Simple Simon met a pieman,
Going to the fair;
Says Simple Simon to the pieman,
"Let me taste your ware."
Says the pieman to Simple Simon,
"Show me first your penny."
Says Simple Simon to the pieman,
"Indeed I have not any."
He went to catch a dickey-bird,
And thought he could not fail,
Because he'd got a little salt
To put upon his tail.
He went to take a bird's nest,
Was built upon a bough:
A branch gave way, and Simon fell
Into a dirty slough.
He went to shoot a wild duck,
But wild duck flew away;
Says Simon, "I can't hit him,
Because he will not stay."
Simple Simon went a-hunting,
For to catch a hare,
He rode an ass about the streets,
But couldn't find one there.
Simple Simon went a-fishing
For to catch a whale;
All the water he had got
Was in his mother's pail.
He went for to eat honey
Out of the mustard-pot,
He bit his tongue until he cried,
That was all the good he got.
He went to ride a spotted cow,
That had a little calf,
She threw him down upon the ground,
Which made the people laugh.
Once Simon made a great snowball,
And brought it in to roast;
He laid it down before the fire,
And soon the ball was lost.
He went to slide upon the ice,
Before the ice would bear;
Then he plunged in above his knees,
Which made poor Simon stare.
He washed himself with blacking-ball,
Because he had no soap;
Then said unto his mother,
"I'm a beauty now, I hope."
Simple Simon went to look
If plums grew on a thistle;
He pricked his fingers very much,
Which made poor Simon whistle.
He went for water in a sieve,
But soon it all ran through;
And now poor Simple Simon
Bids you all adieu.
Willy boy, Willy boy, where are you going?
I will go with you, if I may.
I am going to the meadows, to see them mowing,
I am going to see them make the hay.
Away, Birds, away!
Take a little, and leave a little,
And do not come again;
For if you do,
I will shoot you through,
And then there will be an end of you.
I had a little dog, they called him Buff,
I sent him to the shop for a hap'orth of snuff;
But he lost the bag, and spilt the snuff,
So take that cuff, and that's enough.
The Cock doth crow
To let you know,
If you be wise,
'T is time to rise.
Jack Sprat
Had a cat,
It had but one ear,
It went to buy butter,
When butter was dear.
The King of France went up the hill,
With twenty thousand men,
The King of France came down the hill,
And ne'er went up again.
A carrion crow sat on an oak,
Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding do,
Watching a tailor shape his coat;
Sing he, sing ho, the old carrion crow,
Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding do!
Wife, bring me my old bent bow,
Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding do,
That I may shoot yon carrion crow;
Sing he, sing ho, the old carrion crow,
Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding do!
The tailor shot, and he missed his mark,
Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding do,
And shot the miller's sow right through the heart;
Sing he, sing ho, the old carrion crow,
Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding do!
Wife! oh wife! bring brandy in a spoon,
Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding do,
For the old miller's sow is in a swoon;
Sing he, sing ho, the old carrion crow,
Fol de riddle, lol de riddle, hi ding do!
Mary had a pretty bird,
Feathers bright and yellow,
Slender legs—upon my word,
He was a pretty fellow.
The sweetest notes he always sung,
Which much delighted Mary,
And near the cage she'd ever sit,
To hear her own canary.
Little Blue Betty lived in a lane,
She sold good ale to gentlemen:
Gentlemen came every day,
And Little Blue Betty hopped away;
She hopped upstairs to make her bed,
And she tumbled down, and broke her head.
[A CANDLE.]
Little Nancy Etticote,
In a white petticoat,
With a red nose;
The longer she stands,
The shorter she grows.