Part 19 (2/2)

He made me a bow, and he made me three, A May Day in the morning; He said, in truth, I was fair to see, A May Day in the morning.

”And say, will you be my sweetheart now?

I'll marry you truly with ring and vow; I've ten fat sheep and a black-nosed cow, A May Day in the morning.

”What shall we buy in Alibazan, A May Day in the morning?

A pair of shoes and a feathered fan, A May Day in the morning.

A velvet gown all set with pearls, A silver hat for your golden curls, A pot of pinks for my pink of girls, A May Day in the morning.”

All in the streets of Alibazan, A May Day in the morning, The merry maidens tripped and ran, A May Day in the morning.

And this was fine, and that was free, But he turned from them all to look on me; And ”Oh! but there's none so fair to see, A May Day in the morning.”

All in the church of Alibazan, A May Day in the morning, 'Twas there I wed my bonny young man, A May Day in the morning.

And oh! 'tis I am his sweetheart now!

And oh! 'tis we are happy, I trow, With our ten fat sheep and our black-nosed cow, A May Day in the morning.

THE THREE FISHERS.

John, Frederick, and Henry, Had once a holiday; And they would go a-fis.h.i.+ng, So merry and so gay.

They went to fish for salmon, These little children three; As in this pretty picture You all may plainly see.

It was not in the ocean, Nor from the river sh.o.r.e, But in the monstrous water-b.u.t.t Outside the kitchen door.

And John he had a fish-hook, And Fred a crooked pin, And Henry took his sister's net, And thought it was no sin.

They climbed up on the ladder, Till they the top did win; And then they perched upon the edge, And then they did begin.

But how their fis.h.i.+ng prospered, Or if they did it well, Or if they caught the salmon, I cannot, cannot tell.

Because I was not there, you know, But I can only say That I too went a-fis.h.i.+ng, That pleasant summer day.

It was not for a salmon, Or shark with monstrous fin, But it was for three little boys, All dripping to the skin.

PEEPSY.

[_After the manner of Jane Taylor._]

Our Julia has a little bird, And Peepsy is his name; And now I'll sing a little song To celebrate the same.

He's yellow all from head to foot, And he is very sweet, And very little trouble, for He never wants to eat.

He never asks for water clear, He never chirps for seed, For cracker, or for cuttlefish, For sugar or chickweed.

”Oh! what a perfect pet!” you cry, But there's one little thing, One drawback to the bonny bird,-- Our Peepsy cannot sing.

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