There are plenty feathers on a hen And prickers on a rose, There is plenty roaring in a den Of lions, goodness knows;
There are plenty fishes in the lake And islands in the sea; There are plenty raisins in this cake For even you and me.
A pipe and a spoon and a tenpenny nail Stole a tin dishpan and went for a sail. But the cook he grew curious, Fussy, and furious; Gathered his trappings, and went on their trail. He found them that night in a pitiful plight, And sent them all home on the ten o'clock mail.
Hi! Hi! Who will buy A wee little cloud for the pretty blue sky? Some are purple, some are red, And all are soft as a feather bed. Hi! Little children, won't any one buy One little cloud for the pretty blue sky?
A RACE, A RACE TO MOSCOW
A race, a race to Moscow, Before the close of day! A race, a race to Moscow, A long, long way! First comes a butterfly a-riding on a frog, Next comes a water rat a-floating on a log; A caterpillar on the fence, a hopper in the hay-- Who'll get to Moscow before the close of day?
A PRINCE FROM PEPPERVILLE
A prince came down from Pepperville In satin and in lace, He wore a bonnet on his head And whiskers on his face.
And when he came to Battleburg This is what befell: He gave the king and cabinet A half a peanut shell.
Hitch up your cattle And drive to Seattle To see all the boats come in,-- From Kibi and Kobi And Panama Dobi And some from the Islands of Myn. They're bringing us rices And cocoa and spices And pineapples done up in tin, And maybe Aunt Dinah Will come back from China If ever the boats get in.
Pretty poppies, Pretty trees, Pretty little lettuce-leaves, Pretty pebbles, Red and brown, Pretty floating thistle-down. Pretty baby, Curly head, Standing in a pansy-bed, Pretty clouds All white and curled-- O the great, big pretty world!
Did you ever go to the watering trough And watch the sparrows drink? Did you ever go to Potter's pond And see the divers sink? Did you ever steal to the barn at night And watch the hoot-owls think?
HOOTEM, TOOTEM, CLEAR THE TRACK
Hootem, tootem, clear the track! I caught a coon on Kamiak! Colonel Clapp and Uncle Rome Have hired a hack to bring it home.
On a hummock by the lake Stands the home of Doctor Drake, Poor old doctor, how he works! Week by week he never shirks--
Pulling teeth for guinea-fowl, Soothing puppies when they howl, Whittling out a hickory peg For a gander's broken leg,
Giving medicine away About a hundred times a day, Linseed oil and elder-bark To a croaking meadowlark,
Nasty, bitter yarrow-tea To a tipsy bumble-bee, A poultice made of plantain leaves To cure a rabbit with the heaves.
Fever, colic, cramp, or stitch, Kitten-croup or beaver's-itch, Any kind of pain or ache Is cured by dear, old Doctor Drake.
Come to the land where the babies grow, Like flowers in the green, green grass. Tiny babes that swing and crow Whenever the warm winds pass, And laugh at their own bright eyes aglow In a fairy looking-glass.
Come to the sea where the babies sail In ships of shining pearl, Borne to the west by a golden gale Of sun-beams all awhirl; And perhaps a baby brother will sail To you, my little girl.
TWENTY THIEVES FROM ALBION
Twenty thieves from Albion, All with butcher knives, Coming on the dead run, Fighting for their lives.
See the man from our town. In a fancy vest, Knocking all the big ones down, Chasing all the rest.
AS I CAME OUT OF GRUNDY GREET
As I came out of Grundy Greet Four cats were marching down the street
One was long and gray and thin With lots of whiskers on his chin,
And one was round and sleek and fat (He must have been a butcher's cat).
One was dapper, slight, and frail, With bells and tassels on his tail,
And one had starey yellow eyes Almost as big as pumpkin pies.
These four came marching down the street As I came out of Grundy Greet.