Simple Simon went a-fishing,
For to catch a whale;
All the water he had got
Was in his mother's pail.

Simple Simon went a-hunting,
For to catch a hare;

He rode an ass about the streets,
But couldn't find one there.

He went to catch a dickey bird,
And thought he could not fail,
Because he'd got a little salt
To put upon his tail.

He went to take a bird's nest,
Was built upon a bough;

A branch gave way, and Simon fell
Into a dirty slough.

He went to shoot a wild duck,

But wild duck flew away; Says Simon, "I can't hit him, Because he will not stay."

He went for to eat honey

Out of the mustard pot;

It bit his tongue until he cried-
That was all the good he got.

He went to ride a spotted cow,
That had a little calf;

She threw him down upon the ground,
Which made the people laugh.

Once Simon made a great snow-ball,
And brought it in to roast;
He laid it down before the fire,
And soon the ball was lost.

He went to slide upon the ice,
Before the ice would bear;

Then he plunged in above his knees,
Which made poor Simon stare.

He washed himself with blacking ball, Because he had no soap,

Then said unto his mother,

"I'm a beauty now, I hope."

Simple Simon went to look

If plums grew on a thistle;
He pricked his fingers very much,
Which made poor Simon whistle.

Cold and raw the north wind doth blow, Bleak in the morning early;

All the hills are covered with snow,

And winter looks grim and surly.

OLD MOTHER GOOSE.

Old Mother Goose, when
She wanted to wander,
Would ride through the air

On a very fine gander.

Mother Goose had a house,

"Twas built in a wood,

Where an owl at the door

For sentinel stood.

This is her son Jack,
A plain-looking lad;
He is not very good,
Nor yet very bad.

She sent him to market, A live goose he bought; "Here, mother," says he, "It will not go for nought."

Jack's goose and her gander Grew very fond;

They'd both eat together,

Or swim in one pond.

Jack found one fine morning,

As I have been told,

His goose had laid him

An egg of pure gold.

Jack rode to his mother,

The news for to tell;

She called him a good boy,

And said it was well.

Jack sold his gold egg

To a rogue of a Jew,