WHEN I was a bachelor I lived by myself,

And all the meat I got I put upon a shelf;

The rats and the mice did lead me such a life
That I went to London to get myself a wife.

The streets were so broad and the lanes were so narrow, I could not get my wife home without a wheelbarrow; The wheelbarrow broke, my wife got a fall,

Down tumbled wheelbarrow, little wife, and all.

USSY-CAT, pussy-cat, where have you been?

PUSS

I've been up to London to look at the queen. Pussy-cat, pussy-cat, what did you there?

I frighten'd a little mouse under the chair.

HIGGLEY Piggley,

My hen,

She lays eggs

For gentlemen;

Sometimes nine,

And sometimes ten.

Higgley Piggley,
My black hen!

The sheep's in the meadow, the cow's in the corn. "Where's the little boy that looks after the sheep?" "He's under the hay-cock, fast asleep." "Will you wake him?" "No, not I; For if I do, he'll be sure to cry."

AFFY-Down-Dilly has come up to town
In a yellow petticoat and a green gown.

A

WAS an Archer, and shot at a frog,

B was a Butcher, and had a great dog.
C was a Captain, all covered with lace,
D was a Drunkard, and had a red face.
E was an Esquire, with pride on his brow,
F was a Farmer, and followed the plow.
G was a Gamester, who had but ill luck,
H was a Hunter, and hunted a buck.
I was an Innkeeper, who loved to bouse,
J was a Joiner, and built up a house.

K was King William, once governed this land,
L was a Lady, who had a white hand.
M was a Miser, and hoarded up gold,
N was a Nobleman, gallant and bold.

O was an Oyster Wench, and went about town,
P was a Parson, and wore a black gown.

Q was a Queen, who was fond of good flip,
R was a Robber, and wanted a whip.
S was a Sailor, and spent all he got,
T was a Tinker, and mended a pot.
U was an Usurer, a miserable elf,

V was a Vintner, who drank all himself.
W was a Watchman, and guarded the door,
X was expensive, and so became poor.
Y was a Youth, that did not love school,
Z was a Zany, a poor harmless fool.

C cut it;

D dealt it;

E ate it;

F fought for it;

G got it;

H had it;

J joined it;

K kept it;

L longed for it;

M mourned for it;

N nodded at it;

O opened it;
P peeped in it;
Q quartered it;
R ran for it;
S stole it;

T took it;

V viewed it;

W wanted it;

X, Y, Z, and amperse-and,

All wish'd for a piece in hand.

IDE a cock-horse to Banbury Cross,

R1

To see an old lady upon a white horse; Rings on her fingers, and bells on her toes, And so she makes music wherever she goes.

TH

HIS is the way the ladies ride:
Tri, tre, tre, tree,

Tri, tre, tre, tree!

This is the way the ladies ride:

Tri, tre, tre, tre, tri-tre-tre-tree!

This is the way the gentlemen ride:

Gallop-a-trot,

Gallop-a-trot!

This is the way the gentlemen ride:
Gallop-a-gallop-a-trot!

This is the way the farmers ride :
Hobbledy-hoy,

Hobbledy-hoy!

This is the way the farmers ride:
Hobbledy hobbledy-hoy!

2

DING, dong, bell,

Pussy's in the well!

Who put her in ?—

Little Tommy Lin.

Who pulled her out?

Dog with long snout.

What a naughty boy was that

To drown poor pussy-cat,

Who never did any harm,

But killed the mice in his father's barn.

Vol. I