HEN I was a bachelor, And all the bread and cheese I put upon the shelf. The rats and the mice they made such a strife, I was forced to go to London to buy me a wife: The roads were so bad, and the lanes were so narrow, I was forced to bring my wife home in a wheel-barrow. The wheel-barrow broke, and my wife had a fall, Down came wheel-barrow, wife, and all. EE little Mary, who sits all alone, Reading her book, though her brothers have gone To gather the nuts on the bright hazel spray, And sport in the meadows the long summer day. But Mary will stay without frown, and not pout, Though Harry and William and all have gone out; For Mary knows well that her mother so dear, Will ask for her spelling when evening draws near. And soon she will learn it, for she does not look About for one instant, but minds well her book. And when she has finished, how gladly she'll play About with her doll for the rest of the day. OW, Pussy-cat, just run away, So go away and get you in. For when you gambol at my feet, You lazy pussy-cat! Oh, fie! If I a pussy were like you, I'd try my best some work to do; |