Just then a big rat ran across the meadow and the old woman said,—

"Rat, rat, gnaw rope;

Rope will not hang butcher;
Butcher will not kill ox;

Ox will not drink water;
Water will not quench fire;
Fire will not burn 'stick;
Stick will not beat dog;
Dog will not bite pig;

Pig will not get over the stile.
I see by the moon-light,

It's long past midnight;

Pig and I should have been home an hour and a half ago."

"If you will give me a piece of cheese, I will do as you ask," said the rat.

Then the old woman put her hand in her pocket and found a piece of cheese.

She gave the cheese to the rat and this is what happened.

The rat began to gnaw the rope;
The rope began to hang the butcher;
The butcher began to kill the ox;
The ox began to drink the water;
The water began to quench the fire;
The fire began to burn the stick;
The stick began to beat the dog;
The dog began to bite the pig;

The pig in a fright jumped over the stile; But what time the old woman and her pig got home, you, nor I, nor nobody knows.

JOG ON

Jog on, jog on, the footpath way,
And merrily jump the stile, boys,
A merry heart goes all the day,

Your sad one tires in a mile, boys.

-Mother Goose

ONE STEP AND THEN ANOTHER

One step and then another,
And the longest walk is ended.
One stitch and then another,
And the largest rent is mended.
One brick and then another,
And the highest wall is made.
One flake and then another,
And the deepest snow is laid.

PETER, PETER

Peter, Peter, pumpkin eater,
Had a wife and couldn't keep her;
He put her in a pumpkin shell,
And then he kept her very well.
Peter, Peter, pumpkin eater,
Had another and didn't love her;
Peter learned to read and spell,
And then he loved her very well.

-Mother Goose

THREE CHILDREN SLIDING ON THE ICE

Three children sliding on the ice,

Upon a summer's day; As it fell out, they all fell in,

The rest they ran away.

Oh! had these children been at school,
Or sliding on dry ground,
Ten thousand pounds to one penny,
They had not all been drowned.

Ye parents who have children dear,
And you that have got none,
If you would keep them safe abroad,
Pray keep them safe at home.

-Mother Goose

THE GOLDEN RULE IN VERSE

Be you to others kind and true
As you'd have others be to you;
And neither do nor say to men
What'er you would not take again.

THE WIND AND THE SUN

The Wind and the Sun were playing one day when they began to quarrel. Each said he was stronger than the other. While they were talking they saw a man walking down the street.