THERE was a little woman, as I've been told, Who was not very young, nor yet very old; Now this little woman her living got, By selling codlins, hot, hot, hot.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Decoration]

DAME, get up and bake your pies, Bake your pies, bake your pies; Dame, get up and bake your pies On Christmas Day in the morning.

Dame, what makes your maidens lie, Maidens lie, maidens lie; Dame, what makes your maidens lie On Christmas Day in the morning?

Dame, what makes your ducks to die, Ducks to die, ducks to die; Dame, what makes your ducks to die On Christmas Day in the morning?

Their wings are cut and they cannot fly, Cannot fly, cannot fly; Their wings are cut and they cannot fly On Christmas Day in the morning.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Decoration]

COLD and raw the north wind doth blow, Bleak in a morning early; All the hills are covered with snow, And winter's now come fairly.

[Ill.u.s.tration: I saw three ships come sailing by]

I SAW three ships come sailing by, Come sailing by, come sailing by; I saw three ships come sailing by, On New Year's Day in the morning.

And what do you think was in them then, Was in them then, was in them then?

And what do you think was in them then, On New Year's Day in the morning?

Three pretty girls were in them then, Were in them then, were in them then; Three pretty girls were in them then, On New Year's Day in the morning.

And one could whistle, and one could sing, And one could play on the violin-- Such joy there was at my wedding, On New Year's day in the morning.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Decoration]

WEE Willie Winkie runs through the town, Upstairs and downstairs in his nightgown, Rapping at the window, crying through the lock, "Are the children in their beds, for now it's eight o'clock?"

[Ill.u.s.tration: Decoration]

WHEN Little Fred was called to bed, He always acted right; He kissed Mamma, and then Papa, And wished them all good night.

He made no noise, like naughty boys, But gently upstairs Directly went, when he was sent, And always said his prayers.

[Ill.u.s.tration: RIDDLES & PARADOXES]

[Ill.u.s.tration: I went to the wood and got it]

I WENT to the wood and got it; I sat me down and looked at it; The more I looked at it the less I liked it; And I brought it home because I couldn't help it.

[_A thorn._

[Ill.u.s.tration: Decoration]

HICK-A-MORE, Hack-a-more, On the king's kitchen door; All the king's horses, And all the king's men, Couldn't drive Hick-a-more, Hack-a-more, Off the king's kitchen door!

[_Sunshine._

[Ill.u.s.tration: Decoration]

AS soft as silk, as white as milk, As bitter as gall, a thick wall, And a green coat covers me all.

[_A walnut._

[Ill.u.s.tration: Decoration]

LONG legs, crooked thighs, Little head, and no eyes.

[_Pair of tongs._

[Ill.u.s.tration: Decoration]

ARTHUR O'BOWER has broken his band, He comes roaring up the land;-- The King of Scots, with all his power, Cannot turn Arthur of the Bower!

[_A storm of wind._

[Ill.u.s.tration: ARTHUR O'BOWER HAS BROKEN HIS BAND]

THERE was a king met a king In a narrow lane; Says this king to that king, "Where have you been?"

"Oh! I've been a hunting With my dog and my doe."

"Pray lend him to me, That I may do so."

"There's the dog _take_ the dog."

"What's the dog's name?"

"I've told you already."

"Pray tell me again."

[Ill.u.s.tration: Decoration]

IN marble walls as white as milk, Lined with a skin as soft as silk; Within a fountain crystal clear, A golden apple doth appear.

No doors there are to this stronghold.

Yet things break in and steal the gold.

[_An egg._

[Ill.u.s.tration: Decoration]

FLOUR of England, fruit of Spain, Met together in a shower of rain; Put in a bag tied round with a string, If you'll tell me this riddle, I'll give you a ring.

[_A plum-pudding._

[Ill.u.s.tration: Decoration]

I HAVE a little sister, they call her Peep, Peep; She wades the waters deep, deep, deep; She climbs the mountains high, high, high; Poor little creature she has but one eye.

[_A star._

[Ill.u.s.tration: Decoration]