DOCTOR FOSTER went to Glo'ster In a shower of rain; He stepped in a puddle, up to his middle, And never went there again.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Decoration]

ROBIN the Bobbin, the big-bellied Ben, He ate more meat than fourscore men; He ate a cow, he ate a calf, He ate a butcher and a half; He ate a church, he ate a steeple, He ate the priest and all the people!

A cow and a calf, An ox and a half, A church and a steeple, And all the good people, And yet he complained that his stomach wasn't full.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Decoration]

ROBIN and Richard were two pretty men; They laid in bed till the clock struck ten; Then up starts Robin and looks at the sky, Oh! brother Richard, the sun's very high:

The bull's in the barn threshing the corn, The c.o.c.k's on the dunghill blowing his horn, The cat's at the fire frying of fish, The dog's in the pantry breaking his dish.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Decoration]

OLD Mother Goose, when She wanted to wander, Would ride through the air On a very fine gander.

Mother Goose had a house, 'Twas built in a wood, Where an owl at the door For sentinel stood.

This is her son Jack, A plain-looking lad, He is not very good, Nor yet very bad.

She sent him to market, A live goose he bought, Here, mother, says he, It will not go for nought.

Jack's goose and her gander Grew very fond; They'd both eat together, Or swim in one pond.

Jack found one morning, As I have been told, His goose had laid him An egg of pure gold.

Jack rode to his mother The news for to tell; She call'd him a good boy, And said it was well.

Jack sold his gold egg To a rogue of a Jew, Who cheated him out of The half of his due.

Then Jack went a-courting A lady so gay, As fair as the lily, And sweet as the May.

The Jew and the Squire Came behind his back, And began to belabour The sides of poor Jack.

The old Mother Goose That instant came in, And turned her son Jack Into famed Harlequin.

She then with her wand Touch'd the lady so fine, And turn'd her at once Into sweet Columbine.

The gold egg into the sea Was thrown then,-- When Jack jump'd in, And got the egg back again.

The Jew got the goose, Which he vow'd he would kill, Resolving at once His pockets to fill.

Jack's mother came in, And caught the goose soon, And mounting its back, Flow up to the moon.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Old Abram Brown]

OLD Abram Brown is dead and gone, You'll never see him more; He used to wear a long brown coat, That b.u.t.ton'd down before.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Decoration]

MY lady Wind, my lady Wind, Went round about the house to find A c.h.i.n.k to get her foot in: She tried the key-hole in the door, She tried the crevice in the floor, And drove the chimney soot in.

And then one night when it was dark, She blew up such a tiny spark, That all the house was pothered: From it she raised up such a flame, As flamed away to Belting Lane, And White Cross folks were smothered.

And thus when once, my little dears, A whisper reaches itching ears, The same will come, you'll find: Take my advice, restrain the tongue, Remember what old nurse has sung Of busy lady Wind.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Decoration]

PUNCH and Judy Fought for a pie; Punch gave Judy A sad blow on the eye.

[Ill.u.s.tration: 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 up a poker and flung it at his head.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

LITTLE Tommy t.i.ttlemouse Lived in a little house; He caught fishes In other men's ditches.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Decoration]

LITTLE Jack Horner sat in a corner, Eating a Christmas pie; He put in his thumb, and he pulled out a plum, And said, "What a good boy am I!"

[Ill.u.s.tration: Decoration]

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.

[Ill.u.s.tration: PROVERBS]

[Ill.u.s.tration: To make your candles last for a']

TO make your candles last for a', You wives and maids give ear-o!

To put 'em out's the only way, Says honest John Boldero.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Decoration]

ST. SWITHIN's day, if thou dost rain, For forty days it will remain: St. Swithin's day, if thou be fair, For forty days 'twill rain na mair.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Decoration]

IF wishes were horses, Beggars would ride; If turnips were watches, I would wear one by my side.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Decoration]