She went to the joiner's

To buy him a coffin, But when she came back

The poor dog was laughing.

She took a clean dish

To get him some tripe,
But when she came back
He was smoking a pipe.

She went to the fishmonger's
To buy him some fish,
But when she came back
He was licking the dish.
She went to the tavern

For white wine and red,
But when she came back

The dog stood on his head.

She went to the hatter's

To buy him a hat,
But when she came back
He was feeding the cat.

She went to the barber's
To buy him a wig,
But when she came back

He was dancing a jig.

She went to the fruiterer's
To buy him some fruit,
But when she came back
He was playing the flute.

She went to the tailor's

To buy him a coat,
But when she came back

He was riding a goat.

She went to the cobbler's

To buy him some shoes, But when she came back

He was reading the news.

The Death and Burial of Cock Robin 53

She went to the seamstress
To buy him some linen,
But when she came back
The dog was spinning.

She went to the hosier's

To buy him some hose,

But when she came back

He was dressed in his clothes.

The dame made a curtesy,
The dog made a bow,
The dame said, "Your servant,"
The dog said, "Bow-wow."

This wonderful dog

Was Dame Hubbard's delight;
He could sing, he could dance,
He could read, he could write.

She gave him rich dainties
Whenever he fed,

And built him a monument

When he was dead.

THE DEATH AND BURIAL OF COCK ROBIN

WHO killed Cock Robin?

"I," said the Sparrow,

"With my bow and arrow,

I killed Cock Robin."

Who saw him die?

"I," said the Fly,

With my little eye,

I saw him die."

Who caught his blood?

"I," said the Fish,

"With little dish,
my
I caught his blood,"

Who'll make his shroud? "I," said the Beetle,

"With my thread and needle, I'll make his shroud."

Who'll dig his grave?

"I," said the Owl,

"With my spade and trowel,

I'll dig his grave."

Who'll be the parson?

"I," said the Rook, "With my little book. I'll be the parson."

Who'll be the clerk?

"I," said the Lark,

"I'll say Amen in the dark;

I'll be the clerk."

Who'll be chief mourner? "I," said the Dove,

"I mourn for my love; I'll be chief mourner."

Who'll bear the torch?
"I," said the Linnet,
"I'll come in a minute,

I'll bear the torch."

Who'll sing his dirge?

"I," said the thrush,

"As I sing in the bush I'll sing his dirge."

Who'll bear the pall?

"We," said the Wren,

Both the Cock and the Hen;

"We'll bear the pall."

Who'll carry his coffin?

"I," said the Kite, "If it be in the night, I'll carry his coffin.”

Baby-land

Who'll toll the bell?

"I," said the Bull,

"Because I can pull, I'll toll the bell."

All the birds of the air

Fell to sighing and sobbing
When they heard the bell toll
For poor Cock Robin.

BABY-LAND

"WHICH is the way to Baby-land?”

"Any one can tell;

Up one flight,

To your right;

Please to ring the bell."

"What can you see in Baby-land?"

"Little folks in white

Downy heads,

Cradle-beds,

Faces pure and bright!"

"What do they do in Baby-land?"

"Dream and wake and play,

Laugh and crow,

Shout and grow;

Jolly times have they!"

"What do they say in Baby-land?"

"Why, the oddest things;

Might as well

Try to tell

What a birdie sings!"

"Who is the Queen of Baby-land?"

"Mother, kind and sweet;

And her love,

Born above,

Guides the little feet."

George Cooper [1840

55

THERE once was a wood, and a very thick wood,
So thick that to walk was as much as you could;
But a sunbeam got in, and the trees understood.

I went to this wood, at the end of the snows,
And as I was walking I saw a primrose;

Only one! Shall I show you the place where it grows?

There once was a house, and a very dark house,
As dark, I believe, as the hole of a mouse,

Or a tree in my wood, at the thick of the boughs.

I went to this house, and I searched it aright,
I opened the chambers, and I found a light;
Only one! Shall I show you this little lamp bright?

There once was a cave, and this very dark cave
One day took a gift from an incoming wave;
And I made up my mind to know what the sea gave.

I took a lit torch, I walked round the ness
When the water was lowest; and in a recess
In my cave was a jewel. Will nobody guess?

O there was a baby, he sat on my knee,
With a pearl in his mouth that was precious to me,
His little dark mouth like my cave of the sea!

I said to my heart, "And my jewel is bright!

He blooms like a primrose! He shines like a light!"
Put your hand in his mouth! Do you feel? He can bite!
William Brighty Rands [1823-1882]

BABY'S BREAKFAST

BABY wants his breakfast,
Oh! what shall I do?
Said the cow, "I'll give him

Nice fresh milk-moo-oo!"