A Collection of Alphabets, Rhymes, Tales, and Jingles

by
Walter Crane

Illustrations by
Sir John Gilbert, R.A., John Tenniel, Harrison Weir,
Walter Crane, W. McConnell, J. B. Zwecker
and others

Old Mother Goose

Old Mother Goose, when
She wanted to wander,
Would ride through the air
On a very fine gander.

Mother Goose had a house,
’Twas built in a wood,
Where an owl at the door
For sentinel stood.

This is her son Jack,
A plain-looking lad,
He is not very good,
Nor yet very bad.

She sent him to market,
A live goose he bought,
“Here, mother,” says he,
“It will not go for nought.”

Jack’s goose and her gander
Grew very fond,
They’d both eat together,
Or swim in one pond.

“She sent him to market, a live goose he bought.”

Jack found one fine morning
As I have been told,
His goose had laid him
An egg of pure gold.

Jack rode to his mother,
The news for to tell,
She called him a good boy
And said it was well.

Jack sold his gold egg
To a rogue of a Jew,
Who cheated him out of
The half of his due.

Then Jack went a-courting
A lady so gay,
As fair as the lily,
And sweet as the May.

The Jew and the Squire
Came behind his back,
And began to belabour
The sides of poor Jack.

And then the gold egg
Was thrown into the sea,

When Jack he jumped in,
And got it back presently.

The Jew got the goose,
Which he vowed he would kill,
Resolving at once
His pockets to fill.

Jack’s mother came in,
And caught the goose soon,
And mounting its back,
Flew up to the moon.

Boys and Girls, Come out to Play

Boys and girls, come out to play,
The moon does shine as bright as day,
Leave your supper, and leave your sleep,
And meet your playfellows in the street;
Come with a whoop, and come with a call,
And come with a good will, or not at all.
Up the ladder and down the wall,
A halfpenny loaf will serve us all.
You find milk and I’ll find flour,
And we’ll have a pudding in half an hour.

Tom Thumbs Alphabet

A was an Archer,
who shot at a frog.

B was a Butcher,
who had a great dog.

C was a Captain,
all covered with lace.

D was a Drummer,
who played with a grace.

E was an Esquire with pride on his brow.

F was a Farmer,
who followed the plough.

G was a Gamester,
who had but ill-luck.

H was a Hunter,
who hunted a buck.

I was an Italian,
who had a white mouse.

J was a Joiner,
who built up a house.

K was a King,
so mighty and grand.

L was a Lady,
who had a white hand.

M was a Miser,
who hoarded up gold.

N was a Nobleman,
gallant and bold.