The Peter Patter Book of Nursery Rhymes - Part 14
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Part 14

HARRY HOOKER

Harry Hooker had a book And couldn't find a teacher.

But still he managed very well, He climbed a box and rang a bell And turned into a preacher.

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JELLY JAKE AND b.u.t.tER BILL

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Jelly Jake and b.u.t.ter Bill One dark night when all was still Pattered down the long, dark stair, And no one saw the guilty pair; Pushed aside the pantry-door And there found everything galore,-- Honey, raisins, orange-peel, Cold chicken aplenty for a meal, Gingerbread enough to fill Two such boys as Jake and Bill.

Well, they ate and ate and ate, Gobbled at an awful rate Till I'm sure they soon weighed more Than double what they did before.

And then, it's awful, still it's true, The floor gave way and they went thru.

Filled so full they couldn't fight.

Slowly they sank out of sight.

Father, Mother, Cousin Ann, Cook and nurse and furnace man Fished in forty-dozen ways After them, for twenty days; But not a soul has chanced to get A glimpse or glimmer of them yet.

And I'm afraid we never will-- Poor Jelly Jake and b.u.t.ter Bill.

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CUT UP A CAPER

Cut up a caper, You've got a paper And I've got a widget of string.

You be the army And let nothing harm me For I am the captain and king.

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[Ill.u.s.tration: WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A TREAT]

EAT, EAT, EAT

Here come the sweet potatoes And here's the Sunday meat, I guess we must be ready now To eat, eat, eat.

I'm going to have the nicey plate And Daddy's leather seat, And wear my patent-leather shoes To eat, eat, eat.

My Daddy's talking all about The war, and some old fleet, I wonder if he never, never, Never wants to eat.

We're going to have some apple-cake, We're going to have a treat.

O hurry, hurry, Daddy, Let us eat, eat, eat.

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HETTY HUTTON

Hetty Hutton, Here's a b.u.t.ton, Sew it on your dress.

Willie Waller, Here's a dollar, Maybe more or less.

Mister Shuster, Here's a rooster, Put him in a pen.

Mister Saxon, Get an ax an'

Let him out again.

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A BIG, FAT POTATO

A big, fat potato lay down on a clod In the shade of some burdock and tall goldenrod, And he dreamed he were king of the whole garden plot, With a palace and throne, and a crown with a lot Of jewels and diamonds and gold till it shone Like the front of a show when the lights are turned on.

He had to be minded by all of the plants; When he whistled the radishes knew they must dance; When he tooted his horn the cuc.u.mbers must sing To a vegetable crowd gathered round in a ring.

He made all the cabbages stand in a row While a sunflower instructed them just how to grow; The bright yellow pumpkins he painted light blue; Took the clothes off the scare-crow and made him buy new.

He strutted and sputtered and thought it was grand To be king and commander o'er all the wide land.

But at last he woke up with an awful surprise And found a blind mole kicking sand in his eyes.

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A BUNDLE OF HAY

A bundle of hay From Baffin's Bay, A johnny-cake from Rome, A man and a mule From Ultima Thule To carry the cargo home.

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