Volume I Part 10 (1/2)

When I was a bachelor I lived by myself; And all the bread and cheese I got I put upon the shelf.

The rats and the mice They made such a strife, I was forced to go to London To buy me a wife.

The streets were so bad, And the lanes were so narrow, I was forced to bring my wife home In a wheelbarrow.

The wheelbarrow broke, And my wife had a fall, Down came wheelbarrow, Little wife and all.

”JOHNNY SHALL HAVE A NEW BONNET”

Johnny shall have a new bonnet, And Johnny shall go to the fair, And Johnny shall have a blue ribbon To tie up his bonny brown hair.

And why may not I love Johnny, And why may not Johnny love me?

And why may not I love Johnny As well as another body?

And here's a leg for a stocking, And here's a foot for a shoe; And he has a kiss for his daddy, And one for his mammy, too.

And why may not I love Johnny, And why may not Johnny love me?

And why may not I love Johnny, As well as another body?

THE CITY MOUSE AND THE GARDEN MOUSE

The city mouse lives in a house;-- The garden mouse lives in a bower, He's friendly with the frogs and toads, And sees the pretty plants in flower.

The city mouse eats bread and cheese;-- The garden mouse eats what he can; We will not grudge him seeds and stocks, Poor little timid furry man.

Christina Georgina Rossetti [1830-1894]

ROBIN REDBREAST

Little Robin Redbreast sat upon a tree, Up went p.u.s.s.y-cat, and down went he; Down came p.u.s.s.y-cat, and away Robin ran; Said little Robin Redbreast, ”Catch me if you can.”

Little Robin Redbreast jumped upon a wall, p.u.s.s.y-cat jumped after him, and almost got a fall; Little Robin chirped and sang, and what did p.u.s.s.y say?

p.u.s.s.y-cat said naught but ”Mew,” and Robin flew away.

SOLOMON GRUNDY

Solomon Grundy, Born on a Monday, Christened on Tuesday, Married on Wednesday, Took ill on Thursday, Worse on Friday, Died on Sat.u.r.day, Buried on Sunday, This is the end of Solomon Grundy.