Rhymes and Jingles

We begin with some jingles and old rhymes; for rhymes and jingles must not be despised. They have rhyme, rhythm, melody, and joy; and it is well for beginners to know that these are all elements of poetry, so that they will turn to it with pleasant expectation.

Merry Are the Bells

Merry are the bells, and merry would they ring, Merry was myself, and merry could I sing; With a merry ding-dong, happy, gay, and free, And a merry sing-song, happy let us be!

Waddle goes your gait, and hollow are your hose;

Noddle goes your pate, and purple is your nose; Merry is your sing-song, happy, gay, and free; With a merry ding-dong, happy let us be!

Merry have we met, and merry have we been; Merry let us part, and merry meet again; With our merry sing-song, happy, gay, and free, With a merry ding-dong, happy let us be!

Safe in Bed

Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John,

Bless the bed that I lie on!

Four corners to my bed,

Five angels there lie spread;

Two at my head,

Two at my feet,

One at my heart, my soul to keep.

Jenny Wren

Jenny Wren fell sick;

Upon a merry time,

In came Robin Redbreast,

And brought her sops of wine.

Eat well of the sop, Jenny,

Drink well of the wine; Thank you Robin kindly, You shall be mine.

Jenny she got well,

And stood upon her feet, And told Robin plainly

She loved him not a bit.

Robin, being angry,

Hopp'd on a twig,

Saying, Out upon you,
Fye upon you,
Bold-faced jig!

Curly Locks

Curly locks! Curly locks!
Wilt thou be mine?

Thou shalt not wash dishes

Nor yet feed the swine.

But sit on a cushion

And sew a fine seam,

And feed upon strawberries

Sugar and cream.

Pussy-Cat Mew

Pussy-cat Mew jumped over a coal,
And in her best petticoat burnt a great hole.
Pussy-cat Mew shall have no more milk
Till she has mended her gown of silk.

Draw a Pail of Water

Draw a pail of water

For my Lady's daughter.

Father's a King,

Mother's a Queen,

My two little sisters are dressed in green, Stamping marigolds and parsley.

I Saw a Ship A-Sailing

I saw a ship a-sailing,

A-sailing on the sea;

And it was full of pretty things

For baby and for me.

There were sweetmeats in the cabin,

And apples in the hold;

The sails were made of silk,

And the masts were made of gold.

The four-and-twenty sailors

That stood between the decks, Were four-and-twenty white mice,

With chains about their necks.