She went a little further till she met a rat, and she said: Pray, rat, gnaw rope; Ox won't drink water, Pig won't get over the stile, But the rat would not. She met a cat, and she said: “Pray, cat, kill rat; Rat won't gnaw rope, Ox won't drink water, Water won't quench fire, Fire won't burn stick, Dog won't bite pig, Pig won't get over the stile, The cat said: "If you will get me a saucer of milk from the cow in yonder field, I will kill the rat.' So the old woman went to the cow, and said: "Cow, cow, will you give me a saucer of milk?' And the cow said: "If you will get me a bucket of water from yonder brook, I will give you the milk." And the old woman took the bucket to the brook, but all the water rushed out through the holes in the bottom. So she filled up the holes with stones, got the water, and took it to the cow, who at once gave her the saucer of milk. Then the old woman gave the cat the milk, and when she had lapped up the milk, The cat began to kill the rat, The rope began to hang the butcher, The dog began to bite the pig, LITTLE BO-Peep has lost her sheep, And can't tell where to find Leave them alone, and they'll come home, And bring their tails behind them. Little Bo-Peep fell fast asleep, And dreamt she heard them bleating; But when she awoke she found it a joke, For still they all were fleeting. Then up she took her little crook, She found them indeed, but it made her For they'd left all their tails behind 'em! It happened one day, as Bo-Peep did stray Unto a meadow hard by, There she espied their tails side by side, She heaved a sigh and wiped her eye, And tried what she could, as a shep- That each tail should be properly placed. |