Holiday Time
We’re off on holiday,Oh, what fun!There may be rainOr there may be sun.But we’ll all haveA lovely time together,And enjoy ourselves,Whatever the weather!
The Devil as Partner (Switzerland)
Once a journeyman stayed in an inn for many days. When the innkeeper asked for the bill, he told that he would pay the bill the next day because he did not have enough money. After a while, a black devil appeared before the journeyman and asked him to stay in the inn for seven
There Was A Crooked Man
There was a crooked man,And he went a crooked mile;He found a crooked sixpence,Against a crooked stile;He bought a crooked cat,Which caught a crooked mouse;And they all lived together,In a little crooked house.
I had a Little Nut-tree
I had a little nut-treeNothing would it bear,But a silver nutmegAnd a golden pear;The King of Spain’s daughterCame to visit me,And all was becauseOf my little nut-tree.
How Saint Peter Lost His Hair (Germany)
Saint Peter was entirely bald, except for a single lock of hair that fell over his forehead. Once, while he and Lord Christ were travelling together, they came to a farmhouse where a woman was just cooking up some large yeast pancakes in grease. Saint Peter entered the house to beg for some pancakes, while
Whole Duty of Children
A child should always say what’s true,And speak when she is spoken to.And behave mannerly at table,At least as far as she is able.
The Sagacious Monkey and the Boar (Japan)
Once there lived a monkey man in Japan who earned his living by taking round a monkey and showing off the animal’s tricks. When his monkey became old, he began forgetting his tricks. Not even his master’s harsh beating could make him dance and perform properly. The man decided to sell him to a butcher.
Some Mice Went into a Barn
Some mice went into a barn to spin,Puss came by and popped her head in.“Shall I come and help youTo cut off your threads?”“Oh no, Miss Puss. You mightsnap off our heads.”
Polly Put the Kettle On
Polly put the kettle on,Polly put the kettle on,Polly put the kettle on,Let’s all have tea.Suzy take it off again,Suzy take it off again,Suzy take it off again,They’ve all gone away
The Dog and the Wolf (Bohemia)
There was a peasant family who had a house dog named Sultan. When Sultan grew old, the peasant drove him away, thinking that he was no longer of any use to his family. Sadly, he wandered about and reached a forest. He encountered a wolf that intended to eat him. Sultan suggested that the wolf
I had a Little Pony
I had a little pony,His name was Dapple-grey,I lent him to a lady,To ride a mile away.She shipped him; she lashed him,She rode him through the mire;I would not lend my pony now,For all a lady’s hire.
Green Beard (Lithuania)
Once in a city, there lived a very wealthy merchant. He had a very beautiful daughter who wished to marry a man who possessed green beard. In the forests near the city, lived twenty-four robbers. Their captain dyed his beard green. On listening the girl’s desire he then went to marry the merchant’s daughter. The
Rub-a-dub-dub
Rub-a-dub-dub,Three men in a tub,And who do you think they be?The butcher, the baker,The candlestick maker,They all jumped out ofa rotten potato,Turn ’em out, knaves all three!
Little Boy Blue
Little Boy Blue,Come, blow your horn,The sheep’s in the meadow,The cow’s in the corn.Where is the boy,Who looks after the sheep?He’s under the haystack,Fast asleep!
Once I Saw a Little Bird
Once I saw a little bird,Come hop, hop, hop.So I cried, “Little bird,Will you stop, stop, stop?”And was going to the windowTo say, “How do you do?”But he shook his little tail,And far away flew.