Scene IV.—At the Party
Reading edition
Mother Hubbard. What a lovely day you have for your party, Mother Goose! The sun shines so bright and warm, and the flowers are lovely. Is there anything I can do?
Mother Goose. No, thank you. I'm glad you came early. Have you seen the tables?
Mother Hubbard. They are lovely! Where did you get such pretty flowers?
Mother Goose. From Mistress Mary, quite contrary. You know she has a garden
With cockle shells, and silver bells, And pretty maids all in a row.
Mother Hubbard. I see some one coming.
Mother Goose. Why, how do you do, A-Dillar-a-Dollar! Are you always in such good time?
A-Dillar-a-Dollar. I'm afraid not, Mrs. Goose. They call me
A ten o'clock scholar, Why did you come so soon? You used to come at ten o'clock, And now you come at noon!
Mother Goose. And here comes Mary with her little lamb. Do you like the lamb better than a Teddy Bear, Mary?
Mary. Yes, indeed, I do. Because the lamb loves me, you know.
It followed me to school one day, Which was against the rule; It made the children laugh and play, To see the lamb at school.
Mother Goose. Here comes the Old Woman who lives in a shoe, and her two oldest boys. Dear Mrs. Shoe-woman, I am very glad to see you! How did you leave all of your children?
Mrs. Shoe-woman. Oh, dear, Mother Goose! I have so many children I don't know what to do: when they are naughty I give them some broth without any bread, and whip them all soundly and put them to bed.
Mother Goose. Here are all the children coming to the party! Come, children, let us have a dance. All stand around the Maypole as I call your names:
Little Miss Muffet and Boy Blue;
Little Bo-Peep and Jacky Horner;
Nancy Etticoat and Jack-be-nimble;
Mary and the little Boy who lives in the Lane.
All take ribbons and stand around the Maypole. Are you all ready?
Children. Yes, Mother Goose, we are all ready when the music begins.
Mother Goose. Old King Cole, will you have your three fiddlers play for the dance?
King Cole. With pleasure, dear Mother Goose—and I'll sing:
Hey diddle, diddle! the cat and the fiddle; The cow jumped over the moon; The little dog laughed to see such craft, And the dish ran away with the spoon.
Children (sing).
Old King Cole was a merry old soul; And a merry old soul was he; He called for his pipe and he called for his bowl, And he called for his fiddlers three.
Mother Goose's Party
Mother Goose. These are very good songs, but they will not do for a Maypole dance. Here, Little Tommy Tucker, sing for your supper.
Tommy Tucker. All right, Mother Goose.
Handy Spandy, Jack-a-dandy, Loved plum cake and sugar candy; He bought some at a grocer's shop, And out he came, hop, hop, hop.
Children.
Little Tommy Tucker, sings for his supper; What shall he eat? White bread and butter; How shall he eat it without any knife? How shall he marry without any wife?
[Dance about the Maypole.]
Mother Goose. Why, who can that man be? He is tumbling down in a very queer way! Who are you?
Man.
I'm the Man in the Moon, Come down too soon To ask the way to Norwich. I went by the south, And burnt my mouth, Eating cold pease-porridge.
Are Jack and Jill here?
Jack. Here I am, Mr. Moon-Man.
Jill. Oh, dear Mr. Moon-Man, where is your dog and your bundle of sticks?
Jack. Tell us what the children play in your country, the Moon!
Children. Please do, Mr. Moon-Man!
Moon-Man. Well, children, I can tell you how they learn to count. They all say—
One, two; buckle my shoe; Three, four; shut the door; Five, six; pick up sticks;
and then they all pick up sticks and put them on the fire.
Tom. I don't think that is much fun!
Children. Of course you don't. You don't like sticks.
Tom, Tom, the Piper's Son, Stole a pig and away he run! The pig was eat, And Tom was beat, And Tom ran roaring down the street!
Mistress Mary. Now, children, let us sit in a circle and play games and sing songs. Little Bo-Peep, you may sing your little song first.
Little Bo-Peep.
Little Bo-Peep, she lost her sheep, And doesn't know where to find them;
Children.
Leave them alone and they will come home Bringing their tails behind them.
Mistress Mary. Now Jack and Jill—
Jack and Jill. Shall we go up the hill to get a pail of water?
Children.
Jack and Jill went up the hill To get a pail of water. Jack fell down and broke his crown, And Jill came tumbling after.
Boys.
Up Jack got and home did trot As fast as he could caper; He went to bed to mend his head, With vinegar and brown paper.
Girls.
Jill came in and she did grin, To see his paper plaster; Her mother, vexed, did spank her next For laughing at Jack's disaster.
Mistress Mary. Now, I'll sing a song and then help Mother Goose with the supper. [Sings.]
Sing a song a sixpence, Pocket full of rye; Four-and-twenty blackbirds Baked in a pie. When the pie was opened The birds began to sing, Wasn't that a dainty dish To set before the king?
Mother Goose. Now I must have some children to help me.
Jack Goose. I'll take the bean porridge hot and bean porridge cold, mother, and Tommy Tucker can go with me and pass the white bread and butter.
Mother Goose. That's my good Jack. Now Tom the Piper's Son may take the roast pig and Mary may pass the Banbury cross buns.
Miss Muffet. Dear Mother Goose, may I pass the curds and whey?
Mother Goose. Yes, my dear child, but be careful not to spill any. Then for the last course Jack Horner will pass the Christmas pie and give every child a big fat plum.
Children (sing).
Little Jacky Horner Sitting in a corner Eating a Christmas pie He put in his thumb And pulled out a plum And said—What a great boy am I?
Old King Cole. Mother Goose, you have given us a beautiful party and we have had a lovely time. We hope you will live to give many more to your friends and the children.
Children. Yes, Mother Goose, your party was just lovely!
Mother Goose. Thank you, dear children.
King Cole. Now, little folks, let us sing a good-by song to Mother Goose.
The girls (bowing to King Cole).
The king was in the counting room, Counting out his money.
The boys (bowing to Mother Goose).
The queen was in the parlor, Eating bread and honey.
All.
The maid was in the garden
(To Mistress Mary)
Hanging out the clothes, Along came a blackbird And nipped off her nose!
Mother Goose. And that story means that night is coming and putting the day to sleep.
King Cole. So it does, and you see the sun is fast going down behind the western hills. Say good-by, children, for it is time to go home.
Children. Good night, Mother Goose.
Mother Goose. Good night, dear children, and don't forget your old Mother Goose.
Children. Forget dear Mother Goose? Never! Good-by, good-by!
Mother Goose. Good-by.
