Mother Goose for young children along with some poems for older children which was published in 1916 MOTHER GOOSE RHYMES FOR THE VERY YOUNGEST CHILDREN Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, baker's man; Make me a cake as fast as you can: Pat it and prick it and mark it with B, Put it in the oven for Baby and me. This little pig went to market; This little pig stayed home; This little pig had roast beef; This little pig had none; This little pig said, "Wee, wee, wee," All the way home. Dickory, dickory, dock; The mouse ran up the clock; The clock struck One, The mouse ran down. Dickory, dickory, dock. Ride a cock-horse to Banbury Cross, To see a fine lady upon a white horse; With rings on her fingers and bells on her toes, She shall have music whereever she goes. Pease porridge hot, Pease porridge cold, Pease porridge in the pot, Nine days old. Some like it hot, Some like it cold, Some like it in the pot, Nine days old. Rain, rain, Go away, Come again another day. Little Johnny Wants to play. To market, to market, to buy a fat pig, Home again, home again, dancing a jig; Ride to the market to by a fat hog, Home again, home again, jiggety-jog. Hippity hop to the barber shop, To buy a stick of candy, One for you and one for me, And one for sister Annie. I love little pussy, her coat is so warm, And if I don't hurt her, she'll do me no harm; So I'll not pull her tail, nor drive her away, But pussy and I together will play. Little Jack Horner Sat in a corner, Eating his Christmas pie He put in his thumb And he took out a plum, And said, "What a good boy am I!" Bye, baby bunting, Daddy's gone a-hunting, To get a little rabbit skin To wrap the baby bunting in. Hickety, pickety, my black hen, She layes eggs for gentlemen: Sometime nine, Sometime ten. Gentlemen come every day, To see what my black hen doth lay. Ring-a-ring of roses, A pocketful of posies, Tisha! Tisha! We all fall down. Baa, baa, black sheep, Have you any wool? Yes, sir, yes, sir, Tree bags full: One for my master, And one for my dame, And one for the little boy Who lives in the lane. Tom Tom, the piper's son, Learned to play when he was young; But the only tune that he could play, Was "Over the hills and far away." Curly locks! Curly locks! Wilt thou be mine? Thou shalt not wash dishes nor yet feed the seine; But sit on a cushion an sew a fine seam And feast upon strawberries, sugar and cream. Little Miss Muffet Sat on a tuffet, Eating her curds and whey. Along came a spider And sat down beside her, And frightened Miss Muffet away. Little Boy Blue, come blow your horn, The sheep's in the meadow, the cow's in the corn. Where's the little boy that tends the sheep? He's under the haystack, fast asleep. Little Bo-peep has lost her sheep, And can't tell where to find them. "Leave them alone, and they'll come home, And bring their tails behind them!" Little Bo-peep fell fast asleep And dreamt she heard them bleating. But when she awoke, she found it a joke, For they were still a-fleeting. Then up she took her little crook, Determin'd for to find them; She found them indeed, but it made her heart bleed, For they'd left their tails behind them. Jack and Jill went up the hill To fetch a pail of water; Jack fell down and broke his crown, And Jill came tumbling after. Mary had a little lamb, Its fleece was white as snow; And everywhere that Mary went The lamb was sure to go. Jack be nimble, Jack be quick, Jack jump over the candlestick. See, saw, Margery Daw, Johnny shall have a new master; He shall have but a penny a day, Because he can't work any faster. Tom, Tom, the piper's son, Stole a pig and away he run! The pig was eat, and Tom was beat, And Tom went howling down the street. "Willy boy, Willy boy, where are you going? I will go wit you, if I may." "I am going to the meadows to see them mowing. I am going to see them make the hay." Bobby Shaftoe's gone to sea, Silver buckles on his knee; He'll come back and marry me, Pretty Bobby Shaftoe. Polly put the kettle on, Polly put the kettle on, Polly put the kettle on, And let's drink tea. Sukey, take it off again, Sukey, take it off again, Sukey, take it off again, They've all gone away. There was an old woman who lived in a shoe, She had so many children she didn't know what to do. She gae them som broth without any bread. She whipped them all soundly and sent them to bed. There was a little girl Who had a little curl Right in the middle of her forehead. When she was good, She was very, very good, But when she was bad--- She was horrid. Georgie Porgie, pudding and pie, Kissed the girls and made them cry. When the boys came out to play, Georgie Porgie ran away. Little Tommy Tucker, Sing for your supper; What shall he sing for? White bread and butter. How can he cut it Without any knife? How can he marry Without any wife? Wee Willie Winkie runs through the town, Upstairs and downstaris in his nightgown, Rapping at the window, crying through the lock, "Are the children in their beds, for it's now eight o'clock?" Girls and boys, come out to play, The moon doth shine as bright as day. Come with a whoop, come with a call, Come with a good-will or not at all. Up the ladder and down the wall, A halfpenny roll will serve us all. You find milk, and I'll find flour, And we'll have a pudding in half an hour. Sing a song of sixpence, A pocket full of rye; Four and twenty blackbirds Baked in a pie; When the pie was open'd The birds began to sing; Was not that a dainty dish, To set before the king? "Jack Spratt could eat no fat, His wife could eat no lean, And so betwixt them both, They licked the platter clean." Pussy-cat, Pussy-cat, where have you been? I've been to London to look at the Queen. Pussy-cat, Pussy-cat, what did you there? I frighten'd a little mouse under the chair. Mistress Mary, quite contrary, How does your garden grow? With silver bells and cockle-shells, And pretty maids all in a row. 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, "Shew me first your penny." Says Simple Simon to the pieman, "Indeed I have not any." Simple Simon went a fishing For to catch a whale, All the water he had got Was in his mother's pail. Simple Simon went to look If plums grew on a thistle. He prick'd his fingers very much, Whjich made poor Simon whistle. Peter, Peter, pumpkin-eater, Had a wife and couldn't keep her. He put her in a pumpkin-shell, Adn there he kept her very well. Little drops of water, Little grains of sand. Make the might ocean And the pleaant land. Old Mother Hubbard Went to the cupboard To get her poor dog a bone; But when she cam there, The cupboard was bare, And so the poor dog had none. Old Mother Goose, when She wanted to wander, Would ride through the air On a very fine gander. Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. All the King's horses and all the King's men Couldn't put Humpty back again. Hey! diddle, diddle, The cat and the fiddle, The cow jumped over the moon, The little dog laughed To see such sport, And the dish ran away with the spoon. There was a crooked man, and he went a crooked mile, He found a crooked sixpence against a crooked stile; He bough a crooked cat, which caught a crooked mouse, And they all lived together in a little crooked house. All around the cobbler's bench The monkey chased the weasel; The monkey thought 'twas all in fun, Pop! goes the weasel! Lady bird, lady bird, fly away home, Your house is on fire, your children are gone; All but one, and her name is Ann, And she crept under the pudding pan. One little, two little, three little Indians. Four little, five little, six little Indians, Seven little, eight little, nine little Indians, Ten little Indian boys. Ten little, nine little, eight little Indians. Seven little, six little, five little Indians, Four little, three little, two little Indians. One little Indian boy. Three little kittens Lost their mittens, And they began to cry; "Oh, mother dear, We very much fear That we have lost our mittens!" "Lost your mittens, You naughty kittens! Then you shall have no pie." "Mee-ow, mee-ow, mee-ow, And we can have no pie! Mee-ow, mee-ow, mee-ow!" A diller, a dollar, A ten o'clock scholar, What makes you come so soon? You used to come at ten o'clock, But now you come at noon. Rub a dub dub, Three men in a tub; The butcher, the baker, The candlestick-maker; And they all jumped over a hot potato. Eena, meena, mina, mo, Catch a dolly by her toe, If she hollers, let her go, Eena, meena, mina, mo. O-U-T spells out! One, two, Buckle my shoe, Three, four, Sht the door. Five, six, Pick up sticks. Seven, eight, Lay them straight. Nine, ten, A good fat hen. Eleven, twelve, Dig and delve. Thirteen, fourteen, Maids a-courting. Fifteen, sixteen, Maids a-kissing. Seventeen, eighteen, Maids a-waiting. Nineteen, twenty, My platter's empty. When the wind is in the east, 'Tis neither good for man nor berast. When the wind is in the north, The skillful fisher goes not forth. When the wind is in the south, It blows the bait in the fishes' mouth. When the wind is in the west, Then 'tis at the very best. Monday's child is fair of face. Tuesday's child is full of grace. Wednesday's child is full of woe. Thursday's child has far to go. Friday's child is loving and giving. Saturday's child workds for its living. But the child that is born on the Sabbath day Is bonny and bright and good and gay. Thirty days hath September, April, June and November; February has twenty-eight alone; All the rest have thirty-one, Excepting leap-year, that's the time When February's days are twenty-nine. Three wise men of Gotham, Went to sea in a bowl, If the bowl had been stronger, My song had been longer. A FROG HE WOULD A-WOOING GO A frog he would a-wooing go, Heigho, says Rowley, Whether his mother would let him or no, With a rowley, powley, gammon and spinach. Heigho, says Anthony Rowley. So off he set with his opera hat, Heigho, says Rowley, And on the road he met with a rat, With a rowley, powley, etc. When they came to the door of Mousey's hall, Heigho, says Rowley, They gave a loud knock, and they gave a loud call. With a rowley, powley, etc. "Pray, Mrs. Mouse, are you within?" Heigho, says Rowley, "Oh, yes, kind sirs, I'm sitting to spin." With a rowley, powley, etc. "Pray, Mrs. Mouse, will you give us some beer?" Heigho, says Rowley, "For Froggy and I are fond of good cheer." With a rowley, powley, etc. But while they were all a -merrymaking, Heigho, says Rowley, A Cat and her kittens came tumbling in. With a rowley, powley, etc. The Cat she seized the Rat by the crown, Heigho, says Rowley, The kittens they pulled the little Mouse down. With a rowley, powley, etc. This put Mr. Frog in a terrible fright; Heigho, says Rowley, He took up his hat, and he wished them good night. With a rowley, powley, etc. As Froggy was crossing it over a brook, Heigho, says Rowley, A lily-white Duck came and gobbled him up. With a rowley, powley, etc. So here is an end of one, two, three-- Heigho, says Rowley, The Rat, the Mouse and little Froggy. With a rowley, powley, etc. Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers; A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked; If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers, Where's the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked? Old King Cole Was a merry old soul, And a merry old sould was he; He called for his pipe, And he called for his bowl, And he called for his fiddlers three. Every fiddle, he had a fiddle, And a very find fiddle had he; Twee tweedle dee, tweedle dee, went the fiddlers. MOTHER GOOSE POEMS AND RHYMES FOR OLDER CHILDREN THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT THE QUEEN OF HEARTS TWINKLE, TWINKLE, LITTLE STAR DAME WIGGINS OF LEE (and Her Seven Wonderful Cats) THE OWL AND THE PUSSY-CAT FROM UNDER THE WINDOW THE LITTLE LAND THE SWING BED IN SUMMER THE WIND FOREIGN CHILDREN MY BED IS A BOAT BLOCK CITY RAIN HAPPY THOUGHT TIME TO RISE MY SHADOW WHERE GO THE BOATS? FROM SING-SONG THE ROCK-A-BY LADY FROM HUSHABY STREET WYNKEN, BLYNKEN AND NOD THE YEAR'S AT THE SPRING THE PIPER THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS SWEET AND LOW THE PUZZLED CENTIPEDE THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT This is the house that Jack built. This is the malt That lay in the house that Jack built. This is the rat That ate the malt that lay in the house that Jack built. This is the cat That killedthe rat that ate the malt thaty lay in the house that Jack built. This is the dog That worried the cat that killed the rat that ate the malt that lay in the house that Jack built. This is the cow with the crumpled horn That tossed the dog that worried the cat that killed the rat that ate the malt that lay in the house that Jack built. This is the maiden all forlorn That milked the cow with the crumpled horn that tossed the dog that worried the cat that killed the rat that ate the malt that lay in the house that Jack built. This is the man all tattered and torn That kissed the maiden all forlorn that milked the cow with the crumpled horn that tossed the dog that worried the cat that killed the rat that ate the malt that lay in the house that Jack built. This is the priest all shaven and shorn That married the man all tattered and torn that kissed the maiden all forlorn that milked the cow with the crumpled horn that tossed the dog that worried the cat that killed the rat that ate the malt that lay in the house that Jack built. This is the cock that crowed in the morn That waked the priest all shaven and shorn that married the man all tattered and torn that kissed the maiden all forlorn that milked the cow with the crumpled horn that tosssed the dog that worried the cat that killed the rat that ate the malt that lay in the house that Jack built. This is the farmer sowing his corn That kept the cock that crowed in the morn that waked the priest all shaven and shorn that married the man all tattered and torn that kissed the maiden all forlorn that milked the cow with the crumpled horn that tossed the dog that worried the cat that killed the rat that ate the malt that lay in the house that Jack built. THE QUEEN OF HEARTS The Queen of Hearts, She made some tarts, All on a summer's day. The Knave of Hearts, He stole the tarts And took them clean away. The King of Hearts Call'd for the tarts And beat the knave full sore. The Knave of Hearts Brought back the tarts And vow'd he'd steal no more. TWINKLE, TWINKLE, LITTLE STAR Twinkle, twinkle, little star How I wonder what you are! Up above the world so high, Like a diamond in the sky. When the blazing sun is gone, When he nothing shines upon, Then you show your little light, Twinkle, twinkle, all the night. Then the traveler in the dark Thanks you for your tiny spark; He could not see which way to go, If you did not twinkle so. As your bright and tiny spark Lights the traveler in the dark: Though I know not what you are, Twinkle, twinkle, little star. DAME WIGGINS OF LEE AND HER SEVEN WONDERFUL CATS Dame Wiggins of Lee Was a worthy old soul As e'er threaded a needle Or washed in a bowl. She held mice and rats In such antipathee, That seven fine cats Kept Dame Wiggins of Lee. The rats and mice scared By this fierce-whiskered crew, The seven poor cats Soon had nothing to do; So, as anyone idle She ne'er loved to see, She sent them to school, Did Dame Wiggins of Lee. The master soon wrote Tht they all of them knew How to read the word "milk" And to spell the word "mew," And they all washed their faces Before they took tea. "Were there ever such dears?" Said Dame Wiggins of Lee. He had also thought well To comply with their wish To spend all their play time In learning to fish--- For titlings; they sent her A present of three, Which fried were a feast For Dame Wiggins of Lee. But the Dame soon grew tired Of living alone; So she sent for her cats From school to come home. Each rowing a wherry, Returning you see: The frolic made merry Dame Wiggins of Lee. The Dame was quite pleas'd, And ran out to market; When she came back They were mending the carpet. The needle each handled As brisk as a bee. "Well done, my good cats!" Said Dame Wiggins of Lee. To give them a treat, She ran out for some rice; When she came back, They were skating on ice. "I shall soon see one down, Aye, perhaps, two or three, I'll bet half a crown," Said Dame Wiggins of Lee. When springtime came back, They had breakfast of curds And were greatly afraid Of disturbing the birds. "If you sit like good cats, All the seven in a tree, They will teach you to sing," Said Dame Wiggins of Lee. So they sat in a tree And said "Beautiful! Hark!" And they listened and looked In the clouds for a lark. Then sang by the fireside Sym-pho-ni-ous-ly A song without words To Dame Wiggins of Lee. They called the next day On the tomtit and sparrow And wheeled a poor sick lamb Home in a barrow. "You shall all have some sprats For your humanitee, My seven good cats," Said Dame Wiggins of Lee. While she ran to the field To look for its dam, They were warming the bed For the poor sick lamb: They turned up the clothes All as neat as could be. "I shall ne'er want a nurse," Said Dame Wiggins of Lee. She wished them good-night And went up to bed: When, lo! in the morning, The cats were all fled. But soon--what a fuss! "Where can they all be? Here, pussy, puss, puss!" Cried Dame Wiggins of Lee. The Dame's heart was nigh broke, So she sat down to weep, When she saw them come back Each riding a sheep: She fondled and patted Each purring Tommee: "Ah! welcome, my dears," Said Dame Wiggins of Lee. The Dame was unable Her pleasure to smother To see the sicklamb Jump up to its mother. In spite of the gout And the pain in her knee, She went dancing about, Did Dame Wiggins of Lee. The farmer soon heard Where his sheep went astray And arrived at Dame's door With his faithful dog Tray. He knocked with his crook, And the stranger to see, Out of window did look Dame Wiggins of Lee. For their kindness he had them All drawn by the team, And gave them some field-mice And raspberry cream. Said he, "All my stock You shall presently see, For I know the cats Of Dame Wiggins of Lee." He sent his maid out For some muffins and crumpets; And when he turned round They were blowing of trumpets. Said he, "I suppose She's as deaf as can be, Or this ne'er could be borne By Dame Wiggins of Lee." To show them his poultry, He turned them all loose, When each nimbly leap'd On the back of a goose. Which frighten'd them so That they ran to the sea And half-drown'd the poor cats Of Dame Wiggins of Lee. For the care of his lamb And their comical pranks He gave them a ham And abundance of thanks. "I wish you good-day, My fine fellows," aid he. "My compliments, pray, To Dame Wiggins of Lee." You see them arrived At their Dame's welcome door; They show her their presents And all their good store. "Now come in to supper And sit down with me, All welcome once more," Cried Dame Wiggins of Lee. THE OWL AND THE PUSSY-CAT By Edward Lear The Owl and the Pussy-Cat went to sea In a beautiful pea-green boat, They took some honey, and plenty of money, Wrapped up in a five-pound note. The owl looked up at the stars above And sang to a small guitar, "O lovely Pussy! O Pussy, my love, What a beautiful Pussy you are, You are! What a beautiful Pussy you are!" Pussy said to the Owl, "You elegant fowl! How charmingly sweet you sing! O let us be married! Too long we have tarried. But what shall we do for a ring?" They sailed away for a year and a day, To the land where the Bong-tree grows, And there in a wood a Piggy-wig stood, With a ring at the end of his nose, His nose, With a ring at the end of his nose. "Dear Pig, are you willing to sell for one shilling Your ring?" Said the Piggy, "I will," So they took it away and were married next day By the Turkey who lives on the hill. They dined on mince and slices of quince, Which they ate with a runcible spoon; And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand. They danced by the light of the moon, The moon, They danced by the light of the moon. FROM UNDER THE WINDOW By Kate Greenaway In go-cart so tiny My sister I drew; And I've promised to draw her The wide world through. We hve not yet started-- I own it with sorrow-- Because our trip's always Put off till tomorrow. Little wind, blow on the hill-top, Little wind, blow down the plain: Little wind, blow up the sunshine, Little wind, blow off the rain. From A CHILD'S GARDEN OF VERSES By Robert Louis Stevenson THE LITTLE LAND I have just to shut my eyes To go sailing through the skies--- To go sailing far away To the pleasant Land of Play. THE SWING How do you like to go up in a swing, Up in the air so blue? "Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing Ever a child can do!" "Up in the air and over the wall, Till I can see so wide, Rivers and trees and cattle and all Over the countryside--- "Till I look down on the garden green Down on the roof so brown--- Up in the air I go flying again, Up in the air and down!" BED IN SUMMER In winter I get up at night And dress by yellow candle-light. In summer, quite the other way, I have to go to bed by day. I have to go to bed and see The birds still hopping on the tree, Or hear the grown-up people's feet Still going past me in the street. And does it not seem hard to you, When all the sky is clear and blue, And I should like so much to play, To have to go to bed by day? THE WIND I saw you toss the kits on high And blow the birds about the sky; And all around I heard you pass, Like ladies' skirts across the grass--- O wind, a-blowing all day long, O wind, that sings so loud a song! I saw the different things you did, But always you yourself you hid. I felt you push, I heard you call, I could not see yourself at all--- O wind, a-blowing all day long. O wind, that sings so loud a song! O you that are so strong and cold, O blower, are you young or old? Are you a beast of field and tree, Or just a stronger child than me? O wind, a-blowing all day long, O wind, that sings so loud a song! FOREIGN CHILDREN Little Indian, Sioux or Crow, Little frosty Eskimo, Little Turk or Japanee, O! don't you wish that you were me? You have seen the scarlet trees And the lions over seas. You have eaten ostrich eggs And turned the turtles off their legs. Such a life is very fne, But it's not so nice as mine. You must often, as you trod, Have wearied not to be abroad. You have curious things to eat, I am fed on proper meat; You must dwell beyond the foam, But I am safe and live at home. Little Indian, Sioux or Crow, Little frosty Eskimo, Little Turk or Japanee, O! don't you wish that you were me? MY BED IS A BOAT My bed is like a little boat; Nurse helps me in when I embark; She girds me in my sailor's coat And starts me in the dark. At night, I go on board and say Good night to all my friends on shore; I shut my eyes and sail away And see and hear no more. And sometimes things to bed I take, As prudent sailors have to do; Perhaps a slice of wedding cake, Perhaps a toy or two. All night across the dark we steer; But when the day returns at last, Safe in my room, beside the pier, I find my vessel fast. BLOCK CITY What are you able to build with your blocks? Castles and palaces, temples and docks. Rain may keep raining, and others go roam, But I can be happy and building at home. Let the sofa be mountains, the carpet be sea. There I'll establish a city for me: A kirk and a mill and a palace beside, And a harbor as well where my vessels may ride. Great is the palace with pillar and wall, A sort of a tower on the top of it all. And steps coming down in an orderly way To where my toy vessels lie safe in the bay. This one is sailing and that one is moored: Hark to the song of the sailors on board! And see on the steps of my palace, the kings Coming and going with presents and things! Now I have done with it, down let it go! All in a moment the town is laid low. Block upon block lying scattered and free, What is there left of my town by the sea? Yet, as I saw it, I see it again. The kirk and the palace, the ships and the men. And as long as I live and where'er I may be, I'll always remember my town by the sea. RAIN The rain is raining all around, It falls on field and tree, It rains on the umbrellas here And on the ships at sea. HAPPY THOUGHT The world is so full of a number of things, I'm sure we should all be as happy as kings. TIME TO RISE A birdie with a yellow bill Hopped upon the window-sill, Cocked his shining eye and said; "Ain't you 'shamed, you sleepy head!" MY SHADOW I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me, And what can be the use of him is more than I can see. He is very, very like me from the heels up to the head; And I see him jump before me, when I jump into my bed. The funniest thing about him is the way he like to grow--- Not at all like proper children, which is always very slow; For he sometimes shoots up taller like an india-rubber ball, And he sometimes gets so little that there's none of him at all. He hasn't got a notion of how children ought to play, And can only make a fool of me in every sort of way. He stays so close beside me, he's a coward you can see; I'd think shame to stick to nursie as that shadow sticks to me! One morning, very early, before the sun was up, I rose and found the shining dew on every buttercup; But my lazy little shadow, like an arrant sleepy-head, Had stayed at home behind me and was fast asleep in bed. WHERE GO THE BOATS? Dark brown is the river, Golden is the sand. It flows along for ever, With trees on either hand. Green leves a-floating, Castles of the foam, Boats of mine a-boating--- Where will all come home? On goes the river And out past the mill, Away down the valley, Away down the hill. Away down the river, A hundred miles or more, Other little children Shall bring my boats ashore. FROM SING-SONG By Christina Rossetti Who has seen the wind? Neither I nor you: But when the leaveshang trembling The wind is passing thro'. Who has seen the wind? Neither younor I: But when the trees bow down their heads The wind is passing by. A frisky lamb And a fisky child Playing their pranks In a cowslip meadow; The sky all blue And the air all mild And the fields all sun And the lanes half shadow. On the grassy banks Lambikins at their pranks; Woolly sisters, wolly brothers, Jumping off their feet, While their woolly mothers Watch by them and bleat. Growing in the vale By the uplands hilly, Growing straight and frail, Lady Daffadowndilly. In a golden crown, And a scant green gown While the sping blows chilly, Lady Daffadown, Sweet Daffadowndilly. Love me,--I love you, Love me, my baby; Sing it high, sing it low, Sing it as may be. Mother's arms under you, Her eyes above you; Sing it high, sing it low, Love me--I love you. Is the moon tired? she looks so pale Within her misty veil: She scales the sky from east to west, And takes no rest. Before the coming of the night The moon shows papery white; Before the dawning of the day She fades away. Lullaby, oh lullaby! Flowers are closed and lambs are sleeping; Lullaby, oh lullaby! Stars are up, the moon is peeping; Lullaby, oh lullaby! While the birds are silence keeping, (Lullaby, oh lullaby!) Sleep, my baby, fall a-sleeping, Lulaby, oh lullaby! THE ROCK-A-BY LADY FROM HUSHABY STREET By Eugene Field The Rock-a-By Lady from Hushaby Street Comes stealing; comes creeping; The poppies, they hang from her head to her feet, And each hath a dream that is tiny and fleet-- She bringeth her poppies to you, my sweet, When she findeth you sleeping! There is one little dream of a beautiful drum-- "Rub-a-dub!: it goeth; There is one little dream of a big sugar plum, And lo! thick and fast the other dreams come Of popguns that bang, and tin-tops that hum, And a trumpet that bloweth! And dollies peep out of those were little dreams Wth laughter and singing; And boats go a-floating on silvery streams, And the stars peek-a-boo with their own misty gleams, And up, up, and up, where the Mother Moon beams, The fairies go winging! Would you dream all these dreams tht are tiny and fleet? They'll come to you sleeping; So shut the two eyes that are weary, my sweet, For the Rock-a-By Lady from Husaby Street, With poppies that hang from her head to her feet, Comes stealing; comes creeping. WYNKEN, BLYNKEN AND NOD By Eugene Field Wynken, Blynken and Nod on night Sailed off in a wooden shoe-- Sailed on a river of crystal light Into a sea of dew. "Where are you going, and what do you wish?" The old moon asked the three. "We have come to fish for the herring fish That live in this beautiful sea; Said Wynken, Blynken And Nod. The old moon laughed and sang a song, As they rocked in the wooden shoe; And the wind that sped them all night long Ruffled the waves fo dew; The little stars were the herring fish That lived in the beautiful sea. "Now cast your nets wherever you wish-- Never afeard are we!" So cried the stars to the fishermen three. Wynken, Blynken And Nod. All night long their nets they threw To the stars in the twinkling foam-- Then down from the skies came the wooden shoe, Bringing the fisherman home; 'Twas all so pretty a sail, it seemed As if it could not be; And some folk thought 'twas a dream they'd dreamed Of sailing that beautiful sea. But I shall name you the fishermen three: Wynken, Blynken And Nod. Wynken and Blynken are two little eyes, And Nod is a little head, And the wooden shoe that sailed the skies Is a wee one's trundle-bed; So shut your eyes while mother sings Of wonderful sights that be, And you shall see the beautiful things As you rock on the misty sea Where the old shoe rocked the fishermen three-- Wynken, Blynken And Nod. THE YEAR'S AT THE SPRING By Robert Browning The year's at the spring, And day's at the morn; Morning's at seven; The hill-side's dew-pearl'd; The lark's on the wing; The snail's on the thorn; God's in His heaven-- All's right with the world. Click here to return to Top of page or continue reading. THE PIPER By William Blake Piping down the valleys wild, Piping songs of pleasant glee, On a cloud I saw a child, And he laughing said to me: "Pipe a song about a lamb!" So I piped withmerry cheer. "Piper, pipe that song again," So I piped: he wept to hear. "Drop thy pipe, thy happy pipe; Sing thy songs of happy cheer!:" So I sang the same again, While he wept with joy to hear. "Piper, sit thee down and write In a book that all may read." So he vanished from my sight; And I plucked a hollow reed. And I made a rural pen, And I stained the water clear, And I wrote my happy songs Every child may joy to hear. THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS By Clement Moore 'Twas the night before Christmas, When all through the house Not a creature was stirring, Not even a moue. The stockings were hung, By the chimney with care. In hopes that St. Nicholas Soon would be there. The children were nestled All snug in their beds, While visions of sugar-plume Danced through their heads. Mamma in her kerchief And I in my cap Had just settled our brains For a long winter's nap. When out on the lawn There rose such a clatter I sprang from my bed To see what was the matter. Away to the wndow I flew like a flash, Tore openthe shutters And threw up the sash. The moon on the breast Of the new fallen snow Gave a lustre of mid-day To objects below, When what to my wondering eyes Should appear-- But a miniature sleigh And eight tiny reindeer! With a little old driver, So lively and quick, I knew in a moment It must be St. Nick. More rapid than eagles, His courrsers they came, And he whistled and shouted And called each by name: "Now, Dasher, now, Dancer, Now, Prancer, now, Vixen! On, Comet! On, Cupid! On, Donner and Blitzen! To the top of the porch, To the top of the wall. Now, dash away, dash away, Dash away, all!" As dry leaves before the wild hurricane fly, When they met with an obstacle, mount to the sky: So up to the house-top the coursers they flew, With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas, too. And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof The prancing and pawing Of each little hoof. As I drew in my head. And was turning around. Down the chimney St. Nicholas came With a bound! He was dressed all in fur From his head to his foot. And his clothes were all tarnished With ashes and soot; A bundle of toys He had flung on his back. And he looked like a peddler Just opening his pack. His eyes, how they twinkled! His dimples, how merry! His cheeks were like roses, His nose like a cherry. His droll little mouth Was drawn up like a bow, And the beard on his chin Was as white as the snow. The stump of a pipe He held tight in his teeth, And the smoke, it encircled His head like a wreath. He had a broad face, And a little round belly That shook when he laughed Like a bowlful of jelly. He was chubby and plump-- A right jolly old elf, And I laughed when I saw him In spite of myself. A wink of his eye And a twist of his head Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread. He spoke not a word But went straight to his work And filled all the stockings, Then turned with a jerk-- And, laying his finger Aside of his nose And giving a nod, Up the chimney he rose. He sprang to his sleigh, To his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew Like the down on a thistle. And I heard him exclaim Ere he drove out of sight: "MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL, A GOOD NIGHT!" SWEET AND LOW By Alfred Tenneyson Sweet and low, sweet, and low, Wind of the western sea; Low, low, breathe and blow, Wind of the western sea! Over the rolling waters go, Come from the dying moon and blow, Blow him again to me, While my little one, While my pretty one Sleeps. Sleep and rest, sleep and rest, Father will come to thee soon; Rest, rest, on mother's breast, Father will come to thee soon, Father will come to his babe in the nest, Silver sails all out of the west, Under the silver moon. Sleep, my little one, Sleep, my pretty one, Sleep! THE PUZZLED CENTIPEDE A centipede was happy quite, Until a frog in fun Said, "Pray, which leg comes after which?" This roused her mind to such a pitch, She lay distracted in the ditch Considering how to run. As Tommy Snooks and Bessy Brooks Were walking out one Sunday, Says, Tommy Snooks to Bessy Brooks, "Tomorrow will be Monday."