She went to the hatter's To buy him a hat; But when she came back He was feeding the cat.
She went to the barber's To buy him a wig; But when she came back He was dancing a jig.
She went to the fruiterer's To buy him some fruit; But when she came back, He was playing the flute.
She went to the tailor's To buy him a coat; But when she came back, He was riding a goat.
She went to the cobbler's To buy him some shoes; But when she came back, He was reading the news.
She went to the seamstress To buy him some linen; But when she came back, The dog was spinning.
She went to the hosier's To buy him some hose; But 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."
This story of a bird courtship and marriage with its attendant feast and tragedy, all followed by the long dirge of No. 142, constitutes one of the longest nursery novels. Its opportunities for the illustrator are very marked, and a copy illustrated by the children themselves would be an addition to the joy of any schoolroom.
THE COURTSHIP, MERRY MARRIAGE, AND PICNIC DINNER OF COCK ROBIN AND JENNY WREN;
It was a merry time When Jenny Wren was young, So neatly as she danced, And so sweetly as she sung, Robin Redbreast lost his heart: He was a gallant bird; He doft his hat to Jenny, And thus to her he said:--
"My dearest Jenny Wren, If you will but be mine, You shall dine on cherry pie, And drink nice currant wine. I'll dress you like a Goldfinch, Or like a Peacock gay; So if you'll have me, Jenny, Let us appoint the day."
Jenny blushed behind her fan, And thus declared her mind: "Then let it be to-morrow, Bob, I take your offer kind-- Cherry pie is very good! So is currant wine! But I will wear my brown gown, And never dress too fine."
Robin rose up early At the break of day; He flew to Jenny Wren's house, To sing a roundelay. He met the Cock and Hen, And bid the Cock declare, This was his wedding-day With Jenny Wren, the fair.
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.