Part 23

"One misty, moisty morning When cloudy was the weather I chanced to meet an old man clothed all in leather. He began to compliment, and I began to grin, How do you do, and how do you do And how do you do again?"

This morning as I wandered To enjoy the charming weather, I met a man in goggles and a modern suit of leather. He began to toot a horn and I began to run, He knocked me flat nor cared for that; And down the road he spun.

OLD KING COLE

"Old King Cole was a merry old soul, And a merry old soul was he: He called for his pipe, and he called for his bowl, And he called for his fiddlers three. Every fiddler had a fine fiddle, And a very fine fiddle had he: (Twee-tweedle-dee, tweedle-dee, went the fiddlers three)-- Oh, there's none so rare as can compare With King Cole and his fiddlers three!"

I Good Queen Kate was his royal mate, And a right royal mate was she: She would frequently state that carousing till late Was something that never should be. But every fiddler had such a fine fiddle,-- Oh, such a fine fiddle had he,-- That old King Cole, in his inmost soul, Was as restive as he could be.

II When thus spoke she to his majesty, He planted his crown on tight. "We will wait," whispered he to the fiddlers three, "Till the Queen has retired for the night." Every fiddler then tuned up his fiddle, And tuned it as true as could be: While old King Cole got his pipe and bowl And replenished them secretly.

III So gay they grew as the night hours flew, He forgot how the time sped away; Till swift overhead he heard the Queen's tread As she sprang out of bed, when he hurriedly said They might finish the tune the next day. Every fiddler he had a fine fiddle, And a very fine fiddle had he: Oh, 't was not fair such a concert rare Should be ended so suddenly!

PUSSY SITS BESIDE THE FIRE

"Pussy sits beside the fire How can she be fair? Then comes in the little dog. "Pussy, are you there? So so, dear Mistress Pussy, Pray tell me how you do?" "Indeed, I thank you little dog, I'm very well just now."

"Fy, pussy, what a lazy cat, On such a pleasant day To sit and drowse beside the fire And sleep the hours away! A self-respecting dog would think Himself a sorry cur, If he did nothing all day long But fold his arms and purr!"

"Now, sir, you needn't criticize Because I sit and blink, For while my eyes are shut, like this, I think, and think, and think. And when I purr, please understand I work with all my might, A-humming over songs I sing When I go out at night.

"Excuse me. Now I'll close my eyes, And think a little more. On busy days like this, I show My visitors the door. 'T is only little dogs who judge That one must idle be, Unless one's chasing round and round Or barking up a tree."

THE NORTH WIND DOTH BLOW

"The north wind doth blow, and we shall have snow, And what will the robin do then, poor thing? He'll sit in the barn and keep himself warm, And hide his head under his wing, poor thing."

But never a word of plaint will be heard From robin, no matter how tired and cold; For well will he know that the winter will go, And the blossoms and greenness of spring unfold.

And when the warm sun says winter is done, He'll gladden us all with his cheery song; And never will fret if the season is wet, Or wail that the winter was hard and long.

I HAD A LITTLE HUSBAND

"I had a little husband No bigger than my thumb, I put him in a pint pot, And there I bid him drum I bought a little handkerchief To wipe his little nose, And a pair of little garters To tie his little hose."

I bought a little carriage And took him out to ride, And yet with all my efforts He wasn't satisfied. I never would have married, Now this I do declare,-- If I'd supposed a husband Was such an awful care.

There was a man in our town

"There was a man in our town, And he was wondrous wise He jumped into a bramble bush And scratched out both his eyes. And when he saw his eyes were out, With all his might and main He jumped into another bush And scratched them in again."

This clever man then hastened on And bought a pair of shears, But when he tried to cut with them, He snipped off both his ears. And when he heard his ears were off, ('T was told him o'er and o'er), He seized the shears and snipped them back As they had been before.

"Because," said he, "wise men like me, Who travel round about, And keep their eyes, and use them well, May find some people out. And if they also use their ears, And hark what hearsay brings, They're likewise pretty sure to hear Some very funny things."

SEE SAW, SACARADOWN

"See saw, sacaradown, Which is the way to Boston town? One foot up, the other foot down. That is the way to Boston town."

See saw, steady and slow! Other places there are, I know, But they are not worth the trouble to go, For Boston people have told me so.

Sing a Song o' sixpence

"Sing a song o' sixpence Pocket full of rye; Four-and-twenty blackbirds Baked in a pie. When the pie was opened The birds began to sing Was not this a dainty dish To set before the King?