As I was going to St.Ives
I met a man with seven wives;
Every wife had seven sacks,
Every sack had seven cats,
Every cat had seven kits.
Kits, cats, sacks, and wives,
How many were going to St.Ives ?

****

POLLY

Brown eyes, straight nose;
Dirt pies, rumpled clothes.
Torn books, spoilt toys:
Arch looks, unlike a boy's;
Little rages, obvious arts;
(Three her age is), cakes, tarts;
Falling down off chairs;
Breaking crown down stairs;
Catching flies on the pane;
Deep sighs--cause not plain;
Bribing you with kisses
For a few farthing blisses.
Wide-a-wake; as you hear,
"Mercy's sake, quiet, dear !"
New shoes, new frock;
Vague views of what's o'clock
When it's time to go to bed,
And scorn sublime for what is said.
Folded hands, saying prayers,
Understands not nor cares--
Thinks it odd, smiles away;
Yet may God hear her pray!
Bed gown white, kiss Dolly;
Good night !--that's Polly,
Fast asleep, as you see,
Heaven keep my girl for me!

WILLIAM BRIGHTY RANDS

****

CRADLE HYMN

Hush, my dear, lie still and slumber;
Holy angels guard thy bed;
Heavenly blessings without number
Gently falling on thy head.

Sleep, my babe, thy food and raiment,
House and home, thy friends provide;
All without thy care, or payment,
All thy wants are well supplied.

How much better thou'rt aftended
Than the Son of God could be,
When from heaven He descended,
And became a child like thee!

Soft and easy is thy cradle;
Coarse and hard thy Saviour lay,
When His birthplace was a stable,
And His softest bed was hay.

See the kindly shepherds round him,
Telling wonders from the sky!
When they sought Him, there they found Him,
With his Virgin-Mother by.

See the lovely babe a-dressing;
Lovely infant, how He smiled!
When He wept, the mother's blessing
Soothed'and hushed the holy child.

Lo, He slumbers in His manger,
Where the honest oxen fed;
--Peace, my darling! here's no danger!
Here's no ox a-near thy bed!
Mayst thou live to know and fear Him,
Trust and love Him all thy days;
Then go dwell forever near Him,
See His face, and sing His praise!

I could give thee thousand kisses,
Hoping what I most desire;
Not a mother's fondest wishes
Can to greater joys aspire.
ISAAC WATTS

****

THE GRAVEL PATH

Baby mustn't frown,
When she tumbles down;
If the wind should change--Ah me,
What a face her face would be!

Rub away the dirt,
Say she wasn't hurt;
What a world 'twould be--O my,
If all who fell began to cry!
LAURENCE ALMA TADEMA

****

Little Robin Redbreast sat upon a tree,
Up went pussy-cat, and down went he;
Down came pussy-cat, and away Robin ran;
Said little Robin Redbreast, "Catch me if you can."

Little Robin Redbreast jumped upon a wall,
Pussy-cat jumped after him, and almost got a fall;
Little Robin chirped and sang, and what did pussy say ?
Pussy-cat said naught but "Mew," and Robin flew away.

****

LULLABY OF AN INFANT CHIEF

Oh, hush thee, my babie, thy sire was a knight,
Thy mother a lady, both lovely and bright;
The woods and the glens from the tower which we see
They all are belonging, dear babie, to thee.

Oh, fear not the bugle, though loudly it blows,
It calls but the warders that guard thy repose;
Their bows would be bended, their blades would be red,
Ere the step of a foeman draws near to thy bed.

Oh, hush thee, my babie, the time will soon come,
When thy sleep shall be broken by trumpet and drum;
Then hush thee, my darling, take rest while you may,
For strife comes with manhood, and waking with day.
SIR WALTER SCOTT

She went to the baker's to buy him some bread,
But when she came back the poor dog
was dead.

She went to the undertaker's to buy him a coffin,
And when she came back the dog was
laughing.

She went to the draper's to buy him some linen,
And when she came back the good dog
was spinning.

She went to the hosier's to buy him some hose,
And when she came back he was dressed
in his clothes.

The dame made a curtsy, the dog made a bow,
The dame said "your servant," the dog
said. "Bow-wow."

She went to the hatter's to buy him a hat,
And when she came back he was feeding
the cat.

She went to the tailor's to buy him a coat,
And when she came back he was riding
the goat.

She went to the barber's to buy him a wig,
And when she came back he was dancing
a jig.

She went to the butcher's to get him some tripe,
And when she came back he was smoking
a pipe.

She went to the fish-shop to buy him some fish,
And when she came back he was washing
the dish.

She went to the tavern for white wine and red,
And when she came back the dog stood
on his head.

****

I LIKE LITTLE PUSSY

I like little Pussy,
Her coat is so warm;
And if I don't hurt her
She'll do me no harm.
So I'll not pull her tail,
Nor drive her away,
But Pussy and I
Very gently will play;
She shall sit by my side,
And I'll give her some food;
And she'll love me because
I am gentle and good.

I'll pat little Pussy,
And then she will purr,
And thus show her thanks
For my kindness to her;
I'll not pinch her ears,
Nor tread on her paw,
Lest I should provoke her
To use her sharp claw;
I never will vex her,
Nor make her displeased,
For Pussy can't bear
To be worried or teased.
JANE TAYLOR

****

THE ORPHAN'S SONG

I had a little bird,
I took it from the nest;
I prest it and blest it,
And nurst it in my breast.
I set it on the ground,
Danced round and round,
And sang about it so cheerly,
With "Hey, my little bird,
And ho! my little bird,
And oh! but I love thee dearly!"
I make a little feast
Of food soft and sweet,
I hold it in my breast,
And coax it to eat;
I pit, and I pat,
I call this and that,
And I sing about so cheerly,
With ,Hey, my little bird,
And ho! my little bird,
And oh! but I love thee dearly!"
SYDNEY DOBELL

****

SLEEP, MY TREASURE

Sleep, sleep, my treasure,
The long day's pleasure
Has tired the birds,
to their nests they creep;
The garden still is
Alight with lilies,
But all the daisies are fast asleep.
Sleep, sleep, my darling,
Dawn wakes the starling,
The sparrow stirs when he sees day break;
But all the meadow
Is wrapped in shadow,
And you must sleep till the daisies wake!
E. NESBIT

****

DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY STARS?

Do you know how many Stars
There are shining in the skies ?
Do you know how many clouds
Ev'ry day go floating by ?
God in heaven has counted all,
He would miss one should it fall.

Do you know how many children
Go to little beds at night,
And without a care or sorrow,
Wake up in the morning light ?
God in heaven each name can tell,
Loves you, too, and loves you well.