When they were mended, then they were done.
There was a navy went into Spain;
When it returned, it came back again.
I had a little Hen
I had a little Hen, the prettiest ever seen,
She washed me the dishes and kept the house clean;
She went to the mill to fetch me some flour,
She brought it home in less than an hour;
She baked me my bread, she brewed me my ale,
She sat by the fire and told many a fine tale.
The Waves on the Sea-Shore
Roll on, roll on, you restless waves,
That toss about and roar;
Why do you all run back again
When you have reached the shore?
Roll on, roll on, you noisy waves,
Roll higher up the strand;
How is it that you cannot pass
That line of yellow sand?
“We may not dare,” the waves reply:
“That line of yellow sand
Is laid along the shore to bound
The waters and the land.
“And all should keep to time and place,
And all should keep to rule,
Both waves upon the sandy shore,
And little boys at school.”
Little Jack Horner
Little Jack Horner sat in a corner,
Eating a Christmas pie;
He put in his thumb, and he took out a plum,
And said, “What a good boy am I!”
The Marriage of Cock Robin and Jenny Wren
It was on a merry time,
When Jenny Wren was young,
So neatly as she danced,
And so sweetly as she sung, —
Robin Redbreast lost his heart:
He was a gallant bird;
He doffed his hat to Jenny,
And thus to her he said:
“My dearest Jenny Wren,
If you will but be mine,
You shall dine on cherry-pie,
And drink nice currant-wine.
“I’ll dress you like a goldfinch,
Or like a peacock gay;
So if you’ll have me, Jenny,
Let us appoint the day.”
Jenny blushed behind her fan,
And thus declared her mind:
“Then let it be to-morrow, Bob, —
I take your offer kind;
“Cherry-pie is very good,
So is currant-wine;
But I’ll wear my russet gown,
And never dress too fine.”
Robin rose up early,
At the break of day;
He flew to Jenny Wren’s house,
To sing a roundelay.
He met the Cock and Hen,
And bade the Cock declare,
This was his wedding-day
With Jenny Wren the fair.
The Cock then blew his horn,
To let the neighbours know
This was Robin’s wedding-day,
And they might see the show.
At first came Parson Rook,
With his spectacles and band;
And one of Mother Hubbard’s books
He held within his hand.
Then followed him the Lark,
For he could sweetly sing,
And he was to be the clerk
At Cock Robin’s wedding.
He sang of Robin’s love
For Little Jenny Wren;
And when he came unto the end,
Then he began again.
The Goldfinch came on next,
To give away the Bride;
The Linnet, being bridesmaid,
Walked by Jenny’s side;
And as she was a-walking,
Said, “Upon my word,
I think that your Cock Robin
Is a very pretty bird.”
The Blackbird and the Thrush,
And charming Nightingale,
Whose sweet “jug” sweetly echoes
Through every grove and dale;
The Sparrow and Tomtit,
And many more, were there;
All came to see the wedding
Of Jenny Wren the fair.
The Bullfinch walked by Robin,
And thus to him did say,
“Pray mark, friend Robin Redbreast,
That Goldfinch dressed so gay:
“What though her gay apparel
Becomes her very well,
Yet Jenny’s modest dress and look
Must bear away the bell.”
Then came the Bride and Bridegroom;
Quite plainly was she dressed,
And blushed so much, her cheeks were
As red as Robin’s breast.
But Robin cheered her up;
“My pretty Jen,” said he,
“We’re going to be married,
And happy we shall be.”
“Oh, then,” says Parson Rook,
“Who gives this maid away?”
“I do,” says the Goldfinch,
“And her fortune I will pay:
“Here’s a bag of grain of many sorts,
And other things beside:
Now happy be the bridegroom,
And happy be the bride!”
“And will you have her,
Robin, To be your wedded wife?”
“Yes, I will,” says Robin,
“And love her all my life!”
“And you will have him, Jenny,
Your husband now to be?”
“Yes, I will,” says Jenny,
“And love him heartily!”
Then on her finger fair
Cock Robin