Father Goose, His Book

L. Frank Baum

This page copyright © 2003 Blackmask Online.

http://www.blackmask.com

  • Introduction.
  • Father Goose
  • Why?
  • Did You Ever See a Rabbit?
  • To Walk Jim Jones
  • Clockwork Man
  • Tick Tock
  • This Bold Boy
  • There Was a Goose
  • Mister Jinks
  • Little Barelegs Runs
  • Who's Afraid?
  • The Cats They Sit
  • A Sailor from China
  • If Johnny Had No Eye
  • Sally Dance
  • Old Mister Micklejohn
  • Baby Found a Feather
  • Jack Lantern
  • A Bumble Bee
  • Grandpa's Head
  • Uncle Dick Gave Me a Dolly
  • Captain Bing
  • I Had a Dog
  • Little Tommy Toddlekin
  • Organ Grinder
  • Master Bunny
  • Mr. Green
  • Elephant
  • Kitty Klymer
  • Lee-Hi-Lung-Whan
  • Little Nigger Boy
  • John Harrison Hoy
  • Polly Wants a Cracker
  • Baby Pulled the Pussy's Tail
  • Patsy Bedad
  • Caterpillar
  • Ding a Ling
  • Quite a Trick
  • Come Into Our Store
  • The Bandit
  • Miss Nancy Puts on Airs
  • The Bossie-Cow
  • Standing on the Sidewalk
  • A Man Last Tuesday
  • Goodness Me!
  • Civilized Boy
  • Babies' Serenade
  • Dolly's Run Away
  • Annie Waters
  • A Bee Flew Down
  • There Was a Whale
  • A Little Man
  • Buy a Goose
  • Miss Nancy Brown
  • Cootchie Cooloo
  • Here Is Paddy Geegan
  • Tim Jenkins Tried
  • Rough Riders
  • The Coogie Bird
  • The Ship Will Go
  • Donnegan
  • Chickens at Night
  • Cats Babies Have
  • Sun Bear Dances
  • The Soldier
  • Betsy Baker
  • One Old Cat!
  • Boy from Kalamazoo
  • Boy, A Tiny Mite
  • George Washington
  • Sammy Simpson
  • Seymour Credit
  • Text typed and edited by Scott Andrew Hutchins, based on texts in
    Father Goose:  His Book (Sixth edition), The Songs of
    Father Goose, issues of The Baum Bugle, and online
    sources.  With acknowledgement to Mary Ann Hahn and The
    Bookshop.
    
    Afterword forthcoming.

     

    Introduction.

    THERE is a fascination in the combination of jingling verse and bright pictures that always appeals strongly to children.  The ancient “Mother Goose Book” had these qualities, and for nearly two centuries the cadences of its rhymes have lingered in the memories of men and women who learned them in childhood.

        The author and illustrator of “Father Goose” have had no intent to imitate or parody the famous verse and pictures of “Mother Goose.”  They own to having followed, in modern fashion, the plan of the book that pleased children ages ago—and still pleases them.  These are newer jingles and pictures for children of to-day, and intended solely to supplement the nursery rhymes of our ancestors.

     

    Father Goose

    Old Mother Goose became quite new,
    And joined a Woman's Club;
    She left poor Father Goose at home
    To care for Sis and Bub.

    They called for stories by the score,
    And laughed and cried to hear
    All of the queer and merry songs
    That in this book appear.

    When Mother Goose at last returned
    For her there was no use;
    The goslings much preferred to hear
    The tales of FATHER GOOSE.

     

    Why?

    Why does the doggy bark, papa,
        Why does the doggy bark?

    The reason why,
        if you must know,
    Is that the little
        dog can't crow,
    And so he has to bark.

    Why does the rooster crow, papa?
        Why does the rooster crow?

    The reason why
        I'll tell to you;
    Because the rooster
        cannot mew,
    And so he has to crow.

    Why does the kitten mew, papa,
        Why does the kitten mew?

    The reason why
        I'm forced to say
    Is that the kitten
        Can not bray,
    And so she has to mew.

    Why does the donkey bray, papa,
        Why does the donkey bray?

    The reason for
        the donkey's bray
    Is that the beast
        was born that way,
    And so, he has to bray.

     

    Did You Ever See a Rabbit?

    Did you ever see a rabbit climb a tree?
    Did you ever see a lobster ride a flea?
    Did you ever?
    No, you never!
    For they simply couldn't do it, don't you see!

    Did you ever see a fire burn with snow?
    Did you ever climb a ladder down below?
    Did you ever?
    No, you never!
    For these things cannot happen, don't you know?

    Did you ever see a ship sail on the land?
    Did you ever hold a mountain in your hand?
    Did you ever?
    No, you never!
    For it really can't be done, you understand.

     

    To Walk Jim Jones

    To walk Jim Jones was not contented,
    And so an air-ship he invented;
        He sailed away
        One Summer day
        And people say
    He won't return very soon,
    For Jim Jones sailed up to the moon.

     

    Clockwork Man

    Now, once I owned a funny man,
    A clockwork was inside him;
    You'd be surprised how fast he ran
    When I was there beside him.

    He was the pride of all the boys
    Who lived within our town;
    But when this man ran up a hill
    He always would run down!

     

    Tick Tock

            “Tick-Tock!
              Tick-Tock!”
    Don't you hear our friend
                                   the clock?
    With his pendulum so swinging
    All the day he's softly singing
            “Tick-Tock!”
              Tick-Tock!”
    Can't you hear our friend
                                    the clock?

     

    This Bold Boy

    This bold boy had done no wrong;
    His hair had simply grown too long.
    So Auntie placed the bowl just so
    To see how far the shears could go.

    Now the boy is full of glee;
    His hair is nicely cut, you see;
    And Auntie gives her head a bob,
    To see how well she did the job.

     

    There Was a Goose

    There was a Goose in Syracuse
        And full of fun was he;
    He met a Clown and bought his gown
        And thought a clown he'd be.

    But for his jokes the little folks
        Had very little use:
    And when the Clown
        danced up and down
    They thought he was a Goose!

     

    Mister Jinks

    Have you seen Mister Jinks, Mister Jinks, Mister Jinks,
    Have you seen him when he's walking down the street?
        He nods and then he winks
        And most everybody thinks
    That is smile is really beautiful and sweet.

    Have you seen Mister Jinks, Mister Jinks, Mister Jinks,
    Have you seen him when he's walking down the lane?
        He's full of fun and folly,
        He's round and fat and jolly,
    And we're always glad to see his face again.

     

    Little Barelegs Runs

    Little Barelegs runs
        and races all the day;
    Birds and butterflies
        she chases far away.
    In the brook she wades, and wishes
        She could hook the little fishes
    Just to cook them in her dishes while at play.

     

    Who's Afraid?

    Who's afraid?

    Ev'ry Goblin, known of old,
    Perished years ago, I'm told.

    Ev'ry Witch, on broomstick riding,
    Has been burned or is in hiding.

    Burglars dare not venture near
    When they know that papa's here.

    Lions you now only see
    Caged in the menagerie.

    And the Grizzly Bear can't hug
    When he's made into a rug—

    Who's afraid?

     

    The Cats They Sit

    The cats they sit upon the fence
                    At night,
    And show they hav'n't any sense
                    Of right,
    By making such a noise
    They wake the girls and boys
    And caterwaul till they commence
                    To fight.

     

    A Sailor from China

    There once came a sailor from China,
    And he fell in love with Aunt Dinah.
        And he laughed till he cried
        And he cried till he sighed:
    “Oh , why wont you have me, Aunt Dinah?”

    Then you should have heard old Aunt Dinah
    Reply to this sailor from China,
                   Saying “Sir don't you see
    I could never agree
    With a sailor that once
                       lived in China.”

     

    If Johnny Had No Eye

    If our Johnny had no eye
    Not a single thing he'd spy;
    If our Johnny had no nose
    He could never smell the rose;
    If our Johnny had no ear
    Not a thing could Johnny hear;
         And his mouth is made to talk,
         And his feet are made to walk
    'Tis no wonder that I say
             Johnny's made a funny way!

     

    Sally Dance

    Have you seen little Sally
        Dance the Ostrich Dance?
    The dainty way she does it
        Will surely you entrance.
    With the left foot here,
        And the right foot there,
    And the ostrich feathers waving
        In her golden hair:

    She's Surely very charming—
        You'll see it at a glance—
    When little Sally dances
        In the Ostrich dance.

     

    Old Mister Micklejohn

    Old Mister Micklejohn
    Had a leg of hickory on;

        He went hippity,
        He went hoppity,
        Hip,
                hip,
                        hop,
        To the baker's shop.

    Bought a loaf and ate it up,
    Bought some tea and drank a cup.

    Then went hippity,
    Hip,
            hip,
                    hoppity,
    Home again from the
                       baker's  shop.

     

    Baby Found a Feather

    Baby found a feather in the hall;
    Baby saw the masks upon the wall;
        She tickled first a chin
        Till it began to grin,
    And wondered why the other one did bawl.

     

    Jack Lantern

    A pumpkin in pies
    We all of us prize;
    And surely
    no pumpkin
            a boy would
                         affright.

    But a jack-lantern light
           Is a terrible sight
    And scares all the children
                that walk out at night.

     

    A Bumble Bee

    A Bumble-Bee was buzzing
        On a yellow holly-hock
    When came along a turtle
        Who at the be did mock.
    Saying, “prithee, Mr. Bumble,”
        Why make that horrid noise?
    It's really distracting,
        And every one annoys.”

    “I'm sorry,” said, quite humble,
        The buzzing, droning Bee,
    “The noise is just my bumble,
        And natural, you see.
    And if I didn't buzz so,
        I'm sure that you'll agree
    I'd only be a big fly,
        And not a Bumble-Bee.”

     

    Grandpa's Head

    Grandpa's head is rather bald,
        Bald the baby's too;
    Grandpa has n't many teeth,
        Baby has a few.

    Grandpa sits within his chair
        All the live-long day,
    Watching baby sitting there
        Busy at his play.

     

    Uncle Dick Gave Me a Dolly

    Uncle Dick gave me a dolly,
            Funny doll, as you can see;
    'Twas an Injun, so he called my
            Dolly “Ab-or-rig-i-ne.”

    Dolly's made of rags and
                                     patches,
    Can't be broke by girls
                                   like me;
    So I think he'll last
                                    Forever—
    Funny “Ab-o-rig-i-ne.”

     

    Captain Bing

    Captain Bing was a Pirate King,
        And sailed the broad seas o'er;
    On many a lark he sailed his bark
        Where none had sailed before,
    And filled his hold so full of gold
        That it would hold no more.

    The sea was smooth, and so, forsooth,
        They took a bit of leisure,
    And all the crew. good men and true
        A hornpipe dance for pleasure
    And had their fling, while Captain Bing
        Kept watch above the treasure.

    The wind it blew, and all the crew
        Were sorry that it blew so;
    If they were wrecked they might expect
        To share the fate of Crusoe,
    And ride the spars like jolly tars—
        All shipwrecked men must do so.

    The gale it roared, and all on board
        Began to say their prayers,
    And Captain Bing commenced to sing,
        To drown his many cares
    But when he found that he had drowned,
        It took him unawares.

     

    I Had a Dog

    I had a dog
           whose head was red.
    He always slept
           upon his bed.
    He always ate
           what he was fed
    And barked when-e'er
          a word was said.

     

    Little Tommy Toddlekin

             Little Tommy Toddlekin,
    He fell Down and bumped his shin;
             Hurt him sadly.
             Cried quite badly,
    Now his shin is well again.

    Organ Grinder

    Have you seen the
           Organ Grinder
    With a monkey
                    on a string?
    He stands upon the sidewalk
    And makes the music ring.

    And all the little children
        Around him dance and play
    And have a merry time
        Before he goes away.

    The monkey climbs the houses
        To windows everywhere,
    And gathers all the pennies
        The children have to spare.

    Master Bunny

    Master Bunny 
                      looks so funny
    When he's sitting at his ease.
    Little Dick
                     declares the trick
    Any audience will please.

     

    Mr. Green

             Oh, have you seen Mr. Green?
    He is neither fat nor lean,
       Laughs and cries
    Smiles and sighs
        Eats and drinks
    Reads and thinks.
        Coughs and sneezes
    When he pleases
         Walks and ambles,
    Skips and gambols,
         Slumbers deep
    When asleep,
         Tears his clothes
    Where 'ere he goes,
         Always found where he is seen—
    Funny man is Mr. Green!

     

    Elephant

    An elephant to a city went—
    Poor old elephant!
    And lived his life beneath a tent,
    Eating, drinking, thinking, blinking,
    With his trunk chain a-clinking,
    Dreaming of the jungle cool,
    Juicy leaves and rippling pool—
    Poor old elephant!

     

    Kitty Klymer

    Kitty Klymer had a dress.
    Gingham dress, all white and blue;
    Tried to pick a water-cress,
    Tore her dress an inch or two!
    Home she ran, and in distress
    Took a thread and needle, too,
    Neatly mended her torn dress—
    Now it is as good as new.

     

    Lee-Hi-Lung-Whan

    Lee-Hi-Lung-Whan
    Was a little Chinaman.
    Wooden shoes with pointed toes,
    Almond eyes and tiny nose.

    Pig-tail long and slick and black,
    Clothes the same both front and back.
    Funny little Chinaman,
    Le*-Hi-Lung-Whan.

    *Corrected in the sixth edition, but remains in The Songs of Father Goose.

     

    Little Nigger Boy

    There was a little nigger boy
    Hadn't any shoes;
    He heard his mammy shoo the hens
    And saved the shoos to use.

    There was a little nigger boy
    Hadn't any hat;
    He wore instead a cabbage leaf,
    It was so big and flat.

    There was a little nigger boy
    Hadn't any collar;
    And when the copper collared him
    Nigger boy did holler.

    There was a little nigger boy
    Hadn't any hose;
    He bought a pear, but couldn't wear
    It as you may suppose.
    *

    There was a little nigger boy
    Hadn't any coat;
    So he tried to borrow one
    From a nanny goat.

    *This stanza replaces the original third in the sixth edition.

     

    John Harrison Hoy

               John Harrison Hoy
               Was a cute Yankee boy,
    With a face that was freckled and red;
              “Each American boy
                Is a King,” said young Hoy,
    “For a crown always grows on his head.”

     

    Polly Wants a Cracker

    “Polly wants a cracker!”
    The parrot loud did shout.
    “Here's a cracker, Polly,”
    Said little Dickey Stout.

    Poll took the cracker quickly,
    Not knowing it was loaded,
    But while she held it tightly
    It suddenly exploded.

    Polly gave an awful cry
    Of mingled pain and rage.
    She flew away from Dickey
    And hid within her cage.

    Baby Pulled the Pussy's Tail

    Baby pulled the pussy's tail—
                Naughty boy!
    Pussy gave a painful wail
    Struggle hard without avail;
    Still the baby pulled her tail—
                Naughty boy!

    Pussy raised her little paw—
                Angry cat!
    Gave the baby's face a claw!
    Scratched his cheek till it was raw—
    Awf'lest scratch you ever saw—
                Think of that!

     

    Patsy Bedad

               Patsy Bedad
               Was a bright Irish lad
    Who loved to work hard at his ease;

    “When I grow up,” said he,
    “I'll a gentleman be,
    For then I shall join the Police.”

    Caterpillar

                 I knew a Caterpillar
    Which crawled to see a miller,
               To ask if he would deign
               To sell a load of grain.

    But when he came to buy
            He became a Butterfly,
    So he couldn't use the grain
      And he flew away again.

    Ding a Ling

    Ding-a-ling-a-ling-ling!
    Can't you hear the bell ring?

        First the man who sells the milk,
        Then a lady dressed in silk,
        Next a beggar asking bread,
        Glad to work when he is fed;

    Ting-a-ling-a-ling-ling!
    Can't you hear the bell ring?

        Now the gas man after money,
        Then a peddlar peddling honey;
        Then a plumber, then a drummer,
        Selling books to read in summer,

    Ting-a-ling-a-ling-ling!
    Can't you hear the bell ring?

     

    Quite a Trick

    It's quite a trick
                          ball to kick
    And very hard to catch it:
    Yet children say
                        they love to play.
    And nothing else can match it.

     

    Come Into Our Store

    Will you come into our store
              and spend your money?
    Will you come into our store
                  and buy some honey?
    We have gingerbread and pies,
    And a host of naughty flies
    Think that eating up our stock is very funny!

     

    The Bandit

    The Bandit is a handsome man,
        In operas he sings;
    He wears a wig and fierce moustache
        And many other things.

    He looks just like a robber bold,
        When on the stage he stands:
    Real bandits lived in times of old
        In distant, foreign lands.

     

    Miss Nancy Puts on Airs

    Miss Nancy puts on airs
    When her sister's dress she wears.
    And thinks a grown up woman
                    she can be.
    She courtesies and bows
          And struts in furbelows
              As fine
                    as any
                              lady you
                                           may see.

     

    The Bossie-Cow

    The Bossie-Cow is big and red,
        Her eyes are round and bright,—
    And those great horns upon her head
        Are quite a horrid site.

    And yet the Bossie's very kind
        And good to us, I think:
    She's full of beefsteaks, you will find,
        And gives us milk to drink. 

     

    Standing on the Sidewalk

    Standing on the sidewalk, 
       As if it were his lair,
          Before McFarlan's window,
              Was a big black Bear,
    His eyes were very small and fierce
          And wickedly did glare,
      A fact which all the children did deplore.

    But never once
      he left his post,
    In weather foul or fair,
    And though this may surprise you, 
      It won't when I declare
    This awful brute was stuffed,
    And McFarlan put him there
       To serve
                   as sign before his
                           clothing store!

    A Man Last Tuesday

    A man last Tuesday
           built a house
    Without a window in it;
    It had no roof,
           it had no floor,
    No doorway to go in it.
    It had no chimney,
           had no walls,
    Nor stairs of
                    any kind;
    Because the man had
                     built this house
    Entirely in his mind.

     

    Goodness Me!

        Goodness me!
    Into the baby's mouth there goes
    A fat little tootsie with five little toes!
    Why baby does it, nobody knows.
    Thinks they are good to eat, I suppose—
        Goodness me!

     

    Civilized Boy

    Pray, what can a civilized
                                boy do now,
           When all the Dragons all
                                              are dead,
    And the Giants stout,
                    that we have read about,
          Have never one a head?

    Now, wasn't it mean that Jack o'the
                                                         Bean
        Should slay these monsters fast,
    And the other Jack should cut and hack
        When there weren't enough to last?

    The boys today are as bold as they say,
           As ever they were of yore;
    And they'd spill a flood
            of Dragon's Blood
         If Dragons lived
                       any more.

     

    Babies' Serenade

    Hear the babies' serenade:
    Tink-
             a-
                Tink-
                         a-
                           Tink!
    Sweetest music ever made,
                    So the babies think.

    Johnny-boy will twang the string:
    Tum-
             te-
                 tum-
                         tum-
                                 tum!
    To the music's joyous swing,
                     Lullabies he'll hum.

     

    Dolly's Run Away

    Dolly's run away today,
                 Dolly's run away!
    Gone from home abroad to roam
    And with the Gnome to play.

    Dolly's such a naughty girl
                 When she does appear
    I am sure she must endure
    A scolding quite severe!

     

    Annie Waters

    When Annie Waters lies asleep
          She's very fair to see,
    And mama thinks no little girl
          Could any sweeter be.

    When Annie Waters wakens up
           She romps with such a noise
    That mamma thinks she's really worse
              Than six or seven boys!

     

    A Bee Flew Down

    A bee flew down and ate an ant,
        A bug he ate the bee;
    A hen then gobbled down the bug
        But failed the hawk to see.
    The hawk had eaten up the hen
        Before he saw the cat
    Which ate him up, but then a dog
        Ate pussy quick as scat!
    A wolf now sprang upon the dog
        And ate him in a trice,
    And then a lion ate the wolf
        And found him very nice.

    But when the lion fell asleep
                 He said, “I really can't
    Imagine why that wolf should taste
                 Exactly like an ant!

     

    There Was a Whale

              There was a whale
              Who had no tail.
    And he was full of sorrow;
              He swam around
              Long Island Sound
    And tried a tail to borrow.

             “Your tale is sad
              And quite too bad,”
    The fishes all confided
             “But while our fins
               Are in our skins
    We'll never be divided.”

              But still his tail
              He did bewail
    To one fish or the other,
              'Til they said “Oh
               Why don't you go
    And try to grow another!”

     

    A Little Man

    Once there was a little man
    Who stepped upon my toes.
    He would not apologise
    And so I pulled his nose.

     

    Buy a Goose

    Don't you want to buy a goose
                                or else a gander?
    I've one to sell that could'nt
                               well be grander;
           For his voice is loud and sweet
           And his meat is good to eat—
    To refuse to buy would surely
                                   be a slander.

     

    Miss Nancy Brown

                             Miss Nancy Brown
                                she came to town,
                              A basket by her side,
                           All filled with mud-pies
                                    neat and round
                          That in the sun she'd dried.

    She wandered up and wandered down
        And tried to sell her pies,
    But only met with sneer and frown,
        To her intense surprise.

    Miss Nancy Brown
                   she left the town
    And carried home her pies.
    And on the ground
            she threw them down,
    Which showed that she was wise.

     

    Cootchie Cooloo

       Cootchie Cooloo
       Was a girl of Hindoo,
    Who was rather too
          large for her size;
          Her teeth were
                   quite white
          And her nose
                  was all right,
    But she had a bad squint
                     to her eyes.

     

    Here Is Paddy Geegan

    Here is Paddy Geegan, digging,
        Trying hard to make a well.
        Here is Paddy's billy goat, and
        Looking cross, I grieve to tell.
    With bowed head and eye that flashes
    Quickly at poor Pat he dashes.
        Now there's nothing more to tell—
        Both have fallen in the well.

     

    Tim Jenkins Tried

        Tim Jenkins tried
        A horse to ride
    Which was so fond of shying
        That I declare
        High in the air
    The boy was quickly flying.

     

    Rough Riders

        Rough Riders are
        The pride of war.
    But bucking bronchos truly
        Make riding rough
        And tough enough
    When they become unruly.

     

    The Coogie Bird

    Oh have you heard the Coogie Bird?
    It sings a song that's quite absurd.
    It sings a song that is n't long,
    And the song that it sings at it flaps its wings
        Is “Qwee-wee-wee” and “Qwee-wee-wird!”
    Now isn't that song quite absurd,
        That's sung by the foolish Coogie Bird?

     

    The Ship Will Go

    When breezes blow the ship will go
            A sailing o'er the sea;
    A flag apeak, she'll sail to seek
            Her country's enemy
    And win a name of glorious fame
            Ere she
                    returns
                            to me.

     

    Donnegan

    There was a man named Donnegan
        Who wandered up and down,
    And always in the country stayed
        Unless he came to town.

    The people to him kindly said
        “What to you want, my man?”
    “'Tis work I want, oh, give me work!”
             Replied bold Donnegan.

    But though he wandered north and south,
                     And traveled east and west,
                   No work came to brave Donnegan
                      Who passed his days at rest.

     

    Chickens at Night

    Where do the chickens go at night—
        Heigh-ho!  Where do they go?
    Under the breast of their mother they rest,
    Finding her feathers a soft fluffy nest;
    And that's where the chicks go at night,
                           Heigh-ho!
    Yes, there's where the chicks go at night.

     

    Cats Babies Have

    These are the cats the babies have
    In China, far away;
    They carry them where e're they go
           And love with them to play.

    When baby pulls their heads way down
            The cats will say “mie-ew,”
    As if they really were alive
           And knew the baby, too.

     

    Sun Bear Dances

    The Sun-Bear dances merrily
        Upon the ball so round,
    And has to balance warily
        Or fall upon the ground.
    To emulate a juggler great
        No better bear is found.

     

    The Soldier

    The soldier is a splendid man
        When marching on parade;
    And when he meets the enemy
        He never is afraid.

    And when he fires his musket off
        He loads it up again;
    And when he charges on the foe
        Resistance is in vain.

    The soldier is a fearless man
        When he to war does go;
    He faces guns and never runs
        Unless 'tis at the foe.

    And when he marches home again
        He's called a hero bold.
    And many very wondrous tales
        Are by the soldier told.

     

    Betsy Baker

    Once a girl named Betsy Baker
    Thought she'd like to be a Quaker;
    On her head she put a shaker
    Thinking that the shaker 'd make her
             Very like a real Quaker.

     

    One Old Cat!

             One Old Cat!
             Batter's at the bat.
    Pitch and catch—the batter's out!
    Laugh and run and slide and shout—
    A very merry game is that.
          And they call it
                 One old Cat!

     

    Boy from Kalamazoo

    There was a boy
          from Kalamazoo
    Who ate too much hot
                   celery stew.
    He felt quite ill
                  But took a pill
    And now he feels
                     as good
                          as new.

     

    Boy, A Tiny Mite

    There was a boy, a tiny mite,
    Who tried to fly a mighty kite,
                  And then, alas!
                  It came to pass
    Both boy and kite flew out of sight.


    George Washington

    When George Washington was young
        And full of energy,
    He took his little hatchet
        And chopped a cherry tree.

    His father grew quite angry,
        This sorry sight to see,
    For he was very fond indeed
        Of that same cherry tree.

    And so he questioned Georgie:
        “Who did this thing?” said he.
    “I cannot tell a lie,” said George,
        “I chopped the cherry tree.”

    The father then wept tears of joy,
        At such brave honesty;
    “Your truthfulness is worth far more
           Than one small cherry tree.”

    And when his father walked away
       Georgie seized the ax with glee
    And hacked away 'till he had felled
        Another cherry tree.

    His father now returned in hast,
        took Georgie on his knee,
    And said “I'll teach you to destroy
        My pretty cherry tree!” 

    “Don't spank!” cried George; “I'll tell the truth,
        For still I'll honest be;
    'Twas I, dear father, took the ax
        And chopped the cherry tree.”

    “Oh, ho!” Said Mr Washington
        “Unless I punish thee
    Thy truth will cost to me the loss
        Of every cherry tree!”

    'Twas full a week before poor George
        Sat down with any ease,
    His father sold the hatchet
        And saved his cherry-trees.

    Sammy Simpson

    Sammy Simpson
                all the day
    Loves at “Soldier Boy"
                          to play.
    When it comes to
                    candle-light
    He is glad to say
                     “good night.”

    Seymour Credit

    All of the pages of verse in
    Father Goose, His Book
    have been hand-lettered
                        by
    Ralph Fletcher Seymour