Tom with his pipe did play with such skill, That those who heard him could never keep still; Whenever they heard him they began to dance, Even pigs on their hind legs would after him prance. As Dolly was milking her cow one day, Tom took out his pipe and began to play; So Doll and the cow danced "the Cheshire round," Till the pail was broke and the milk ran on the ground. He met old dame Trot with a basket of eggs, He used his pipes and she used her legs; She danced about till the eggs were all broke, She began for to fret, but he laughed at the joke. He saw a cross fellow was beating an ass, Heavy laden with pots, pans, dishes, and glass; He took out his pipe and played them a tune, And the jackass's load was lightened full soon. 134 WHEN I WAS A LITTLE BOY When I was a little boy, I lived by myself, And all the bread and cheese I got, I put upon my shelf. The rats and the mice, They made such a strife, I had to go to London To buy me a wife. The streets were so broad, And the lanes were so narrow, I had to bring my wife home On a wheelbarrow. The wheelbarrow broke, And my wife had a fall; Down tumbled wheelbarrow, Little wife and all. 135 THE BABES IN THE WOOD My dear, you must know that a long time ago, Two poor little children whose names I don't know, Were stolen away on a fine summer's day, And left in a wood, as I've heard people say. _Poor babes in the wood, poor babes in the wood!_ _So hard was the fate of the babes in the wood._ And when it was night, so sad was their plight, The sun it went down, and the stars gave no light. They sobbed and they sighed, and they bitterly cried, And the poor little things they lay down and died. And when they were dead, the robins so red, Brought strawberry leaves, and over them spread. And all the day long, the branches among, They sang to them softly, and this was their song: _Poor babes in the wood, poor babes in the wood!_ _So hard was the fate of the babes in the wood._ 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!