay, and free, And a merry sing-song, happy let us be!

Waddle goes your gait, and hollow are your hose, Noddle goes your pate, and purple is your nose; Merry is your sing-song, happy, gay, and free, With a merry ding-dong, happy let us be!

Merry have we met, and merry have we been, Merry let us part, and merry meet again; With our merry sing-song, happy, gay, and free, And a merry ding-dong, happy let us be!

_Ride Away_

Ride away, ride away, Johnny shall ride, And he shall have p.u.s.s.y-cat tied to one side; And he shall have little dog tied to the other; And Johnny shall ride to see his grandmother.

[Ill.u.s.tration: I'LL TELL YOU A STORY]

I'll tell you a story About Jack a Nory,-- And now my story's begun: I'll tell you another About Jack his brother,-- And now my story's done.

_Solomon Grundy_

Solomon Grundy, Born on a Monday, Christened on Tuesday, Married on Wednesday, Took ill on Thursday, Worse on Friday, Died on Sat.u.r.day, Buried on Sunday: This is the end Of Solomon Grundy.

_Hey! diddle, diddle_

Hey! diddle, diddle, The cat and the fiddle,

The cow jumped over the moon;

The little dog laughed To see such sport,

And the dish ran away with the spoon.

[Ill.u.s.tration: BAA BAA BLACK SHEEP]

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

Yes, little master, Three bags full

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

_There was an old woman tossed up in a basket_

There was an old woman tossed up in a basket Seventy times as high as the moon; Where she was going I couldn't but ask it, For in her hand she carried a broom.

"Old woman, old woman, old woman," quoth I, "Where are you going to up so high?"

"To brush the cobwebs off the sky!"

"Shall I go with thee?" "Aye, by-and-by."

[Ill.u.s.tration: "O WHITHER, O WHITHER, O WHITHER, SO HIGH?"]

_Taffy was a Welshman_

Taffy; was a Welshman, Taffy was a thief; Taffy came to my house and stole a piece of beef; I went to Taffy's house, Taffy was not at home; Taffy came to my house and stole a marrow bone.

I went to Taffy's house, Taffy was not in; Taffy came to my house and stole a silver pin; I went to Taffy's house, Taffy was in bed, I took the marrow bone and flung it at his head.

_This is the way the ladies ride_

This is the way the ladies ride; Tri, tre, tre, tree, Tri, tre, tre, tree!

This is the way the ladies ride, Tri, tre, tre, tre, tri-tre-tre-tree!

This is the way the gentlemen ride; Gallop-a-trot, Gallop-a-trot!

This is the way the gentlemen ride, Gallop-a-gallop-a-trot!

This is the way the farmers ride; Hobbledy-hoy, Hobbledy-hoy!

This is the way the farmers ride, Hobbledy hobbledy-hoy!

_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.

_Master I have, and I am his man_

Master I have, and I am his man, Gallop a dreary dun; Master I have, and I am his man, And I'll get a wife as fast as I can; With a heighty gaily gamberally, Higgledy piggledy, niggledy, niggledy, Gallop a dreary dun.