I had a little pony, His name was Dapple-gray, I lent him to a lady, To ride a mile away; She whipped him, she lashed him, She rode him through the mire; I would not lend my pony now For all the lady's hire.

I had a little doggy that used to sit and beg; But Doggy tumbled down the stairs and broke his little leg.

Oh! Doggy, I will nurse you, and try to make you well, And you shall have a collar with a little silver bell.

Ah! Doggy, don't you think you should very faithful be, For having such a loving friend to comfort you as me?

And when your leg is better, and you can run and play, We'll have a scamper in the fields and see them making hay.

But, Doggy, you must promise (and mind your word you keep) Not once to tease the little lambs, or run among the sheep; And then the little yellow chicks that play upon the gra.s.s, You must not even wag your tail to scare them as you pa.s.s.

p.u.s.s.y sits beside the fire-- How can she be fair?

In comes little puppy-dog: "p.u.s.s.y, are you there?

So, so, Mistress p.u.s.s.y, Pray how do you do?"

"Thank you, thank you, little dog, I'm very well just now."

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

Yes, marry, have I, Three bags full:

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

p.u.s.s.y-cat, p.u.s.s.y-cat, Where have you been?

I've been to London To look at the Queen p.u.s.s.y-cat, p.u.s.s.y-cat, What did you there?

I frightened a little mouse Under her chair.

Six little mice sat down to spin.

p.u.s.s.y pa.s.sed by, and she peeped in.

"What are you at, my little men?"

"Making coats for gentlemen."

"Shall I come in and bite off your threads?"

"No, no, Miss p.u.s.s.y, you'll snip off our heads."

"Oh, no, I'll not, I'll help you to spin."

"That may be so, but you don't come in!"

Little Robin Redbreast sat upon a tree, Up went p.u.s.s.y-cat, and down went he; Down came p.u.s.s.y-cat, and away Robin ran; Said little Robin Redbreast, "Catch me if you can."

Little Robin Redbreast jumped upon a wall, p.u.s.s.y-cat jumped after him, and almost got a fall; Little Robin chirped and sang, and what did p.u.s.s.y say?

p.u.s.s.y-cat said naught but "Mew," and Robin flew away.

Cushy, cow bonny, let down thy milk, And I will give thee a gown of silk: A gown of silk and a silver tee, If thou wilt let down thy milk to me.

Betty Pringle had a little pig, Not very little and not very big, When he was alive he lived in clover, But now he's dead, and that's all over.

So Billy Pringle he lay down and cried, And Betty Pringle she lay down and died;

So there was an end of one, two, and three: Billy Pringle he, Betty Pringle she, And the piggy wigg_ee_.

Come hither, sweet Robin, And be not afraid, I would not hurt even a feather; Come hither, sweet Robin, And pick up some bread, To feed you this very cold weather.

I don't mean to frighten you, Poor little thing, And p.u.s.s.y-cat is not behind me; So hop about pretty, And drop down your wing, And pick up some crumbs, and don't mind me.

_Baby's Breakfast_

Baby wants his breakfast, Oh! what shall I do?

Said the cow, "I'll give him Nice fresh milk--moo-_oo_!"

Said the hen "Cut-_dah_ cut!

I have laid an egg For the Baby's breakfast-- Take it now, I beg!"

And the buzzing bee said, "Here is honey sweet.

Don't you think the Baby Would like that to eat?"

Then the baker kindly Brought the Baby's bread.

"Breakfast is all ready,"

Baby's mother said;

"But before the Baby Eats his dainty food, Will he not say 'Thank you!'

To his friends so good?"

Then the bonny Baby Laughed and laughed away.

That was all the "Thank you"

He knew how to say.

Emilie Poulsson.

V

NURSERY HEROES AND HEROINES

Bobby Shaftoe's gone to sea, Silver buckles on his knee; He'll come back and marry me, Pretty Bobby Shaftoe.

Bobby Shaftoe's fat and fair, Combing down his yellow hair; He's my love for evermair, Pretty Bobby Shaftoe.

Tom, he was a piper's son, He learned to play when he was young, And all the tune that he could play Was, "Over the hills and far away,"

Over the hills, and a great way off, The wind will blow my top-knot off.