I saw three ships come sailing by,
On New Year's Day in the morning.
And what do you think was in them then,
Was in them then, was in them then?
And what do you think was in them then,
On New Year's Day in the morning?
Three pretty girls were in them then,
Were in them then, were in them then;
Three pretty girls were in them then,
On New Year's Day in the morning.
And one could whistle, and one could sing,
And one could play on the violin —
Such joy there was at my wedding,
On New Year's day in the morning.
WEE Willie Winkie runs through the town,
Upstairs and downstairs in his nightgown,
Rapping at the window, crying through the lock,
"Are the children in their beds, for now it's eight o'clock?"
WHEN Little Fred was called to bed,
He always acted right;
He kissed Mamma, and then Papa,
And wished them all good night.
He made no noise, like naughty boys,
But gently upstairs
Directly went, when he was sent,
And always said his prayers.
VI. Riddles and Paradoxes
I WENT to the wood and got it;
I sat me down and looked at it;
The more I looked at it the less I liked it;
And I brought it home because I couldn't help it.
[A thorn.
HICK-A-MORE, Hack-a-more,
On the king's kitchen door;
All the king's horses,
And all the king's men,
Couldn't drive Hick-a-more, Hack-a-more,
Off the king's kitchen door!
[Sunshine.
AS soft as silk, as white as milk,
As bitter as gall, a thick wall,
And a green coat covers me all.
[A walnut.
LONG legs, crooked thighs,
Little head, and no eyes.
[Pair of tongs.
ARTHUR O'BOWER has broken his band,
He comes roaring up the land; —
The King of Scots, with all his power,
Cannot turn Arthur of the Bower!
[A storm of wind.
THERE was a king met a king
In a narrow lane;
Says this king to that king,
"Where have you been?"
"Oh! I've been a hunting
With my dog and my doe."
"Pray lend him to me,
That I may do so."
"There's the dog take the dog."
"What's the dog's name?"
"I've told you already."
"Pray tell me again."
IN marble walls as white as milk,
Lined with a skin as soft as silk;
Within a fountain crystal clear,
A golden apple doth appear.
No doors there are to this stronghold.
Yet things break in and steal the gold.
[An egg.
FLOUR of England, fruit of Spain,
Met together in a shower of rain;
Put in a bag tied round with a string,
If you'll tell me this riddle, I'll give you a ring.
[A plum-pudding.
I HAVE a little sister, they call her Peep, Peep;
She wades the waters deep, deep, deep;
She climbs the mountains high, high, high;
Poor little creature she has but one eye.
[A star.
HIGGLEDY piggledy
Here we lie,