English poem
Ding Dong! Ding Dong!
by Eliza Lee Cabot Follen (1787–1860)
Ding dong! ding dong! I'll sing you a song; 'Tis about a little bird;
He sat upon a tree, And he sang to me, And I never spoke a word.
Ding dong! ding dong! I'll sing you a song; 'Tis about a little mouse; He looked very cunning, As I saw him running About my father's house.
Ding dong! ding dong! I'll sing you a song About my little Kitty; She's speckled all over, And I know you'll love her, For she is very pretty.
Ding dong! ding dong! I have sung my song; Now give me a little kiss; I'll sing you another, Some time or other, That is prettier than this.
THE LITTLE BOY'S MAY DAY SONG.
"The flowers are blooming every where, On every hill and dell; And O, how beautiful they are! How fresh and sweet they smell!"
"The little brooks, they dance along, And look so free and gay, I love to hear their pleasant song; I feel as glad as they."
"The young lambs bleat and frisk about, The bees hum round their hive, The butterflies are coming out; 'Tis good to be alive."
"The trees, that looked so stiff and gray, With green wreaths now are hung; O mother, let me laugh and play; I cannot hold my tongue."
"See yonder bird spread out his wings, And mount the clear blue skies, And mark how merrily he sings, As far away he flies."
"Go forth, my child, and laugh and play, And let your cheerful voice With birds, and brooks, and merry May, Cry loud, Rejoice! rejoice!"
"I would not check your bounding mirth, My little, happy boy; For He who made this blooming earth Smiles on an infant's joy."
THE LITTLE BOY'S GOOD NIGHT.
The sun is hidden from our sight, The birds are sleeping sound; 'Tis time to say to all "Good night," And give a kiss all round.
II.
Good night, my father, mother dear; Now kiss your little son; Good night, my friends both far and near, Good night to every one.
III.
Good night, ye merry, merry birds; Sleep well till morning light; I wish I understood your words; Perhaps you sing, Good night.
IV.
To all my pretty flowers, good night; You blossom while I sleep, And all the stars that shine so bright With you their watches keep.
V.
Good night, Miss Puss; mind what I say, And tell it to your kittens; When you with little children play, Put on your softest mittens.
VI.
Come here, my little Fido, too; You always do what's right; I wish I was as good as you; My doggie dear, good night.
VII.
The moon is lighting up the skies The stars are sparkling there; 'Tis time to shut our weary eyes, And say an evening prayer.
THE THREE LITTLE KITTENS. (A Cat's Tale, with Additions.)
Three little kittens lost their mittens; And they began to cry, O mother dear, We very much fear That we have lost our mittens. Lost your mittens! You naughty kittens Then you shall have no pie Mee-ow, mee-ow, mee-ow. No, you shall have no pie Mee-ow, mee-ow, mee-ow.
The three little kittens found their mittens, And they began to cry, O mother dear, See here, see here; See, we have found our mittens. Put on your mittens, You silly kittens, And you may have some pie Purr-r, purr-r, purr-r, O, let us have the pie, Purr-r, purr-r, purr-r.
The three little kittens put on their mittens, And soon ate up the pie; O mother dear, We greatly fear That we have soil'd our mittens. Soiled your mittens! You naughty kittens! Then they began to sigh, Mee-ow, mee-ow, mee-ow. Then they began to sigh, Mee-ow, mee-ow, mee-ow.
The three little kittens washed their mittens, And hung them out to dry; O mother dear, Do not you hear, That we have washed our mittens? Washed your mittens! O, you're good kittens. But I smell a rat close by: Hush! hush! mee-ow, mee-ow. We smell a rat close by, Mee-ow, mee-ow, mee-ow,
COCKS AND HENS. (To imitate the call of the fowls.)
Hen. Cock, cock, cock, cock, I've laid an egg; Am I to gang ba-are-foot?
Cock. Hen, hen, hen, hen, I've been up and down, To every shop in town, And cannot find a shoe To fit your foot, If I'd crow my hea-art out.
[To be said very quickly, except the last two words in each verse, which are to be "screamed" out.]