Part 17 (1/2)

Daddy Neptune one day to Freedom did say: ”If ever I lived upon dry land, The spot I should hit on would be little Britain,”

Says Freedom: ”Why, that's my own island!

Oh, it's a snug little island, A right little, tight little island, Search all the globe round, there's none can be found So happy as this little island!”

Did you ever see the Devil, With his little spade and shovel, Digging 'taties by the dozen With his tail c.o.c.ked up?

The man in the moon as hard as your hat, He stole some bushes out of a gap, If he'd went by, and let 'em alie, He'd never been man in the moon so high.

One to make ready, Two to prepare, Three to be off, And four to be there.

Rum-ti-tum-tum, The soldiers are come, With a great piece of beef, And a bottle of rum.

If wishes were horses, Beggars would ride, And all the world Be drowned in pride.

First take an old woman and toast her, And then rub her over with cheese, Then lay her out on a frosty night, And ten to one but she'll freeze; Next, bring her in in the morning, And rub her all over with straw, Then lay her down by a good coal fire, And ten to one but she'll thaw.

”Fire! fire!” says the Crier, ”Where? where?” says Lord Mayor.

”In the town,” says Billy Brown.

”Has it done much damage?” says Billy Cabbage.

”Only burnt a few fellows,” says Billy Bellows, ”Is that all?” says Billy Ball.

”Yes, and plenty, too,” says Billy Blue.

To market ride the gentlemen, So do we, so do we; Then comes the country clown, Hobbledy gee! hobbledy gee!

First go to the ladies, nim, nim, nim!

Next comes the gentlemen, trim, trim, trim!

Then come the country clowns, gallop-a-trot!

LEICESTERs.h.i.+RE RIME