You see, merry Phillis, that dear little maid,

Has invited Belinda to tea;

Her nice little garden is shaded by trees—

What pleasanter place could there be?

There's a cake full of plums, there are strawberries too,

And the table is set on the green;

I'm fond of a carpet all daisies and grass—

Could a prettier picture be seen?

A blackbird (yes, blackbirds delight in warm weather,)

Is flitting from yonder high spray;

He sees the two little ones talking together—

No wonder the blackbird is gay!

Three tabbies took out their cats to tea,

As well-behaved tabbies as well could be:

Each sat in the chair that each preferred,

They mewed for their milk, and they sipped and purred.

Now tell me this (as these cats you've seen them)—

How many lives had these cats between them?

Little wind, blow on the hill-top,

Little wind, blow down the plain;

Little wind, blow up the sunshine,

Little wind, blow off the rain.

"Little Polly, will you go a-walking to-day?"

"Indeed, little Susan, I will, if I may."

"Little Polly, your mother has said you may go;

She was nice to say 'Yes;' she should never say 'No.'"

"A rook has a nest on the top of the tree—

A big ship is coming from over the sea:

Now, which would be nicest, the ship or the nest?"

"Why, that would be nicest that Polly likes best."

As I was walking up the street,

The steeple bells were ringing;

As I sat down at Mary's feet,

The sweet, sweet birds were singing.

As I walked far into the world,

I met a little fairy;

She plucked this flower, and, as it's sweet,

I've brought it home to Mary.

Five little sisters walking in a row;

Now, isn't that the best way for little girls to go?

Each had a round hat, each had a muff,

And each had a new pelisse of soft green stuff.

Five little marigolds standing in a row;

Now, isn't that the best way for marigolds to grow?

Each with a green stalk, and all the five had got

A bright yellow flower, and a new red pot.

In go-cart so tiny

My sister I drew;

And I've promised to draw her

The wide world through.

We have not yet started—

I own it with sorrow—

Because our trip's always

Put off till to-morrow.

Some geese went out a-walking,

To breakfast and to dine;

They craned their necks, and plumed themselves—

They numbered four from nine;

With their cackle, cackle, cackle!

They thought themselves so fine.

A dame went walking by herself,

A very ancient crone;

She said, "I wish that all you geese

Were starved to skin and bone!

Do stop that cackle, cackle, now,

And leave me here alone."

Poor Dicky's dead!—The bell we toll,

And lay him in the deep, dark hole.

The sun may shine, the clouds may rain,

But Dick will never pipe again!

His quilt will be as sweet as ours—

Bright buttercups and cuckoo flowers.

Up you go, shuttlecocks, ever so high!

Why come you down again, shuttlecocks—why?

When you have got so far, why do you fall?

Where all are high, which is highest of all?

Higgledy, piggledy! see how they run!

Hopperty, popperty! what is the fun?

Has the sun or the moon tumbled into the sea?

What is the matter, now? Pray tell it me!

Higgledy, piggledy! how can I tell?

Hopperty, popperty! hark to the bell!

The rats and the mice even scamper away;

Who can say what may not happen to-day?

Which is the way to Somewhere Town?

Oh, up in the morning early;

Over the tiles and the chimney-pots,

That is the way, quite clearly.

And which is the door to Somewhere Town?

Oh, up in the morning early;

The round red sun is the door to go through,

That is the way, quite clearly.

The boat sails away, like a bird on the wing,

And the little boys dance on the sands in a ring.

The wind may fall, or the wind may rise—

You are foolish to go; you will stay if you're wise.

The little boys dance, and the little girls run:

If it's bad to have money, it's worse to have none.

Pipe thee high, and pipe thee low,

Let the little feet go faster;

Blow your penny trumpet—blow!

Well done, little master!

Polly's, Peg's, and Poppety's

Mamma was kind and good:

She gave them each, one happy day,

A little scarf and hood.

A bonnet for each girl she bought,

To shield them from the sun;

They wore them in the snow and rain,

And thought it mighty fun.

But sometimes there were naughty boys,

Who called to them at play,

And made this rude remark—"My eye!

Three Grannies out to-day!"

Bowl away! bowl away!

Fast as you can;

He who can fastest bowl,

He is my man!

Up and down, round about,—

Don't let it fall;

Ten times, or twenty times,

Beat, beat them all!

"For what are you longing, you three little boys?

Oh, what would you like to eat?"

"We should like some apples, or gingerbread—

Or a fine big drum to beat."

"Oh, what will you give me, you three little boys,

In exchange for these good, good things?"

"Some bread and cheese, and some radishes,

And our little brown bird that sings."

"Now, that won't do, you three little chums,

I'll have something better than that—

Two of your fingers, and two of your thumbs,

In the crown of your largest hat!"

O ring the bells! O ring the bells!

We bid you, sirs, good morning;

Give thanks, we pray—our flowers are gay,

And fair for your adorning.

O ring the bells! O ring the bells!

Good sirs, accept our greeting;

Where we have been, the woods are green.

So, hey! for our next meeting.

Then ring the bells! then ring the bells!

For this fair time of Maying;

Our blooms we bring, and while we sing,

O! hark to what we're saying.

O ring the bells! O ring the bells!

We'll sing a song with any;

And may each year bring you good cheer,

And each of us a penny.

I saw a ship that sailed the sea,

It left me as the sun went down;

The white birds flew, and followed it

To town—to London town.

Right sad were we to stand alone,

And see it pass so far away;

And yet we knew some ship would come—

Some other ship—some other day.

Yes, that's the girl that struts about,

She's very proud,—so very proud!

Her bow-wow's quite as proud as she:

They both are very wrong to be

So proud—so very proud.

See, Jane and Willy laugh at her,

They say she's very proud!

Says Jane, "My stars!—they're very silly;"

"Indeed they are," cries little Willy,

"To walk so stiff and proud."

It was Tommy who said,

"The sweet spring-time is come;

I see the birds flit,

And I hear the bees hum.

"Oho! Mister Lark,

Up aloft in the sky,

Now, which is the happiest—

Is it you, sir, or I?"

Said the butcher's boy to the baker's boy,

"My trade's the best in town,"

"If you dare say that," said the baker's boy,

"I shall have to knock you down!"

Said the butcher's boy to the baker's boy,

"That's a wicked thing to do;

And I think, before you've knocked me down,

The cook will blow up you!"

Little baby, if I threw

This fair blossom down to you,

Would you catch it as you stand,

Holding up each tiny hand,

Looking out of those grey eyes,

Where such deep, deep wonder lies?

Three little girls were sitting on a rail,

Sitting on a rail,

Sitting on a rail;

Three little girls were sitting on a rail,

On a fine hot day in September.

What did they talk about that fine day,

That fine day,

That fine day?

What did they talk about that fine day,—

That fine hot day in September?

The crows and the corn they talked about,

Talked about,

Talked about;

But nobody knows what was said by the crows,

On that fine hot day in September.

Ring the bells—ring!

Hip, hurrah for the King!

The dunce fell into the pool, oh!

The dunce was going to school, oh!

The groom and the cook

Fished him out with a hook,

And he piped his eye like a fool, oh!