Pig will not get over the stile;

And I shan't get home to-night."

But the ox would not.

So the old Dame turned round to the stile again, and then she saw a jolly butcher leaning on the stile; so she said to him,

"Good butcher, 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;

And I shan't get home to-night."

But the butcher would not.

So the old Dame took a rope out of her pocket,

and said,

"Good rope, 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;

And I shan't get home to-night."

But the rope would not.

So the old Dame was in despair; but just then a large brown mouse ran across the meadow, and she said,

"Good mouse, gnaw rope;

Rope will not hang butcher;