136 THE FOX AND HIS WIFE The fox and his wife they had a great strife, They never ate mustard in all their whole life; They ate their meat without fork or knife, And loved to be picking a bone, e-oh! The fox jumped up on a moonlight night; The stars they were shining, and all things bright; Oh, ho! said the fox, it's a very fine night For me to go through the town, e-oh! The fox when he came to yonder stile, He lifted his ears and he listened awhile! Oh, ho! said the fox, it's but a short mile From this unto yonder wee town, e-oh! The fox when he came to the farmer's gate, Who should he see but the farmer's It's like a bird upon the wall; JEMIMA There was a little girl, and she had a little curl, Right down the middle of her forehead, When she was good, she was very, very good, But when she was bad, she was horrid. One day she went upstairs, while her parents, unawares, In the kitchen down below were occu pied with meals, And she stood upon her head, on her little truckle-bed. And she then began hurraying with her heels. Her mother heard the noise, and thought it was the boys, A playing at a combat in the attic, But when she climbed the stair and saw Jemima there, She took and she did whip, her most emphatic! 140 The following was one of the favorite "toybook"texts of the eighteenth century. These little books generally had a crude woodcut and one stanza of text on a page. It can be seen how easily this story lends itself to illustration. Each stanza is a chapter, and the story-teller could continue as long as his inventiveness held out. In one edition there are these additional lines: "Old Mother Hubbard sat down in a And danced her dog to a delicate air; When she came back the dog was MOTHER HUBBARD AND HER DOG Old Mother Hubbard To get her poor dog a bone; And so the poor dog had none. 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 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 his pipe. She went to the fishmonger's She went to the ale-house To get him some beer; But when she came back The dog sat in a chair. 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. The Cock then blew his horn, To let the neighbors know, This was Robin's wedding-day, And they might see the show. And 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, At Cock Robin's wedding. For little Jenny Wren; And when he came unto the end, Then he began again. 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." The Goldfinch came on next, She said, "Upon my word, I think that your Cock Robin Is a very pretty bird." The Bullfinch walked by Robin, "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 The Blackbird and the Thrush, And many more, were there: "O 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 will you have him, Jenny, Your husband now to be?" "Yes, I will," says Jenny, "And love him heartily." Then on her finger fair Cock Robin put the ring; "You're married now," says parson Rook, While the Lark aloud did sing: "Happy be the bridegroom, And happy be the bride! And may not man, nor bird, nor beast, This happy pair divide." The birds were asked to dine; Not Jenny's friends alone, But every pretty songster That had Cock Robin known. They had a cherry pie, Besides some currant wine, And every guest brought something, That sumptuous they might dine. |